Rep. Andy Harris, Maryland's sole Republican representative in the House, called an audience member "rude" during a re-election debate on Tuesday in Cambridge. The incident occurred when a woman began laughing as Harris spoke about rising diesel prices and environmental regulations.
"Ma'am, I gotta tell you. This is the problem, you all say you believe there is a First Amendment, but only if you agree with you," Harris said to the woman. "You should let me finish the sentence, ma'am. You are rude. You're rude, OK?"
Harris, representing Maryland's 1st Congressional District, was addressing the causes of increased diesel costs when the interruption happened. He argued that Democratic environmental regulations contributed to the price hikes.
After the exchange, the debate moderator asked both candidates, Harris and his Democratic challenger Dan Schwartz, to address their supporters and request politeness. Schwartz asked the audience to "keep all reactions for later" to allow both candidates to speak uninterrupted.
When it was Harris's turn to speak again, he commented, "You don't need to hear it from me because my people aren't interfering with Mr. Schwartz, it's only one way."
Harris, first elected to the House in 2010, is running for re-election against Schwartz.