Jim Jordan: A Man for No Reasons
Do Republicans Really Think Its a Good Idea to Put the Bull in Charge of the China Shop?
October 18, 2023
By Mark Horan
The job description for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives typically includes such qualities as being collaborative and respectful to other members, while being tough enough to get the job done. Surely the Republican caucus is fully aware of these requirements. So, let’s put today’s candidate Jim Jordan to the test:
1. He’s collegial and collaborative.
With 435 House members and 217 votes needed to pass legislation, it’s important for a Speaker to work well at least with the members of his own party since he has a razor-thin majority — 221 to 212. It’s widely known, however, that Gentleman Jim can be a bit rough around the edges, including brusquely pushing aside GOP colleagues who don’t know how to fight like he does, which is to say a UFC cage fighter.
2. He he has the respect of his party and can get things done.
We already have some not-great news for pugilistic Jim: 20 Republicans voted against him yesterday. That number is expected to grow to at least 25 today. Twenty may sound like a small number, but it’s a sign of weakness for Jordan, which means his chances of ruling with an iron fist, if he gets the job, are minimal.
3. He’s not an ideologue; he brings flexibility to the job.
It’s hard to discern the Jordan ideology, since it seems mostly aimed at Owning the Libs, i.e., trolling and attacking Democrats wherever and however you can. He definitely has a hard right legislative record, voting against virtually every appropriations bill brought before the House, assuming with each that that the House is spending too much, particularly on Democratic priorities, such as helping the poor and preventing a climate catastrophe.
4. He can work with the minority on bipartisan initiatives.
Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger, who regards Jordan as the worst possible Speaker candidate other than Matt Gaetz, said yesterday Jordan’s only reason for being in Congress is to destroy the Democrats. This is not a good sign for bipartisanship. Most of the bills he co-sponsors are purely partisan, lacking any Democratic signatures, according to the 2021 Bipartisan Index ratings put out by the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. The Washington post recently noted that the Index “ranked [Jordan] 428th out of 435 members in the first session of the last Congress.”
5. He has an impressive legislative track record.
Okay you right wing trolls, hold your snickering. I know legislating is for old farts who don’t understand modern political tactics, i.e., throw verbal hand grenades across Twitter (annoyingly now called X by its owner) and watch the progressives work themselves into a dither. Like it or not, I’ll say it: In days gone by, when Congress was functional, a speaker would use his or her knowledge of the legislative process to make things happen. Legislating requires old-world character traits like stick-to-itiveness, collegiality, and sometimes compromise. I know, by laying this out I’m proving how hopelessly out of touch I am. But the fact that voters are openly contemptuous of Congress and both of its parties may suggest the current way of doing business is inadequate to the task.
6. He works hard.
This one is a no-brainer. Who hasn’t seen Gentleman Jim flailing away in a committee hearing in shirt sleeves, no coat? The man clearly is laboring so hard doing the people’s business that he’s working up a sweat. (One would think rolling up one’s sleeves would make the point more emphatically but Jordan might well regard that as old-fashioned.)
7. At a minimum, he’ll uphold the Constitution.
Um…this is a tough one. Yes, Jordan has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution at the start of each new term. But he may have had his fingers crossed while doing so.
Thomas Joscelyn, one of the authors of the final report from the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack at the US Capitol told CNN that Jordan “helped organize congressional opposition to counting Biden’s certified electoral votes. None of Jordan’s efforts were rooted in legitimate objections. He simply sought to keep Donald Trump in power, contrary to the will of the American people.”
If Biden were re-elected next year and Trump again said the election was rigged, would Speaker Jordan side with him or the Constitution? Hard to know.
Jim Jordan has been an effective right-wing influencer in Congress, especially since 2016. In doing so, he’s been a lightning rod inside and outside his caucus for all his 16 years in Congress. That makes him a preposterous candidate for Speaker — like putting the bull in charge of the china shop. The best advice for today and, if he wins, going forward? Buckle up. It could be a bumpy ride.
