Another day, another embarrassing moment for the Democrats running Washington. This time, the spotlight fell on Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), who was caught on camera slumped in her chair, eyes shut, surrounded by four water bottles, during a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on May 14. The video quickly went viral, with conservatives online roasting the Michigan Democrat for literally sleeping on the job.
Dingell, however, insists she wasn’t snoozing. According to her, she had simply “closed my eyes to think about an America where everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.” That excuse was met with well-deserved laughter across social media. One user summed it up perfectly: “Was she snoring in the mic while she was dreaming of Medicare for all?”
The Democrat’s office doubled down, claiming she had been up for more than 27 hours “fighting Republicans trying to gut Medicaid.” Yet even some colleagues found the defense hard to swallow. As one Republican quipped, “Maybe she just needed a quick power nap.”
Conservatives online weren’t buying it either. Bernard Conway joked, “It’s called a hangover, thus the 4 water bottles.” Another wrote, “Must be smoking that good Michigan weed.” And still another commenter got straight to the point: “Deb, you really think we believe that crap??? Step down for the sake of your constituents!”
The moment was more than just embarrassing — it was a symbol of the dysfunction in Congress. As Nick Sortor put it bluntly: “WTF?! Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell is literally ASLEEP in a committee hearing this morning. Congress is an absolute joke.” In the private sector, of course, anyone caught sleeping on the job would be fired. But in Washington, Democrats get a pass — even when they’re supposed to be doing the people’s business.
Some critics went even further, pointing out that Dingell’s voting record is as troubling as her nap habits. One commenter noted, “Can we start with America, which protects women? You voted NO on the Laken Riley Violence Against Women Act AND yes to include men in women’s bathrooms.” Another added sarcastically, “Is there a real difference when she is awake?”
Benny Johnson cut to the chase: “Term limits. Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell was caught sleeping during a committee hearing this morning.” And he wasn’t alone. Many called for Dingell to face real consequences, with one commenter writing: “Rep. Debbie Dingell should be immediately expelled … Sleeping through a hearing is despicable. She is involved in many committees and this picture says tons about her commitment to her oath and the people of Michigan she represents.”
At the end of the day, the viral moment left voters asking the obvious: if Dingell can’t stay awake long enough to do her job, why is she still in Congress? Or perhaps, as one conservative wit put it best: “Her best work is when she’s sleeping.”
For Democrats, it was yet another reminder of why Americans are demanding accountability, professionalism, and, yes, term limits.
