Austin Huguelet at Springfield News-Leader highlights the gag:
"As his fellow Republicans raged against Democrats’ drive to impeach President Donald Trump Wednesday night, U.S. Rep. Billy Long of Springfield waited stone-faced for his turn to speak.
He also went a little viral.
Numerous Twitter and Reddit users couldn’t help but notice what appeared to be money sticking out of Long’s jacket pocket, prompting a number of posts expressing disbelief.
“Is this a Bribe or a Bet?!” one Twitter user asked. “Republicans in the House during #ImpeachmentVote literally sitting there with cash sticking out of his pocket?"Long is used to drawing attention and promoting himself:
"Voted ‘Best Auctioneer in the Ozarks’ 9 years straight, it’s no surprise he has been inducted into both the National Auctioneers’ Association Hall of Fame and the Missouri Professional Auctioneers’ Association Hall of Fame. His motto in the Auction business was “When you want it done right” and that attitude holds today. While he’s known for his unconventional, out of the box thinking, it all gets back to trying to do his best whether that’s selling grandma’s antiques or negotiating with his colleagues on Capitol Hill for the best outcome for his constituents. He’s known for his good nature and humor in Washington which both serve him well when negotiating with colleagues on the other side of the isle.Also, what isn't important them, like this sham impeachment manufactured by the House Democrats. No Republicans voted to impeach the president on either count Wednesday night. That, of course, included Long with his panache stash of cash in his jacket.
For six years, he co-hosted the top rated morning drive time radio call in show ‘Morning Line’ with his co-host Bonnie Bell’ in Springfield on AM560 KWTO “Keep Watching The Ozarks” – which covered 95 counties and part of four states. Engaging with folks for 30 years while booking auctions, selling real estate and taking their calls on air gave him a vast knowledge of what was on folks minds and what was important to them."
"Say what you will about appearances, but that was not real money.The American people will have the last laugh when seditious San Fran Nan Pelosi(D) and her brood of execrable flying monkeys are routed out of Congress in 2020.
In an interview Thursday afternoon, Long confirmed what many in Springfield may have already guessed:
That “cash” was his stash of novelty $45 bills with Trump’s face in the middle. The 45th president, get it?
He chuckled when a reporter asked about the online attention.
“It’s pretty easy to trigger the liberals,” he said.
Long said that the novelty bills are well-received just about every time he hands them out.
“It’s an icebreaker,” he said. “I get on an elevator, and someone says ‘Is that a 15 dollar bill in your pocket?’ and I say, ‘No, it’s a $45 bill,’ and show them and they laugh and I tell ‘em it’s the only bill I’ve gotten passed, to put President Trump on the $45 bill, and they laugh even harder.”
