‘You Are Rude!’ Republican Congressman Loses It on Debate Audience Member

Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) became irate at an audience member who laughed at one of his responses during a debate with Democrat Dan Schwartz on Tuesday night.

The debate was hosted by the League of Women Voters in Cambridge in Maryland’s First Congressional District, which Harris has represented since 2011. Of Maryland’s eight congressional representatives, he is the lone Republican. During the debate, the lawmaker addressed President Donald Trump’s decision to buy diesel from Russia amid Trump’s ongoing war on Iran, which has sent global fuel costs surging.

“The facts are that diesel prices have gone up,” Harris said. “There’s no question about it. Why has it gone up? Because the Democrats and environmental regulations have not–”

As he spoke, several attendees laughed and jeered, but the congressman took issue with one in particular.

“Ma’am, I gotta tell you,” Harris said, only to be interrupted by more jeers.

“This is the problem,” he continued. “You all say you believe there’s a First Amendment, but only if you agree with you [sic]. You should let me finish the sentence, Ma’am. You are rude!”

A longer video of the exchange shows Harris telling the moderator, “I’m sorry. I gotta do it. If you’re not gonna tell them I’m rude [sic], I’m gonna tell them you’re rude [sic].”

“You’re rude,” a man in the crowd shot back.

“Let me finish the sentence why there’s a shortage [of] diesel in the world and in the country,” Harris continued as he was interrupted again.

“Stop!” the moderator exclaimed.

“You’re rude, too!” Harris said, pointing to a different member of the audience.

“You started it,” said the audience member.

Eventually, the moderator intervened and told the candidates to urge their supporters to refrain from interrupting the candidates.

Polling is sparse in Harris’s race against Schwartz. A survey from July shows the congressman leading by 13 points.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!