Republicans should fight Democrats as fiercely as they do their own voters.
The House of Representatives’ attempt to elect a new speaker hit another roadblock on Wednesday when 22 Republicans voted against the front-runner, Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Wednesday’s vote was the second time that enough Republicans defected to undermine Jordan’s bid for speakership. On Tuesday, 20 GOP members, including Reps. Ken Buck of Colorado, Don Bacon of Nebraska, and Jen Kiggans of Virginia, voted for other candidates. These members, along with many others, also voted against Jordan in Wednesday’s vote.
According to The Daily Caller, Jordan needs at least 217 votes to become speaker, while Democrats are supporting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
BREAKING: Jim Jordan lost 22 votes on the second ballot for Speaker:
1. BACON — McCarthy
2. BUCHANAN — Donalds
3. BUCK — Emmer
4. CHAVEZ-DEREMER — McCarthy
5. D’ESPOSITO — Zeldin
6. DIAZ-BALART — Scalise
7. ELLZEY — Garcia
8. FERGUSON — Scalise
9. GARBARINO — Zeldin
10. GIMENEZ…— Greg Price (@greg_price11) October 18, 2023
While the position of speaker is still up for grabs, some moderate Republicans are reportedly considering collaborating with Democrats to pass a resolution that expands the powers of the interim speaker. This effort, led by Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, has gained support from other establishment Republicans, such as Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida and Rep. Nick LaLota of New York.
Gimenez and LaLota are among the nearly two dozen Republicans who voted against Jordan’s bid for speakership.
Republicans Reject Their Base
Although not without flaws, Jordan as House speaker would be a significant improvement for GOP voters. He not only has a more conservative voting record than former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., but he is also one of the founding members of the House Freedom Caucus.
So why have a few Republicans decided to sabotage Jordan’s bid for speakership, despite strong support from conservative voters? While anonymous conspiracy theories may dominate the media’s coverage, the real answer is likely much simpler: Many of these Republicans despise their own voters.
Don’t just take my word for it. Bacon admitted as much when he complained to reporters earlier this week about the “pressure campaign back home” to support Jordan as speaker. The Nebraska congressman went on to say that he opposed Jordan’s initial bid to become speaker in order to retaliate against the few House Republicans who ousted McCarthy and prevented Scalise from assuming the role.
“You don’t have a process where I play by the rules and some people can’t — and they get what they wanted, and now I’m supposed to play by the rules,” Bacon whined.
So, to summarize: A grown man serving in the U.S. Congress is actively defying the will of his voters just to spite some of his colleagues.
As petty and pathetic as Bacon’s actions are, he is merely a symptom of the larger problem that has plagued the GOP establishment for years. These Republicans make grand promises on the campaign trail to defend conservative values and “drain the swamp,” only to abandon those promises once they arrive in Washington.
It’s not that they forget what they promised. It’s that they never intended to fight for their voters in the first place. Whether it’s on religious freedom, illegal immigration, or federal spending, conservatives can always count on the Republican establishment to betray them.
If Republicans like Bacon spent as much time fighting Democrats as they do stabbing their own voters in the back, the battle for America’s soul would resemble a fight between two rivals rather than the one-sided beatdown that Democrats deliver on a weekly basis.
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood
How can Republican voters hold their elected representatives accountable and demand transparency and loyalty from them
In recent news, the House of Representatives’ attempt to elect a new speaker has faced yet another obstacle. On Wednesday, 22 Republicans voted against the front-runner, Rep. Jim Jordan, a Republican from Ohio. This marks the second time that enough Republicans have defected to undermine Jordan’s bid for speakership.
In Tuesday’s vote, 20 GOP members, including Reps. Ken Buck of Colorado, Don Bacon of Nebraska, and Jen Kiggans of Virginia, voted for other candidates. These members, along with many others, also voted against Jordan in Wednesday’s vote. Jordan requires at least 217 votes to become the speaker, while Democrats are supporting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, according to The Daily Caller.
Jim Jordan lost 22 votes on the second ballot for Speaker, as stated in a tweet by Greg Price. The tweet listed the names of the Republicans who did not vote for Jordan. Despite this setback, the position of speaker is still up for grabs, and some moderate Republicans are reportedly considering collaborating with Democrats to pass a resolution that expands the powers of the interim speaker.
This effort, led by Rep. Dave Joyce, a Republican from Ohio, has gained support from other establishment Republicans, such as Rep. Carlos Gimenez of Florida and Rep. Nick LaLota of New York. It is worth noting that Gimenez and LaLota are among the nearly two dozen Republicans who voted against Jordan’s bid for speakership.
While Jordan may have his flaws, his potential role as House speaker would be a significant improvement for GOP voters. He not only has a more conservative voting record than former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, but he is also one of the founding members of the House Freedom Caucus.
So why have a few Republicans decided to sabotage Jordan’s bid for speakership, despite strong support from conservative voters? While anonymous conspiracy theories may dominate the media’s coverage, the real answer is likely much simpler: many of these Republicans despise their own voters.
This is not a mere speculation, as there have been instances where Republican politicians have openly expressed their disdain for their own base. This disconnect between GOP politicians and their constituents raises questions about the true intentions and motivations of these politicians.
It is vital for Republican voters to hold their elected representatives accountable and demand transparency and loyalty from their chosen officials. The GOP cannot afford to alienate its base if it wishes to remain a strong and principled party.
In conclusion, the House of Representatives’ attempts to elect a new speaker have faced another setback with Republicans voting against the front-runner, Jim Jordan. While the position remains up for grabs, some moderate Republicans are considering collaborating with Democrats to expand the powers of the interim speaker. It is important for GOP voters to question the actions of their elected representatives and ensure that their voices are heard and respected.
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