The gap between Capitol Hill’s top two Republicans widened even further this week after the Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell
Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell says Taylor Greene’s embrace of conspiracy theories is a “cancer” in GOP, country Night Defense: Biden warns of sanctions after Myanmar coup | Biden asks the Supreme Court to cancel the arguments of the border wall | Dem urges to examine troops’ social media Senate Democrats say consideration of cannabis reforms will be a priority MORE (R-Ky.) He took the unusual step of immersing himself in a couple of controversies that the House minority leader Kevin McCarthy
Kevin McCarthy McConnell says Taylor Greene’s embrace of conspiracy theories as “cancer” for the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country’s Democrats are moving quickly to remove Greene from committees The mother of the Parkland victim urged Rep. Greene to stop saying the shots were falsified MORE (R-Calif.) He’s struggling to contain himself in the lower house.
Within an hour, McConnell issued two separate statements, one condemning the “foolish” conspiracy theories of first-term representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), A supporter of the pro-Trump QAnon movement; the other praising the Rep. Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn Cheney McConnell claims Taylor Greene’s reception of conspiracy theories as “cancer” in GOP, country The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Republicans squeeze Biden with 0 billion alternatives COVID-19 Relief This Week: Biden and Democrats Face Decision Point on Coronavirus Relief MORE (R-Wyo.) While facing the reaction of the ex President Trump
Donald TrumpGraham rejects Merrick Garland’s confirmation hearing request on Feb. 8. Trump’s attorney presents the case of the first amendment in the indictment trial. loyal after their vote to accuse the 45th president.
These dynamics have created a rare and growing rift among top Republican Party leaders between chambers at the same time that Republicans are trying to unite against the ambitious legislative agenda of the new Democratic president, Joe Biden
Joe Biden Overnight Health Care: White House Grants 0M to Increase Test at Home | Schumer promises the Senate will take on a “bold” coronavirus bill Biden officials defend two-dose strategy amid fears of variants If GOP blocks Biden’s COVID rescue plan, poor American workers will suffer Biden asks Supreme Court to cancel arguments over border wall, asylum cases MORE.
Both Greene’s and Cheney’s issues have created migraines for McCarthy, a close ally of Trump trapped among House Republicans who are still defending the former president after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and the United States. who warn that only a clean break from Trump’s mercurial will be saved. the Republican party to devour.
McConnell’s extraordinary decision to engage in these debates — and to do so aggressively — not only puts him fully in the latter field, but also puts enormous pressure on McCarthy to join him. he. And McConnell is hardly alone; other Republican Senate voices also seek to move the party’s focus away from its more marginal elements, represented by Greene, and return to the institutionalist mindset embodied by Cheney.
“I think we should make it very clear [Greene] it does not represent us in any way. Our big tent isn’t big enough to house both conservatives and “kooks”. Mitt Romney
Willard (Mitt) Mitt Romney If GOP blocks Biden’s COVID rescue plan, poor American workers will suffer Hill’s report 12:30: Biden tests GOP bargaining skills at relief meeting of today’s COVID GOP senators present 8 billion coronavirus proposal ahead of Biden meeting MORE (Utah), 2012 GOP flag bearer, told reporters Tuesday.
“Republicans in the House will have to decide who they want to be. Do they want to be the party of limited government, fiscal responsibility and free markets, and peace through force and pro-life, or do they want to be a party of conspiracy and QAnon theories? “added the Senate GOP whip John Thune
John Randolph Thune: Democrats will extend Senate majority in 2022 Trump censorship faces tough odds on Senate Republicans who are now “shocked, shocked” that there is a deficit (SD). “I think it’s a big distraction for them right now and not in a good way.”
The McConnell-McCarthy split also reflects the vastly different political interests and power structures underlying the House, where more than half of Republicans had voted to annul election results based on Trump’s false claims of widespread fraud. , and in the Senate, where the number was the single digits.
McCarthy himself accepted Trump’s false accusations of stealing the election, while McConnell took the opposite note, warning a few minutes before the Jan. 6 uprising that the United States would enter a “death spiral” if the election could be annulled by mere accusations of the losing party.
McConnell is unlikely to vote to convict Trump, who faces his second impeachment trial next week; most Senate Republicans consider the prosecution of a former president unconstitutional and are on the side of Trump, and McConnell can read the tea leaves.
But if McConnell is willing to turn the page on Trump, McCarthy doesn’t have the same luxury. In fact, the House leader has rejected criticism that Trump takes responsibility for the Capitol attack and last week visited the former president in Florida, where he sought Trump’s help as Republicans fight for regain the House in 2022.
