A Jordan Speakership Would Be Detrimental to the Republican Cause

Jordan brings no legislative track record, little experience with bipartisanship, and doesn't seem to be the unifying candidate the Republicans need.

It’s been an embarrassing two weeks for the Republicans. As of today, the span stretches to fifteen days without a House Speaker, and once again, Jim Jordan has fallen short, this time with an even larger group of defectors in tow. A handful of obstructionist Republicans, alongside well-intentioned representatives and voters, are collectively responsible for keeping the 'people's house' ensnared in a state of political paralysis

Simultaneously, Iran and its proxies, namely Hezbollah and Hamas, have wrought havoc upon the state of Israel. Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine signals an endeavor to reclaim the borders of the Soviet Union. China looks to expand its dominion over the Pacific. Remarkably, amidst these global challenges, a faction of self-styled 'conservatives,' bordering on the anarchist spectrum, has succeeded in rendering the House of Representatives ungovernable. This all stems from an egoistic temper tantrum over the former Speaker, Kevin McCarthy.

In truth, Mr. McCarthy was unequivocally the most pragmatic choice from the Republican ranks. He prioritized the welfare of our armed forces and the more than two million dedicated federal government employees by valuing his country above placating an extreme fringe of his party — a great display of patriotism. And then what? A disconcerting void left by Matt Gaetz and his cohort of seven.

In the customary trajectory, the Majority Leader is expected to ascend to the speaker's position, and Steve Scalise promptly stepped forward to stake his claim. Despite securing the majority within the House Republican Conference, he found himself rebuffed by the aforementioned fringe faction. In the context of a precarious five-seat majority, this radical minority wields an unduly outsized influence.

Unfortunately, Scalise was unable to amass the requisite 217 votes to assume the speakership. Consequently, the opportunity presented itself to Jim Jordan, a figure whom the Republican base and grassroots have long viewed with admiration. Mr. Jordan boasts a robust conservative voting record, earned prominence through his involvement in the Select Committee on Benghazi, and was a founding member of the Freedom Caucus. However, he does come with certain attendant drawbacks, which are rather substantial.

Indeed, the former Speaker of the House, John Boehner, did not mince words in characterizing Mr. Jordan as a 'legislative terrorist.' Mr. Boehner lamented, 'Jordan was a terrorist as a legislator... A legislative terrorist... I just never saw a guy who spent more time tearing things apart—never building anything, never putting anything together.' Notably, throughout his tenure in Congress, Mr. Jordan has not sponsored a single bill that successfully transitioned into law. Even more concerning, according to the Bipartisan Index ratings issued by the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, Mr. Jordan ranks as one of the least bipartisan members within the House, standing at the 428th position out of 435.

The most glaring transgression, one that tainted the candidacies of both Mr. Scalise and Mr. McCarthy, is Mr. Jordan's persistent questioning of the legitimacy of the 2020 election. Mr. Jordan ardently objected to the certification of legitimately cast electoral college votes, propagated frequently inaccurate claims regarding electoral fraud, and covertly collaborated in attempts to overturn the election results. Mr. Jordan repeatedly met with White House Staffers and Rudy Giuliani, President Trump’s legal counsel, to discuss "strategies for challenging the election, chief among them claims that the election had been tainted by fraud" according to the January 6th committee. Before January 6th, Mr. Jordan featured prominently in the encouragement of Vice President Mike Pence to 'call out all the electoral votes he believes are unconstitutional as no electoral votes at all.'

Mr. Jordan persists in asserting, albeit erroneously, that the 2020 election was rigged. When confronted by reporters during his speakership bid, he steadfastly declined to address the question. Consequently, he finds himself incapable of securing majority support within the House Republican Conference. The Republican representatives are understandably averse to endorsing an election skeptic with a limited legislative track record, much as election skeptics are disinclined to support an 'establishment RINO' (Republican In Name Only).

The reality is that Mr. Jordan lacks the requisite qualifications to unify the Republican party. His perspectives conspicuously diverge from the mainstream ideology held by the rest of the conference. It is imperative that the House proceeds to elect a speaker, particularly in light of the escalating Israeli ground offensive into Gaza, which may potentially provoke retaliatory actions from Iran. The issue of border security remains unresolved, reckless fiscal spending continues to exacerbate our national debt, and the world becomes progressively more perilous. At this juncture, projecting any semblance of vulnerability by a fractious government branch is entirely counterproductive.

Mr. Jordan was afforded a second round of voting today, yet his support dwindled considerably, failing even to attain the 200 votes he had previously garnered. Evidently, his backing waned as numerous representatives appeared to be acting under external pressure to support his candidacy. It is clear that he lacks the requisite backing to secure the speakership. We cannot remain complacent observers of the Republican infighting that is obstructing the functionality of our system. The selection of a Speaker is an imperative necessity, and given the House’s failure to do so, a superior alternative beckons.

Patrick McHenry, who has previously served as Speaker pro tempore, merits elevation to a permanent role. Mr. McHenry refrained from casting doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 election, possesses a conservative voting record, and garners a high degree of esteem from his colleagues. The ideal speaker is one who does not actively seek the position but is rather prepared to ameliorate the ongoing obstruction. The time has come for Republicans to opt for Mr. McHenry and reopen the 'people's house.'

In a world fraught with mounting challenges, the President's military aid package holds paramount significance in providing crucial support to Israel and our democratic allies. It warrants immediate passage. It is imperative that we transcend this gridlock and chaos, return to the business of governance, and allow America to lead the world. Timing is of the essence.