Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) recently said she wants to “turn down the temperature” now that Republicans control the House — but she still has a choice of words for right-wing congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-). Ga.).
“I have been asked to explain MTG’s belief about the Jewish space laser, why he appeared at the white supremacy conference. … I just don’t want to go there,” Boebert told The Associated Press in an interview during the House speaker election, referring to one of Greene’s most widely ridiculed conspiracy theories. “He wants to say all this and it doesn’t seem like he’s on Twitter, that’s why.”
Boebert and Greene, though on the same edge of the political spectrum, apparently did not share a warm relationship at the time. Both sides have been publicly feuding in recent weeks over Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s bid for House speakership, which Greene fervently made – breaking from the bloc of far-right Republican colleagues.
Last month, Boebert attacked Greene at a conservative conference in Phoenix, criticizing him for believing in absurd conspiracy theories and supporting McCarthy as speaker. Greene fired back on Twitter, accusing Boebert of “high school drama” and noting that the Colorado Republican won re-election by a hair.
Boebert is one of the most high-profile opponents of House leader McCarthy’s bid. However, in the 14th and 15th rounds of voting, he switched from supporting other candidates to voting “now”, helping to clear the way for McCarthy to finally pick up the gavel.
In an interview last month with CBS Colorado, Boebert said he plans to tone down his heated rhetoric now that Republicans lead the House, per the advice of his constituents, who reelected him in November by a surprisingly slim margin.
“I think the biggest thing from what I’ve seen and from what I’ve heard from my constituents is that I’m right about the policy, but everyone is ready for Washington, DC, to lower the temperature,” she said. “And I’m very excited and optimistic that we have the opportunity to do that now.”
In the same Associated Press interview in which he slammed Greene, Boebert noted that the narrow re-election “opened my eyes to another opportunity to do everything I’ve promised.”
According to Boebert, that includes focusing on delivering policies that are implemented rather than “left-wing,” and working to reduce conflict and “bring unity.”
In his first term, Boebert built a national profile of extremism, hate embracing unfettered gun rights, religious rhetoric and sycophantic support for former President Donald Trump. Although he was mocked by Greene for believing in what he called “Jewish space lasers,” Boebert, too, has played with the conspiracy nonsense, expressing his support for the QAnon movement, which has a network of pedophiles largely controlled by Democratic Party leaders and donors.