McConnell, who has a reputation for cunning political tactics, also believes he is on the verge of regaining a Senate majority next year, given the current 50-50 split. But he has made a different political calculation than McCarthy’s: that Trump , Greene and his QAnon acolytes are too toxic and could jeopardize the Republican Party’s return in 2022.
“Politically, the Trump era has not been good for Republicans: we have lost the House, we have lost the White House, and we have lost the Senate,” a Republican congressional source said. “Democrats, rightly or wrongly, will label Republicans as the QAnon party and this will have to fight our members with difficult seats. It would be devastating. “
McConnell on Tuesday denied any friction between him and McCarthy, saying he had a “good working relationship” with his GOP counterpart. But McConnell’s scathing, unsolicited statements about Greene the night before have complicated the situation for McCarthy, who was already facing enormous pressure from Democrats and some prominent Republicans to remove her from his two committees. McCarthy will have to sit down with Greene this week.
“False lies and conspiracy theories are cancer for the Republican Party and our country,” McConnell said in a statement Monday that was first shared with The Hill. “Someone who has suggested that maybe no planes hit the Pentagon on 9/11, that horrific school shots were pre-established, and that the Clintons crashed into JFK Jr.’s plane doesn’t live in reality.”
In addition to these conspiracy theories, Greene has also supported Facebook posts calling for the execution of Speaker Nancy Pelosi
GOP senators Nancy PelosiBiden accept more COVID-19 talks after the “excellent” first meeting. McConnell claims Taylor Greene’s scope of conspiracy theories as “cancer” in GOP country On The Money: Schumer promises Senate Senate to pass “bold” law on coronavirus, rejecting GOP offer | Republican Senators Biden sends positive vibes after the long WH MORE meeting (D-California), former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton: Tim Ryan plans to run for Ohio Senate in March: NYT Hillary Clinton urges Tim Ryan to run for Ohio Senate. Portman says Republican leadership “should stand up” against Greene’s comments MORE and former President Obama; and subscribed to another false and strange theory that the 2018 wildfires in McCarthy’s home state of California were caused by a laser from space controlled by a powerful Jewish family with cleanliness designs. of the earth.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday afternoon, McConnell tagged him again and seemed reluctant to appear to Greene in front of the television cameras.
“Yesterday I spoke out about this particular new member of the House,” said McConnell, who once again declined to refer to the front-line name of fire. “And I think I talked properly about how I feel about any effort to define the Republican party that way. I think that pretty well covers my opinion on that.”
Still, divergent approaches represent a snapshot of the torturous internal debate facing Republicans as they clash over party leadership in a world where Trump has lost his office and Twitter account, but remains very popular among the grassroots. of the Republican Party. This popularity is especially ingrained in the bright red-haired neighborhoods of the House that host its loyal followers on Capitol Hill, including reps. Jim Jordan
James (Jim) Daniel Jordan Democrats will extend their majority in the Senate in 2022 The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – What path will Democrats take in the COVID-19 bill? Jim Jordan says he will not run in the Senate in 2022 MORE (R-Ohio), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) And Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Who hold prominent positions of power within the ranks of the GOP House.
He even receives it. Tom Cole
Thomas (Tom) Jeffrey ColeCheney tests Trump on GOP post-presidential scrutiny GOP lawmaker resigns honorary college title after Electoral College vote LIVE COVERAGE: House votes to charge Trump after U.S. insurgency Chapters MORE (R-Okla.) – An institutionalist, former leadership member and powerful appropriator representing an intense red Trump district – voted to oppose the Electoral College certification on Jan. 6. He said that is what his constituents wanted.
“I’ve been studying this topic closely and listening carefully to what my constituents have to say,” Cole said at the time. “The voters I represent are not concerned about the fairness of the Oklahoma election. However, they are concerned about equity and transparency in other states.
McCarthy faces a first test Wednesday, when House Republicans will pile up behind closed doors and Cheney’s future is expected to be a topic of the day. McCarthy has hesitated on the issue, saying he supports Cheney as he expresses “concerns” about his dismissal vote with the same breath.
As McCarthy weighs in on his strategy to handle the outcry over Cheney, the highest-ranking Republican woman in Congress, McConnell is making it clear where she stands and is making life harder for McCarthy in the process.
“Liz Cheney is a leader with deep convictions and the courage to act on it,” McConnell said in a statement to CNN. “She is an important leader of our party and our nation. I am grateful for her service and look forward to continuing to work with her on the crucial issues facing our nation.”