'Stop talking about Dr. Seuss!': House Democrat rails against the GOP in fiery speech defending workers

On Tuesday, members of the U.S. House of Representatives debated a union organizing bill. One of the Democratic congressmen speaking out in favor of it was Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan, who passionately told his colleagues that legislation to "help the damn workers" in the U.S. is long overdue.

Ryan explained, "One of the earlier speakers said this is the most dramatic change in labor law in 80 years. And I say, 'Thank God! In the late '70s, a CEO made 35 times the worker. Today, it's 3 or 400 times the worker. And our friends on the other side (are) running around with their hair on fire."

Raising his voice even more, Ryan added, "Heaven forbid we should pass something that's going to help the damn workers in the United States of America! Heaven forbid we tilt the balance that has been going in the wrong direction for 50 years! We talk about pensions, you complain. We talk about the minimum wage increase, you complain. We talk about giving them the right to organize, you complain. But if we were passing a tax cut here, you would all be getting in line to vote yes for it."

He even skewered the party for their bizarre focus on narrow cultural issues related to minor controversies over children's entertainment: "Stop talking about Dr. Seuss! And start working with us on behalf of the American workers."

Here are some responses to Ryan's epic speech: