'How crazy is too crazy?' MTG’s 'disruptive' antics are even alienating MAGA Republicans
For all the scathing criticism she has received from liberals, progressives, Democrats and Never Trump conservatives, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) has become a prominent figure in the U.S. House of Representatives' Republican majority. Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-California) hailed her as an ally, and Fox News has often treated her like a mainstream conservative and a credible source of information rather than a far-right MAGA conspiracy theorist who once claimed that "Jewish space lasers" were causing wildfires in California.
But in an op-ed published on April 24, the New York Times' Michelle Cottle wonders if Greene's "disruptive" antics are now alienating even the most hard-right Republicans.
Greene continues to push for Rep. Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to be ousted as speaker — a push that everyone from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) to liberal Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California) has come out against.
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"In our Trump-era politics," Cottle argues, "there's always the question of how crazy is too crazy — how disruptive and extreme an elected official can get before becoming so embarrassing that members of her own team feel compelled to abandon her? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene seems to have reached that outer limit. Again."
The New York Times opinion writer continues, "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. 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 opposes military aide to Ukraine because she views President Volodymyr Zelensky as anti-Christian, praising Russian President Vladimir Putin as a defender of Christianity. And the Georgia congresswoman has enjoyed very favorable coverage in pro-Putin, government-owned Russian media.
"At this point, the most enthusiastic base of support for Ms. Greene's shenanigans may be the Kremlin," Cottle writes. "More food for thought, congresswoman: When Russian propagandists start praising your politics and beauty, it's time to rethink your life choices."
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Nonetheless, Cottle also wonders if criticism of Greene in the GOP is only temporary.
"In these MAGAtastic times," Cottle explains, "the humbled Ms. Greene could rebound faster than you can say 'total presidential immunity.' But for now, her flapping and flailing are satisfying to behold."
READ MORE: Marjorie Taylor Greene's letter to Mike Johnson 'marks a new escalation': columnist
Michelle Cottle's full New York Times op-ed is available at this column (subscription required).
