Why Republicans Keep Shielding Marjorie Taylor Greene
By Gil Filipovich
Kevin McCarthy, head of the House Republican minority, finally spoke out against Marjorie Taylor Greene's harmful and bigoted rhetoric on Tuesday, after a backlash to Greenes likening mask mandates to the Holocaust. McCarthy declared that the House had "condemned the language" and that Greene was wrong in comparing mask-wearers to victims of the Nazi genocide.
However, McCarthy's remarks were tepid at best, and fellow House Republican Steve Scalise issued a watered down statement through his spokesperson, simply stating that he disagreed with Greenes comments. Neither McCarthy nor Scalise used this opportunity to criticize Greene without making false comparisons or defending other party members who have made equally problematic statements.
It's unfortunate that not even some Republicans are willing to publicly condemn Greene's latest dangerous and bigoted utterances. The party certainly has the power to choose a better future, but they continue to follow the dangerous path that former President Donald Trump set.
When the Republicans decided to support Trump in his bid for the presidency, they made a pact with the devil. They saw the resonance in his message of sexism, racism, anti-immigrant sentiments, and alternate realities (though it didn't help them retain power), and they continued to cling to this approach when critiquing Democrats.
Republican leaders only condemned Greene's statements after other members of her own party and prominent conservatives spoke out against her. The reluctance to address the issue head-on speaks volumes about the rot within the Republican Party and broader Conservative movements.
Greene is not the only Republican who has fallen into this trap. She's just evidence A. Greene's long history of hateful and bigoted remarks includes:
- Attacking blacks by labeling them as "slaves of the Democrat party"
- Calling Holocaust survivor George Soros a "Nazi"
- Promoting conspiracy theories, such as 9/11 being a hoax
- Suggesting that Nancy Pelosi could be executed for treason
- Spreading nonsense, such as Californian wildfires being caused by lasers controlled by the Rothschilds
The Republican leadership knows who Greene is and still continues to support her, despite occasional criticisms. Greene's support within the party stems from several factors:
- Strong Base Support: Greene has the backing of a strong base of conservative Republicans who appreciate her unwavering support for former President Donald Trump and her defiant conservative stances
- Endorsement from Trump: The former President has endorsed Greene in her primary elections on multiple occasions, which significantly boosts her chances of winning
- Ideological Alignment: Greene's conservative policies and actions are in line with the more extreme wing of the Republican Party
- Symbolic Value: Greene serves as a symbol of the party's commitment to its base, and her divisive statements can energize her supporters
- Strategic Calculations: Some Republicans may overlook Greene's actions for fear of alienating her supporters, or they may see her presence as beneficial for maintaining a cohesive conservative bloc
While the base may not be as fixed or unchanging as some politicians believe, there is still a significant portion that supports Greene. Rather than coddling these extremists, Republican leaders should take responsibility for leading their party in a more constructive direction.
Trump's Twitter megaphone had been silenced, but that doesn't mean that his supporters will forever lose interest in his message. The opportunity exists for the Republican Party to distance itself from conspiracy theorists, bigots, Islamophobes, anti-Semites, racists, and reality deniers.
It won't be easy, and it may cost the party some temporary support, but this is a choice they have to make. They can choose to acknowledge the problem and take steps to fix it, or they can continue to enable these divisive voices and watch their party disintegrate from within.
Regardless of the decision, one thing is for certain: Greene's comments are not only false, but they also indicate that the Republican Party and Conservative movement are unable or unwilling to change their course. This is not merely an indictment of Trump supporters; it is also a critique of the Party and its leadership.
[Source: edition.cnn.com]
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