'Very disruptive': GOP lawmakers privately cheer right-wing media attack on 'Moscow Marjorie'

25 April 2024

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's (R-Georgia) threats to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) were recently panned in conservative publications. Now, even other Republican lawmakers are piling on.

Axios recently reported that several unnamed GOP members of Congress who identify as more traditional "Reagan Republicans" were glad to see right-wing media outlets blast Greene over her attempts to strip Johnson of the speaker's gavel. Greene has been threatening to bring a motion to vacate Johnson to the House floor over his recent decision to hold a vote on sending additional aid to Ukraine (which passed both chambers of Congress and was signed into law by President Joe Biden). One unnamed Republican lawmaker told Axios that they were satisfied to see Greene's threats not affect Johnson's judgment on helping Ukraine fight against Russia.

"[T]his was a reassertion towards Reagan Republicans who understand ... that strength sometimes requires a monetary investment to overseas partners and allies," the lawmaker said.

Earlier this week, MSNBC columnist Molly Jong-Fast noted that many conservative publications like the New York Post, Fox News and even far-right network Newsmax were all united in their disdain for the Georgia Republican. One column in Fox News even referred to Greene as an "idiot" who is "trying to wreck the GOP." A Republican elected official anonymously told Axios that they viewed the conservative media backlash to Greene as a welcome trend to the MAGAfication of the Republican Party.

"The party has kind of morphed over the last 10, 20 years and this was a counter trend," the Republican said.

Another Republican said that while they supported Johnson's decision to vote on the foreign aid package, they understood Greene's posturing simply as the firebrand congresswoman waving the flag for Team Red.

"It [Greene's comments] has been very disruptive," the lawmaker said. "But in the end I still think it comes down to rank partisanship. The Democrats early on made this their issue. They wear the pins on their lapels."

More recently, Greene's campaign to force Johnson out prompted New York Times columnist Michelle Cottle to wonder if her antics were frustrating other members of the House majority's far-right fringe.

"It's not simply that Ms. Greene has taken such a (Vladimir) Putin-pleasing approach to Russia's war in Ukraine — Ukrainian Nazis? Really? — that the term 'useful idiot' feels unavoidable," Cottle wrote. "She has, in very little time, undermined the influence of her party's entire right flank, driving less unhinged Republicans — most notably the House speaker, Mike Johnson — to brush back her and her ilk like the poo-flinging chaos monkeys they are."

Greene has yet to officially introduce her motion to vacate, but the motion does notably have the support of Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona) and Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky), meaning if all Democrats vote with those three Republicans, Johnson would be given the boot. However, several Democrats have indicated that if the motion were brought, they would vote to keep him in his role due to him fulfilling his promise to vote on Ukraine aid.

Click here to read Axios' full report.

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