What’s all the fuss?
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D‑Tex.) was escorted ahead of all the other passengers onto a United Airlines flight from Houston to Washington, D.C., taking seat 1A in first class.
The congresswoman described it as “nothing exceptional or out of the ordinary.”
Meanwhile, Jean-Marie Simon possessed a boarding pass for seat 1A; she attached a photo to her Facebook post. Yet, Simon was stopped when boarding the plane and told her ticket had been cancelled.
Who cancelled it? United claimed Simon did.
Simon said that’s bunk — and it does seem strange to cancel your flight and then moments later attempt to board.*
“Since this was not any fault of mine,” Rep. Jackson Lee offered, “the way the individual continued to act appeared to be, upon reflection, because I was an African American woman … an easy target.…”
’Tis the season to cry “racism.”
And yet the congresswoman characterized herself as “kind enough” to apologize “out of the sincerity of my heart” — and “in the spirit of this season.”
Doubt her kindness? You have reason:
- In 2014, Rep. Jackson Lee won Washingtonian magazine’s contest for “meanest” member of Congress — garnering, incredibly, seven times as many votes as the second-place finisher.
- Years ago, after several incidents, Continental Airlines told Jackson Lee that she had to behave or find another airline.
- “You don’t understand,” the congresswoman once reportedly shouted at a staffer. “I am a queen, and I demand to be treated like a queen.”
Not “Queen for a Day,” mind you: Sheila Jackson Lee has been a congressional queen for the last 23 years! And today she is the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee on transportation security.
Feel more secure?
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
* And, if it was truly her own fault, United appears to be overcompensating in compensating Simon, giving her a seat in Economy Plus, a $500 voucher and numerous apologies (though not yet in writing).
Additional Background Information
Daily Caller: Congressional bosses from Hell: Sheila Jackson Lee (2011)
Weekly Standard: Sheila Jackson Lee, Limousine Liberal (2002)
4 replies on “Queen Sheila: Terror of the Skies”
This is typical of United Airlines. They used to bump the frequent flyer upgrade waitlist to provide seats in first class for deadheading crew members. They claimed that was a requirement of the union contract with pilots and attendants. Another reason to hate unions!
I wish that President Trump could give us back our Continental Airlines.
Thank the people who vote for her. (And pity the person who had to sit next to her on the plane.)
Which brings up the question: Why do these ignorant people continue to vote for her?
This woman has been crying “Racism” for all of her 23 years in Congress. Sick & Tired of that cheap out to excuse away the blamer’s misconduct.
However, in this case, it’s not Ms. Lee’s fault but that of the airline. Flying stinks, unless you are a rare breed like a celeb or a Congress person.