Congress Republicans are currently engaged in a high-stakes game of “Musical Chairs,” but rather than circling folding chairs, they’re actually circling the sought-after Speaker’s gavel. Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) is the most recent candidate to fall short in this game, which has made conservatives very angry.
It was Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) who led the effort to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) which started all of this. He called the secret vote to remove Jordan as the Republican choice “swampy.”
Gaetz spoke to reporters soon after the vote and said:
“The most widely supported Republican in Congress was just slashed in a private meeting in the Capitol basement by a secret ballot. It’s really swampy, and Jim Jordan really deserved much more than that.”
For conservative voters, particularly those who supported McCarthy’s removal, the fact that Republicans cast secret ballots to remove Jordan has been a source of contention. But what will this mean for the relationship between the extreme and moderate mainstream GOP groups in the House?
Voters are said to be shielded from peer pressure by using the secret ballot technique. When it’s used in a meeting with a bunch of politicians behind closed doors, though, it brings up some important issues. Gaetz said that the process was like the “Washington swamp.” Hard not to agree for people who want things to be open and honest. In fact, it keeps lawmakers from being held responsible and keeps the public from closely watching them.
Jordan’s fall seems to show how deeply divided House Republicans are from the people who vote for them. The crack in the party could break it apart, especially with this new information. Since former President Trump got into politics, there has been a civil war within the party, and this shows how bad it is.
It raises another crucial question, though: What does this signify for Congress moving forward? The Republicans in the House will choose a speaker at some point. Regardless of the decision, it is certain to cause controversy. Some people may think that Jordan wasn’t given a good chance to be Speaker, which will only make things worse.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL): “The most popular Republican in the United States Congress was just knifed by a secret ballot, in a private meeting, in the basement of the Capitol. It's as swampy as swamp gets, and Jim Jordan deserved better than that.” pic.twitter.com/mdsNa7bdEd
— The Recount (@therecount) October 20, 2023
This being the case, it makes sense to guess what this might mean for passing laws in the future. If things get worse between Republicans in the House, it might be harder to pass legislation that benefits both parties. It’s likely that the congressional process will get stuck even more since making laws will be like herding cats.
