A Congresswoman's Reason for Skipping the Inauguration is a Lesson on Respectful Tweeting

Katharine Clark, a Democratic Representative from Massachusetts, will not be attending Donald Trump's inauguration, but not without careful consideration. Clark's tweet sharing her official statement on why she will not attend is reasoned, respectful, and being shared across social media.

In her own words, Clark discussed Trump's presidency with "hundreds of [her] constituents" and concluded that she could not "contribute to the normalization of the president-elect's divisive rhetoric."

It's not as if Clark wanted to decline right off the bat; she makes it clear that Clark hoped Trump would "fulfill his promise to be a president for all Americans," during his transition period.

Take one look at the president-elect's Twitter timeline and it's clear that presidential transformation Clark hoped for hasn't occurred. Trump has continued to insult his political opponents and gone as far as undermining the United States' intelligence community.

Unlike her Democratic colleagues who will attend, as is customary, Clark elaborated on her decision to The Boston Globe. ""I support the peaceful transition of power," Clark said, "but I don't feel that I need to attend the pageantry associated with and for this president."

Clark joins a small number House and Senate members who will not attend the inauguration; so far Illinois Representative Luis Gutiérrez is the only outspoken protester of the ceremony.