House Republicans now have nine candidates seeking to become the next speaker following Rep. Jim Jordan's withdrawal as the nominee. While each of the new contenders says they want to get the House back to business, there is one piece of old business that should be considered in the choice of the next nominee: were they willing participants in Donald Trump's stolen election nuttery?
Those who embraced the former president's scheme are unfit to become speaker. Not because they can't get the votes but because of their disdain for the nation's institutions, principles and the rule of law.
The early look at the nine new contenders isn't promising. According to The Hill, six of the eight speaker candidates who were House members when the 2020 electoral votes were counted sided with the stolen election drivel.
Only Minnesota Rep. Tom Emmer and Georgia Rep. Austin Scott refused to join their GOP colleagues in overturning electoral votes.
That's a depressing commentary on the fidelity many in the GOP caucus have for the Constitution and our civic norms. But it also offers an uncompromising view of the political culture that not only sent them to Washington but kept them there. (RELATED: Report: Fox News Quietly Discontinued Live Television Interviews With Trump)
But there's a chance, however slim, that the days of the election deniers may be drawing to a close:
Some Republicans, such as Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.), are saying that the candidates' stances on who won the 2020 election will factor into their votes. Buck, one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust McCarthy, told reporters Friday that declaring President Biden as the lawful winner of the 2020 election will be one of his criteria when choosing a new candidate.
McCarthy, Jordan and Scalise were among Republicans who voted in favor of overturning those election results.
McCarthy, Jordan, and Scalise…a former speaker and two failed nominees. One senses a pattern here as the deniers fall away, perhaps, finally, giving way to a Republican who is both serious about the job ahead and respectful of the institution in which he serves.
The remarks Mr. Emmer made following the Jan. 6 vote – and riot – are a case in point:
…Emmer condemned the attack, while dismissing suggestions lawmakers had the constitutional power to overturn the election results.
“Today's events in Washington were an unacceptable display of violence that runs counter to everything we stand for as a country,” Emmer said.
“There is no excuse for reasonable debate and discourse to be replaced by destruction and chaos. Regardless of whether it's in the halls of Congress or in our communities, we must return to a place where we can engage one another with respect, regardless of our political views.”
Rep. Scott was similarly clear and forceful:
…Scott described the “violence and destruction” seen at the Capitol as “disgraceful.”
“And it is tragic that a woman lost her life and others died from secondary causes. The criticism of the U.S. Capitol Police is also disgraceful, and it is my understanding that more than 50 Capitol Police were injured,” Scott said.
“As I stated in a letter to House Leadership on Tuesday, Congress does not have the Constitutional authority to overturn a state's electoral votes—nor does the vice president—and I believe my decision to support the Electoral College fulfills my sworn oath to the Constitution.”
It's time to make oaths to uphold the Constitution great again.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.
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