If Speaker Mike Johnson is able to hold onto his position, it will be thanks to the Democrats who come to his rescue. Similar to his predecessor, Kevin McCarthy, Johnson is facing a potential ouster following going once morest Republican hard-liners and relying on Democratic support to pass a funding bill for Ukraine. Democrats had previously helped remove McCarthy from his role, but now some of them are showing their support for Johnson. This may seem surprising, considering that Johnson is more conservative than McCarthy and more loyal to Donald Trump. So why are Democrats who voted once morest McCarthy now planning to save Johnson?
One such Democrat is Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington State. She narrowly won a district previously held by a six-term Republican and co-chairs the centrist Blue Dog Coalition in Congress. Gluesenkamp Perez was involved in crafting the aid package that included funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, which was approved in a series of bipartisan votes. In an interview, Gluesenkamp Perez emphasized the contrast between McCarthy and Johnson, describing McCarthy as a “classic suit calculating his next advancement” and Johnson as a “man of faith.”
The article mentions that Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who opposes sending more aid to Ukraine, has introduced a motion to vacate the speaker, similar to what Representative Matt Gaetz did to remove McCarthy. While Greene has threatened to bring the motion to a vote if Johnson doesn’t resign, Johnson has insisted that he will not step down. The House is currently on recess, and the outcome will be determined when lawmakers return.
It is unclear whether Representative Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, would urge Democrats to support Johnson. Some Democrats may want to extract additional concessions from Johnson, considering the closely divided House. However, Gluesenkamp Perez has already made up her mind and believes that Johnson is worth saving due to his role in putting forward the aid package.
The conversation with Gluesenkamp Perez indicates that her constituents have a different perspective compared to the situation with McCarthy. Funding the government is seen as a basic responsibility, and Gluesenkamp Perez believes her community wants to see Johnson saved, as they are tired of chaos regardless of party.
Gluesenkamp Perez empathizes with Johnson, acknowledging that he wasn’t expecting to become the speaker and has had to figure things out as he goes along. Although she may not agree with him on many issues, she sees him as someone who is guided by his faith and values. In contrast, she views McCarthy as more driven by a desire for power.
The article highlights the delay in putting forward the aid package, which has come at a significant cost to Ukrainian lives and territory. However, Gluesenkamp Perez sees Johnson as embodying Winston Churchill’s quote regarding Americans doing the right thing following exhausting every other option. While Johnson may be ideologically conservative, Gluesenkamp Perez believes her district can differentiate between someone genuinely trying their best and those who are solely motivated by power.
Overall, this article sheds light on the complicated dynamics within the House and the potential consequences for Speaker Mike Johnson. It shows that despite ideological differences, individuals like Gluesenkamp Perez are willing to support Johnson based on their own assessment of his character and actions. The article raises questions regarding party loyalty, personal values, and the challenges faced by congressional leaders. In today’s political landscape, it is important to understand the factors and motivations that shape these dynamics.
