Washington journal continues. Host the front page of usa today this morning. The headline, more democrats swear off the swearingin ceremony. They are joining their colleagues in bowing to boycott Donald Trumps inauguration in the wake of him lashing out at civil rights icon john lewis. Their asking our viewers thoughts on those actions by Democratic House members. For democrats. 2027488001 for republicans. Independents. R i want to start by talking about one of those talking to one of those members of congress. He is a former chair of the congressional black caucus. He announced yesterday that he would not be attending the inauguration sermon. Congressman butterfield, thank you for joining us. How did you come to that decision . Guest i made the decision the day after the election. I began anticipating the future as i always do. Right out of the box, i felt uncomfortable going to inauguration, which is supposed to be a celebration. The pinnacle of the ceremony is the growth of office which is very serious. All the other pomp and circumstance is a celebration. I made up my mind very early that i did not want to participate in the celebration of donald trump. He has practiced politics of division in our country. He wants to pick one group against the other. That arelicy ideas just not in the mainstream of america. In the mainstream of the extreme right, but it is not in the mainstream of america. That is why his favorability numbers this morning are very low hovering around 40 . Some polls have shown less than 40 . At this point, barack obama eight years ago was at twice that number. The American People are fearful. I am fearful. I just did not have the appetite to go to the inauguration and sit there for five hours in the elements to participate in that event. What i will do is go to the state of the union message. That is a serious and solemn occasion or the president comes before the congress about his goents on where he looks to in his policies. I look forward to that. I will listen very carefully. Forsitting at inauguration five hours in 25 degree weather, i am not fearing it feeling it. Host your colleagues said yesterday that the reason they are not going stems from Donald Trumps twitter feud with civil rights icon john lewis. That is something that began after congressman john lewis said he did not believe donald trump was a legitimate president. My question to you do you believe donald trump is a legitimate president . Myler first of all, i had feelings before i heard the john lewis recording. Donald trump reacted to john lewis in the manner that he did it reinforced a feeling i already had. The president of the united. Tates cannot be reactionary he has to have a steady hand. He is now taking on the responsibility of not only dealing with domestic issues but also into national issues. We cannot have someone with that temperament leading our nation. John lewis was critical of the president. He called me on friday that he had just left an interview and what he had said during the interview. He said he would not back down on his position. Donald trump should have ignored it. He should have said, while i have Great Respect for john lewis, i disrespect that i have i disagree with his opinion. But to go into the gutter and talk about his district, the crime rate in atlanta, it is just on becoming of a president. Of a president. Before you go, inaugurations are meant to be a celebration of the peaceful transition of power. By boycotting the ceremony, does bad precedent . Caller i would not call it a boycott. I simply declined the invitation. I do not have the desire to toticipate in an event, clap, to smile, and to make it appear as though i am happy about this day. I am not happy about this day. Im ready to embrace donald trump as president when he demonstrates that he is willing to settle down and govern in a look atan way, and to the issues that really concerned the American People. Right now, 40 of the American People favor donald trump should donald trump. That is historically low. President s typically hover around 70 or 80 favorability coming into office. We are concerned. We are in a wait and see mode. That only does donald trump have problems with the Democratic Caucus and the congressional black caucus, but he also has problems with the republican conference. They are in disarray. We have some good thinking republicans who appreciate civility and want to Work Together to face the enormous issues we have in this country. They are uncomfortable as well with this man. Still, i wish him the best and godspeed. If he will with him simply demonstrate that he is willing to settle down and leave the twitter handles alone. , andn by talking to people if you legislate in a responsible way. Butterfield,n thank you for your time congressman butterfield, think you for your time. Guest thank you. Host the rest of the program is for you, the viewers, to hear your thoughts. Over 60 House Democrats will not attend the inauguration of donald trump. That is happening on friday. Lawrence is here in washington, d. C. A democrat. Lawrence, what do you think . Morning to america. I was just thinking why is the press so upset about the democrats boycotting donald whiles inauguration when president obama was being sworn republicans Mitch Mcconnell and others they did not attend. They were in the capital plotting to make sure that obama was a one term president. I saw that on a political show about two years ago when they talked about obama and the clash with Mitch Mcconnell. If anyone else saw that, please call in. I know that it was said. Why is the press making such a big deal now when it was not then . That is my question to the American People. Someone please call in and say if i am wrong i am. Host i believe Mitch Mcconnell did attend resident obamas inauguration, but