Mad Hatter: Miami Congresswoman Angry Over House Hat Ban (Florida Democrat Alert)

NBC Miami ^ | 11/18/10 | Todd Wright

[Recovering_Democrat]

For Frederica Wilson, style is substance when it comes to her hat collection.

The former state legislator who was elected to replace Kendrick Meek in District 17 is as mad as a hatter that head dress is prohibited on the floor in the House of Representatives on Capitol Hill.

Wilson, a Democrat from Miami, is known for having a hat for every outfit and every occasion. She's probably more known for her trademark style than any piece of legislation she pushed or voted for, so it's easy to understand why she would feel her identity is being stripped away.

"Hats are what I wear. People get excited when they see the hats. Once you get accustomed to it, it's just me," Wilson told the Miami Herald. "Some people wear wigs, or high heel shoes or big earrings or pins. This is just me."

[rarestia]

Ah, damn, I forgot to include the whole “take it off indoors” thing in there, but I intended to. Thanks for correcting me.

[Hoodat]

Coon dogs are no longer PC.

[P-Marlowe]

Start a campaign for her - fight for her right to wear a hat! You seem SO obsessed for “HER” rights. How lame!

You just hate her because she's black.

[maggief]

[PeterPrinciple]

My point, though not well stated, is that this has become about her and not the rule. The rule should be the focus. If the reasons for the rule no longer exist, get rid of it. It should not be about her.

Any good reporter would have provided some history instead of making this an emotional issue about her.

[Mmogamer]

I agree.. a large part of what made men classy was how they dressed, back all the way to the 20’s. Hat’s were a trademark of many movie stars, politicians etc. I think the decline of manliness was started when men stopped wearing hats. Baseball caps weren’t meant to be worn out on the town etc, back in the day. Just what I think anyway. YMMV

[presently no screen name]

Where did I say I hate her?

Oh excuse me - that’s the liberals answer for everything.

[Peet]

Even among ladies and gentlemen who wear hats, they’re not worn indoors as a matter of etiquette.

Except ladies in church.

[GonzoGOP]

As a matter of fact, hats were originally used to keep soot and ash out of the faces of gentlemen and ladies during the Industrial Revolution. They were purposeful accoutrement's that lent to style.

They go back a lot farther than that. The top-hat as a fashion statement predates the industrial revolution by a good century. And I don't think the guys in Texas were ever worried about soot. Hats are for rain and sun. Since most styles came from England during the Industrial revolution rain gear became normal, even where rain wasn't an issue. As for the farmers and cowboys, its the sun they are worried about. About the only hat designed to keep out soot is the railroad engineer's hat and the welder's bandanna. And those have never been in style.

[P-Marlowe]

My point, though not well stated, is that this has become about her and not the rule. The rule should be the focus. If the reasons for the rule no longer exist, get rid of it. It should not be about her.

She hasn't broken the rule yet. All she's done is complain about it.

If this were Michelle Bachmann who wanted to wear a hat on the floor of Congress, I bet everyone here who is condemning Frederica Wilson, would be cheering Michelle Bachmann.

She is protesting a stupid congressional rule. I wish every new congressman would challenge some stupid congressional rule.

[ladyjane]

they're not worn indoors as a matter of etiquette

Etiquette? Etiquette is probably not high on her list of priorities.

Imagine having to sit behind her at a function. Not that she would care if she inconvenienced anyone.

I wonder how she goes through security at the airport. LOL

[presently no screen name]

Is a man any less of a gentleman w/o his hat? Everyone wore them back then - even Al Capone.

I’ll take someone in overalls who fights for our country.

[presently no screen name]

If this were Michelle Bachmann who wanted to wear a hat on the floor of Congress, I bet everyone here who is condemning Frederica Wilson, would be cheering Michelle Bachmann.

You seem to have absolutely no idea how conservatives are!
((eye roll in full force))

I'll leave you to your campaign for the Mad Hatter. Some of us have priorities.

[P-Marlowe]

You seem to have absolutely no idea how conservatives are! ((eye roll in full force))

So conservative women don't wear hats, huh?

[bert]

What a dilemma. Do you project your attitude by wearing a hat or having lice cut hair?

The two positions seem to be the dividing line between those who marched and those who did not

[rarestia]

There are specific mentions of hat use to prevent soot/ash in myriad literary works across the centuries. They’re most common in pre-Industrial age British novels, but I’ve read it in American fiction as well. I understood the utility of the hat for rain and sun, but the wide brims of many hats back in the day were for both form and function. As I recall in one novel (Dickens, I believe, but don’t quote me), one character entered the antechamber of a church, removed his hat, and “knocked the ash from the brim (of his bowler).”

That literary example is what I’ve always referenced for hat utility in the “old days.” I personally wear a black wool fedora.

[SkyPilot]

[presently no screen name]

You betcha they do!

You went off topic, not surprising. It’s not about anyone wearing hats - that was never the issue. No one is saying the mad hatter should stop wearing hats. She takes it off when the rules apply. Not to difficult to do or ask to be done.

TOO much time wasted on someone else’s hangups.

[alexander_busek]

As a matter of fact, hats were originally used to keep soot and ash out of the faces of gentlemen and ladies during the Industrial Revolution.

I had thought that hats went back much farther than that...

"Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace."

- Daniel 3:21.

Seems you were right about the soot and ash, though.

Regards,

[Iron Munro]

what the heck is wrong with her choice in head coverings? I think they are pretty cool.

The issue isn't how cool her hats may be.

The issue is that she arrogantly wants to receive special treatment and have congressional rules changed just for her so she can wear them on the floor in the US House of Representatives.