'Failed actors and comedians': Analysts slam wannabe 'famous' GOP’s 'perverse incentive structure'

Over the last few weeks, a handful of U.S. representatives have announced their retirement, many citing "frustration about the polarization and paralysis that has gripped the institution particularly this year," according to The New York Times.

During Sunday's episode of Velshi, guest host Charles Coleman Jr. spoke with Vanity Fair correspondent Molly Jong-Fast and podcast host Dean Obeidallah about what a "huge exodus" from Congress means for 2024 and beyond.

"The problem is that Republicans have gotten this perverse incentive structure, where they want to become famous," Jong-Fast said. "You have Marjorie Taylor Greene's, you have Lauren Boebert — people who are not in Congress to legislate. They're in Congress to be famous. A great example is Representative [Paulina] Luna (R-FL). These are failed actors and comedians. They are not lawyers, so I do think that you are seeing those who are sort of serious people, like the [U.S. Senator] Mitt Romneys (R-UT), who want to leave office. And that's gonna be a real problem, because the whole goal, and of course the whole job, is to create legislation and pass laws. And these people like Marjorie Taylor Greene are not interested in that. They're interested in small dollar donations, and getting famous."

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Coleman said, "Now Dean, one of the people who is not seeking reelection is Congressman Dean Phillips, of Minnesota. He announced in late October that he was going to be challenging President Biden in a run for president, which is, simply put, beyond a long shot. He tweeted this on social media: 'If it's Joe Biden versus Donald Trump, I will do everything I can to defend democracy beginning November 6th because Donald Trump is going to win.' Now is this actually going to help democracy, or we just looking at the textbook notion of a spoiler candidate."

Obeidallah replied, "Dean Phillips has no shot, and to Molly's point for quick second here, there are members of congress I wish would retire. Can we get Marjorie Taylor Greene to leave? Can we trade them to a foreign parliament, and have some sort of trades like in sports teams, Lauren Boebert, please go. What's it gonna take? Newsmax, give her a show, so she leaves. This is what they're doing. They're not doing legislation, they're auditioning for Newsmax, and Fox News. They don't high five over legislation. They high five over a callback at Newsmax, and I get my own show. That is what we're dealing with. This is not a spoiler, he is running, he knows he's gonna get four or five percent, it's not gonna change things. If you want defend democracy now, stand with our democratic nominee, who will be Joe Biden. Because this election is not Trump versus Biden. It's Trump versus democracy. It's Trump versus reproductive freedom. And that fight is now, it's not November 6th, after the election. It's today, so stand with us right now in this fight to preserve our democratic republic."

Watch the video below or at this link.

'In congress to be famous': Analysts slam GOP lawmakers over 'perverse incentive structure'youtu.be

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