there have been discussions about the desire he stated to make president obama a one term president. We want to hear the thoughts of our viewers, and we want to point out that Donald Trumps team has responded to these reports. The continuingut trickle of House Democrats not attending the inauguration. The trickle turning into a stream yesterday. This one from politico, Donald Trumps team are preparing to give away the seats to House Democrats that are bailing. Saying they have some other if they do not want their seats, and they have some great seats for others to have. It is disappointing they do not want to participate in the peaceful transition of power. Our next caller from maryland. Go ahead. Caller good morning, cspan. Thank you for taking my call. During the debate, hillary myself ho either considerd many others the leader of the democrats, she said she would respect the decision of who would be the next president. Anothersounds like chance for democrats to increase the divisiveness in this country between republicans and democrats when they should be taking this opportunity to get a little bit closer to the Republican Party and donald trump. Colin kaepernick on the National Football league takes a need knee during the national anthem, and it sounds like the democrats are now trying to do the same thing. Thank you. And hernry clinton husband are expected to be in attendance on friday. It is about 60 members of the house Democratic Caucus that say they will not be attending Donald Trumps inauguration. In the washington post, no Senate Democrats have joined the boycott of Donald Trumps inauguration. So far, not a single Senate Democrat has joined the House Democrats. The senate debt Senate Democrats represent a broader range of people who have to be more respectful in most cases. Millions of constituents voted for donald trump in their state. 45 of them are up for reelection in 2018. 25 senators up for reelection in 2018. It is not the first time this month that democrats have disappointed there more active house colleagues. House democratsHouse Democrats y lodged complaints about russian interference at polling places, but no senator joined the protest. As a result, it did not even be considered under the complex rules of the electoral college. You can read more on that in todays washington post. Next caller from indiana. Good morning. Caller first, i would like to get the record straight. Donald trump did not win the election. He was given the election. That is all. As people being at the meeting when obama was being sworn in, that was true. They were having a meeting at the same time obama was sworn in. Host lets go to paul in pittsburgh, pennsylvania. Caller good morning. Theents are inauguration is an opportunity to we proud americans celebrate the peaceful transition of our government. We should really be very proud of that, because there are a lot of countries in the world that cannot do that. I think the whole point is being missed. This inauguration should not be about either president obama or president elect trump. It is about the peaceful transition of our government. That should the important. Democratsthe 50 or 60 , if you areotting expecting an audience of some 700,000 to a million people, i doubt seriously that they will be missed. I would encourage them, since they do not want to celebrate our peaceful transition of government, to give their tickets to somebody that does. Those are my comments. That is about it. I will say, as a man from pittsburgh, pennsylvania, this is dealer country here. Country here. People will know what that means. Anyways, those are my opinions. The first caller was wrong. The entire republican delegation did attend president obamas inauguration. They did not agree with a lot of his stuff, but they respected that this is our transition. Those are my comments. A republican was on cnn yesterday talking about attendance at the obama inauguration as a republican. Here is a bit of what he had to say. Boycott, id to the was not thrilled. It was a depressing day in 2008 and 2012 when president obama won reelection. We were not happy. But guess what . We goto the inauguration with maybe a heavy heart, but it is part of the american process. I am disappointed that all these democrats are saying they are going to stay home. Its like being a little kid in saying that you are used to getting a juice box and a trophy every time whether you win or lose. Listen, donald trump one. You may not agree with his agenda, but you need to show up. That is a part of your duty as a congressman. What happens when the next democratic president elect goes through their process . The now going to stay home. Our republicans now going to stay home . That sets a bad precedent. We need to stand together. Host we have a photo that was tweeted out from the second president obama inauguration. Use a republican. This is his photo from he is a republican. This is the photo from his twitter. , our next caller, good morning. Gentleman to the next the last gentleman who called true truly a peaceful transition of power when there are so many questions go on the table as to how this election truly was . It was perhaps finagled in some respect. Being investigated on the side or not, some answers are yet to rise up. In the interrupt, i believe that these congressman and other dignitaries standing back is a minimal protest. Really, what i am seeing is Something Like the emperors new clothes here. Thise is standing up to donald trump party. To these designees that are coming in. All these questions of irregularities and lawbreaking and who will be in his cabinet, it all needs to be so fully vett ed. For him to not give any real press conferences the idea that he might disband the White House Press corps, these things are all just remarkable and i. Hink beyond