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Great piece (as usual) by @ThePlumLineGS, but I'm curious why there's no discussion of the way House Republicans effectively disposed of white nationalist Steve King during the 116th Congress.
It seems highly relevant to today... though in what way is not yet clear. /1 https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/1354827509506973697
It seems highly relevant to today... though in what way is not yet clear. /1 https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/1354827509506973697
In January 2019--after the latest in a long line of racist, anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim statements--the Republican Steering Committee stripped King of committee assignments and effectively condemned him to irrelevance.
That paved the way for his 2020 primary loss. /2
That paved the way for his 2020 primary loss. /2
The Republican who beat him, Randy Feenstra, easily won the general election in a solidly conservative district, earning more votes than King ever won (if my quick and dirty Saturday morning review is accurate). /3
So Republicans held IA-4, the district once again has a representative on the Agriculture Committee, and House Republicans don't have to deal with the reputational blight of having King, an avowed white supremacist, in their ranks. Win-Win-Win for them. /4
Georgia's 14th congressional district is at least as rock-red conservative as Iowa's 4th. If @HouseGOP wanted to be rid of @mtgreenee come 2023 they could isolate her like King and send the message to #GA14 Republicans that they have 2 years to organize their opposition. /5
Someone equally conservative but less corrosive to American democracy would likely take her out and retain the seat for Republicans, simultaneously eliminating one headache and strengthening a bit of spine.
Again, win-win-win. /6
Again, win-win-win. /6
So to me, that's the way House Republicans--by building upon the 2019 Steve King precedent--can begin to restore the soul of their conference and their party, member by member, seat by seat. I've discussed that before. /7 https://twitter.com/TomJawetz/status/1349076042070241280?s=20
But maybe that's naive and maybe that's @ThePlumLineGS's point.
Obviously House Rs had no problem tolerating King for years though everyone knew what he was.
They rewarded him with plum assignments on House Judiciary where he used his platform to spew anti-immigrant garbage. /8
Obviously House Rs had no problem tolerating King for years though everyone knew what he was.
They rewarded him with plum assignments on House Judiciary where he used his platform to spew anti-immigrant garbage. /8
We know the precipitating event for stripping him of committee seats wasn't actually his Floor speech in support of white supremacy, but rather his near-loss to @JDScholten in 2018 and the anchor he was increasingly becoming around the legs of other congressional Republicans. /9
So maybe THAT actually tells us how King's treatment will be relevant to the @HouseGOP response to Taylor Greene (and Boebert and Cawthorn).
Will they do nothing and wait until these folks come close to losing reelection or costing them seats elsewhere? /10
Will they do nothing and wait until these folks come close to losing reelection or costing them seats elsewhere? /10
Or will they learn from the Steve King experience and decide that taking proactive measures now can avoid digging a deeper hole for themselves in the future. Taylor Greene and Cawthorn's districts are safe, but Boebert squeaked out a win in 2020--is she their best 2022 bet? /11
Earlier this month, 100+ national, state, & local orgs urged Republican leadership to honor the Steve King precedent and deny committee assignments.
@DWStweets has made that ask and others are pushing for censure or expulsion.
Something must be done. /12 https://www.americanprogress.org/press/release/2021/01/11/494472/release-cap-100-advocacy-groups-urge-gop-leadership-ban-supporters-qanon-white-supremacist-ideology-committee-assignments/
@DWStweets has made that ask and others are pushing for censure or expulsion.
Something must be done. /12 https://www.americanprogress.org/press/release/2021/01/11/494472/release-cap-100-advocacy-groups-urge-gop-leadership-ban-supporters-qanon-white-supremacist-ideology-committee-assignments/
