Rube Reaper
Elite
Far too many Republicans serve in Congress under a constant cloud of fear. Let’s call them the Fear Caucus. This group of decent men and women are unfortunately too worried about their own positions to publicly say what they believe about the former President’s conduct, temperament and fitness for office. What McCarthy said in exasperation about Trump’s responsibility for the Capitol riot probably reflects the sentiments of the majority of House and Senate Republicans. But what these Republicans are willing to say in public is too often another story.
These members must muster the courage to take a stand and call out radical elements within the party like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Madison Cawthorn, Matt Gaetz and a few others who have made extreme and inflammatory comments part of their political brand. GOP members of the Fear Caucus must also overcome their anxieties and speak out about former President Trump, especially when it comes to the lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
Silence only empowers the fringe elements of the GOP and fear makes even the most essential governance, like raising the debt ceiling or passing necessary funding bills, extraordinarily difficult. Sitting on the sidelines and hoping ‘YES’ while voting ‘NO’ is not what amounts to a profile in courage. Even worse, governing out of fear is often rewarded with understandable skepticism from voters and can lead to the very thing these members are seeking to avoid most: a primary challenge from the right.
www.cnn.com
These members must muster the courage to take a stand and call out radical elements within the party like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Madison Cawthorn, Matt Gaetz and a few others who have made extreme and inflammatory comments part of their political brand. GOP members of the Fear Caucus must also overcome their anxieties and speak out about former President Trump, especially when it comes to the lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
Silence only empowers the fringe elements of the GOP and fear makes even the most essential governance, like raising the debt ceiling or passing necessary funding bills, extraordinarily difficult. Sitting on the sidelines and hoping ‘YES’ while voting ‘NO’ is not what amounts to a profile in courage. Even worse, governing out of fear is often rewarded with understandable skepticism from voters and can lead to the very thing these members are seeking to avoid most: a primary challenge from the right.
Opinion: Fear is destroying the GOP from inside out | CNN
Far too many Republicans serve in Congress under a constant cloud of fear, writes Charlie Dent. This group of decent men and women are unfortunately too worried about their own positions to publicly say what they believe about Trump's conduct, temperament and fitness for office