contemptible what our congressmen are doing i believe is quite minimal. I believe in the peaceful transition of power and. Upporting our government i am going to give donald trump the benefit of the doubt as he takes hold, but what i am witnessing so far is immaturity. What i have heard is that he is clearly unsuited for office. He does not have the temperament. Thank you for taking my call. Donald trumps cabinet was mentioned. To update our viewers, several different hearings are taking place today. For our happening simultaneously four are happening simultaneously. The ruby dee hearing for congressman time price tom price. There will be a hearing for congressman tom price today. He will get started in about 40 minutes here. At the same time, the Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee will have their hearing for scott pruitt, the Oklahoma State attorney general. Also, the Senate Commerce committee will hold their hearing for the nominee to secretary. Commerce also, the healing for hearing for nikki haley will be held as u. N. Ambassador. All of those hearings are going to be listed on www. Cspan. Org. The cspan radio app is also a good place if you are looking to arings today. Ose he to hear to the phones from our viewers about the democrats boycotting the inauguration. Doug, our next caller, good morning. Caller good morning. First off, everyone has the first amendment. I disagree with a lot what donald trump says, but i would like to make a comment about health care. Why do we not go social . We can put our medicare and Social Security in everything into one bucket . We can then figure out what it costs and then go from there. ,rump might do it in actuality because he is going after pharmaceuticals right now. We need to get big money and greed out, and the out. Everyone have a nice day. Host we are going to try to stick with our topic about the democrats sitting out of the inauguration on friday. Of those House Democrats not attending, one of them is a democratic representative from here is his tweet. Must stand against Donald Trumps bigotries and attacks on gold parents goldstar parents and civil rights heroes. I will not attend. Said another congresswoman that after seeing the overwhelming poll results, she will not attend. One House Democrats that is schiff. G is adam yesterday, he spoke about what he will be attending in a facebook coach post. I was appalled when donald trump admitted he would not honor the peaceful transition of power if he was elected, and i feel like i would do would be doing the same if i were to not attend the inauguration. Reasons why the others are sitting out on the inauguration, and that is because they do not believe he respects the office to which he is being nominated. Caller. Our next an independent from washington, d. C. Caller my comment is that i have been watching with great interest. I think the democrats are quite , as one lady said in the debate early on, there are many things on the table that have not been resolved. The Voting Machines of the democratic party, and whatever hacking has been going on connected to russia. Also, the connection between russia and mr. Trump. A knowing these people who are saying they will not go. For me, my point is let there be freedom from oppression. If those democrats are saying they are not going, let us not pass is meant on them. And let usay home, find out if russia interfered with the election. Host are you calling to hold off on the inauguration of donald trump until after the investigations are completed . Yes, i was going to say that if i was in the position where donald trump is right now, hold off theo inauguration. Host lets go to our next caller in north carolina. A republican. Good morning. Hello. I just want to say that by boycotting the inauguration, it gives the appearance of selfrighteousness. They really should be thinking about their constituents rather than themselves. Thank you. Host a few newspapers from around the country are talking about the boycott by House Democrats. Here is a story from the tribune out of pennsylvania. Congressmang about mike doyle and his decision to stay home from the inauguration. Other localw newspapers from around the country. Texasewspaper out of onut democrats skipping out donald trump spoke of office. Headline out of pennsylvania about pennsylvania democrats vowing to set out the inauguration. The Huntsville Times out of alabama as well. Our next caller. Good morning. Caller good morning. I support a boycott. I believe they are standing up to an individual who is very dishonorable. I think he has played is all for suckers. He has no business being the president. I believe the russians have something on him, and perhaps. Hey will eventually prove it this embarrassing video will come out. He has sued 3500 lawsuits during his career. The people he does business with, he claims he will not talk to his sons for the next four years over conflicts of interest. Whoever couldnt believe that he will not be discussing business with his sons for four years i do not think they would really have any hope should any hope. His father taught him to win at all costs. He would not rent to blacks and their properties. He has dealt with organized crime and a lot of bad characters. He got a lot of of his money from his father, so he is not a selfmade man. He does not take constructive criticism. He has very thin skin. Criticism. Ake he does not have any core values. He lies constantly. He has no respect for the truth. Has almost adolf hitler tendencies to honor authoritarian leaders like vladimir putin. Host right, we get your point. New pulling out on donald trump. Headlines noting that he will be taking the of the Office Coming in as the least popular republican candidate in four decades. Only 40 of americans have a favorable view of dona