Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) defended his request to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of House Judiciary sessions despite House Democrats’ ridicule of the proposal.In an interview Friday, Gaetz said the left’s insults, which were caught on a hot mic, were disheartening. He added that his proposal to start each session with the Pledge of Allegiance was simply an effort to “unify the country” and “celebrate patriotism.”