The crazies in the Freedom Caucus in the House appear to have taken over the insane asylum known as the House Republican Conference.
Although moderates such as Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) have always been at odds with the Freedom Caucus, he is now working with them to defeat the Democratic agenda. McCarthy gave his blessing last week to members of the Freedom Caucus when they stopped floor action for hours in protest of a Democratic measure against government shutdowns.
The House Freedom Caucus was created to make life hell for the majority. Now, it’s the Democrats’ turn to suffer
The House Freedom Caucus was created to make life hell for the majority. Now, it’s the Democrats’ turn to sufferhttps://t.co/KN70jDDY0d
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— POLITICO (@politico) February 1, 2019
For now the hardcore right-wing conservatives in the House have agreed to stop antagonizing Republican leaders such as McCarthy. Which means the factions within the GOP House Caucus have temporarily united as they try to make life miserable for the Democratic majority.
It was just two months ago that members of the Freedom Caucus tried to defeat McCarthy as GOP leader. And now he’s plotting with Freedom Caucus leader Rep. Mark Meadows (R-NC) to disrupt the House so Democrats can’t get anything done.
“I can come up with all kinds of creative ways to slow down the floor progress,†Meadows said. “Those creative ways are being used in a unified way in the minority.â€
Liz Cheney (R-WY) the chairman of the Republican Conference, has been working with McCarthy to coordinate GOP attacks against Democratic investigations of Trump. And the tactics they are using were taken directly from Freedom Caucus bag of tricks, especially those of chief disruptor Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
McCarthy explained his strategy by saying;
“You need the conference to work as one. You work as one, we’re stronger. I feel we’re very unified.â€
He also said that he and other Republican House leaders agree the party must stick together if they have any hope of regaining their majority status in the House after next year’s elections.
“You’re in the minority — your choice is either swim together or sink together,†said Rep. Mark Walker, vice chairman of the House Republican Conference. “Next thing, they’ll be having drinks together.â€
Meadows agreed, saying he has a good relationship with McCarthy and he is not surprised the party is embracing his hard-line tactics.
The informal and temporary truce resulted from the historic drubbing Republicans took at the polls in last November’s midterm elections.
“I think in the minority you find less things that you’re against, and you find more things that you’re for,†said Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), who led the protest votes on the floor.
Many people believe that the House GOP is naturally becoming more cohesive after the 2018 elections depleted the Republican Party’s moderate wing. As moderates have retired or lost their seats in Congress, the party has grown much more conservative, and McCarthy knows this.
So for now the House GOP is acting like one big happy family as they attempt to undermine and subvert the House majority. Their efforts are doomed to fail, however, as the Democrats in power represent the will of the people, and the people want Congress to get things done. All the Republicans — especially the Freedom Caucus — know how to do is disrupt government and prevent positive action on the country’s problems.
I am a lifelong Democrat with a passion for social justice and progressive issues. I have degrees in writing, economics and law from the University of Iowa.
