As Republicans in the House of Representatives gradually tear themselves apart, a target of the far-right’s anger appears unexpected. Rep. Ken Buck has spent much of his career as a prominent and consistent conservative, making him an unlikely foe for the conference’s more radical members.
And yet, the Colorado Republican finds himself increasingly isolated at the Capitol. Various members of the GOP are working to recruit a primary challenger to take on Buck, and members such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene want Buck removed from the House Judiciary Committee and the conference whip team.
The right-wing Georgian told CNN there was an “incredible” level of frustration with Buck within the conference, and CNN’s Melanie Zanona said the “knives are out” for the Coloradan.
Tensions gradually increased over the year – Buck, for example, took criminal allegations against Donald Trump seriously while other members of his party did not – but the member’s skepticism Congress over an impeachment inquiry targeting President Joe Biden has increased animosity. to new levels.
The conflict within the party has effectively left Buck with a choice: He can abandon his principles and stick to the partisan script, as many congressional Republicans have done in recent years, or he can stick to his positions.
At least for now, Buck is taking the latter route.
Late last week, after CNN asked him if he had changed his mind about an impeachment inquiry after the last meeting of the House Republican conference, Buck said he had skipped the meeting. “I haven’t heard a specific fact at a conference in a long time,” he said.
A day later, the Washington Post published a striking editorial written by the Colorado congressman, destroying his party’s arguments against the outgoing Democratic president.
Republicans in the House who are eager to be impeached are relying on an imaginary story. Their investigation, officially announced Tuesday by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), is based largely on a fictionalized version of Shokin’s career, with the alleged Burisma investigation at its center. It’s an interesting story and one that works well in some media circles. But impeachment is a serious matter and must be based on solid facts.
Note that the editorial did not say the impeachment inquiry was premature; he actually argued that this was based on myths and lies. “These facts – like all facts – are stubborn,” he wrote.
Of course, the opinion piece is not without its flaws. Buck went on to claim that Trump’s first impeachment was based on “flimsy” evidence, and I think any fair assessment of the 2019 evidence proves otherwise.
But the bottom line remains the same: The House Republican is under enormous pressure to fall in line and support a partisan crusade against Biden, regardless of his merit, and Buck is nonetheless telling his party what he doesn’t want. not hear.
What sort of electoral consequences should he expect to face because of his principled stance? Watch this place.
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