Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) apparently felt it was no big deal that GOP lawmakers almost got into a physical fight on the House floor over the chaotic effort to elect a new speaker.
During the 14th vote to elect a new leader Thursday night, Rep. Richard Hudson (RN.C.) appeared to hold back Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) as the latter angered his colleague Rep. Matt Gaetz (R). – Fla.).
Gaetz was among a group of about 20 GOP members who prevented Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from winning a bid to lead the Republican majority. Gaetz finally voted “now” in the 15th round on Saturday, allowing McCarthy to become speaker after he made concessions on the right-wing bloc.
On “Fox News Sunday,” host Shannon Bream mentioned the confrontation and asked Jordan how Americans can trust his party to govern after what happened.
“Democracy is sometimes ruthless, but I would argue that’s what the founders wanted,” Jordan said. “They want real debate, real input from everybody, and then you get a decision — whether it’s one vote or 15 votes, Kevin McCarthy is still the speaker of the House. I’ve seen all kinds of games go to extra rounds and overtime. That’s how it works.
The last time a House speaker election required two or more votes on the floor was 1923. The last time it required 15 or more was before the Civil War.
The impasse reflects significant divisions in the GOP caucus, and many political observers see it as a preview of what’s to come in the narrowly Republican-controlled House. Republicans won a 222-212 majority in mid-November.
Some Republicans, like Jordan, have dismissed criticism of the election circus. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), who voted against McCarthy in the first 11 rounds, deny that “a little temporary conflict” is a good thing.
“Some of the tension is visible when we see some of the interactions between Mike Rogers and Matt Gaetz, we need a little bit of that, we need a little bit of this breaking the glass,” he said.
Others, however, have expressed concern about the deal McCarthy struck. “You can’t let the insurgency caucus take over and dictate,” Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) said Sunday, predicting that this is “just the beginning” of a “rough and rowdy” session of Congress.
Democrats — and apparently, many voters — aren’t impressed with the Republican mess. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) said Sunday that he was “very concerned about the way Congress started, and I hope it doesn’t foreshadow what’s to come.”
According to a recent poll by CBS News/YouGov, a majority of 55% of respondents said they disapprove of the speaker selection process.