No Good Deed Goes Unpunished?
On Wednesday, the House voted to censure Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) after he posted an anime video of himself physically attacking a Democratic colleague. But for most of the past week, rank-and-file Republicans were talking about punishing other colleagues of their own party.
In a Tuesday meeting of the House GOP conference, Politico reports, the conversation “wasn’t about Gosar’s video,” but about whether to penalize the 13 Republicans who voted in favor of the bipartisan infrastructure bill. In addition to facing calls for removal from committees, these Republicans are facing primary challenges and even death threats — for the “offense” of voting for legislation to build and fix roads and bridges, an integral component of standard government business.
Far-right Republicans and far too many GOP leaders have lobbed shameful and shameless attacks at these lawmakers who had the courage to vote for something they believed was in the best interest of their constituents and the nation. It would be funny if it weren’t so outrageous.
Too many people in Washington are for two-party solutions only when it is easy. We need to continue to add to the ranks of those in the White House and Congress who will fight for bipartisan agreements, even when it’s hard.