'Dusty who?' Top House Dem thumbs nose at GOP colleague's antic

A top House Democrat took a shot at his Republican colleague on Wednesday when asked his feelings about the possibly insensitive timing of the lawmaker's proposed legislation.

Chad Pergram, senior congressional correspondent for Fox News, shared on Wednesday the response of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) after he asked the minority leader if it was "impolitesse" for Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) to propose legislation that would authorize the acquisition of the Panama Canal as the late former President Jimmy Carter lied in state in the Capitol Rotunda.

"Carter signed the treaties between the U.S. and Panama to give Panama control of the canal during his presidency in 1977-78," noted Pergram.

“I think it is a Teddy Roosevelt moment,” Johnson told Fox News, according to the Washington Times. “And frankly, America used to run this canal, and it was very well run under American leadership.”

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Jeffries responded by appearing to thumb his nose at Johnson.

"Jeffries in response to my question: 'Dusty who?'" wrote Pergram.

In a separate statement, Jeffries said House Democrats believe they were "not sent to Washington to invade Greenland, rename the Gulf of Mexico or seize the Panama Canal by force."

"We were sent to Washington to lower the high cost of living in the United States of America," he said, according to the Times.

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