Arrogant Republican Extremists Thumb Their Noses At Voters-- Dare Them To Stand Up For Themselves

59% of likely voters disapprove of banning the most-used abortion medication, mifepristone. Only 33% of likely voters approve of the ban. Even among likely Republican voters, 40% disapprove of the ban. And yet congressional Republicans are rushing headlong into defending the ban— potentially alienating mainstream voters.

On Tuesday, Stephen Neukam reported that 69 House Republicans and 11 Senate Republicans “filed a brief urging an appeals court to uphold the decision of a federal judge in Texas last week that would halt the prescription of a widely used abortion pill, after [240] congressional Democrats lobbied for a reversal of the ruling. The House Republicans that signed on were led by Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) and included the likes of Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) and Jim Banks (R-IN). They argued that the federal government approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, which has been approved for over 20 years, is ‘unlawful.’ The 11 Republican senators who signed on were led by Sen. Cindy Hyde Smith (MS) and included Sens. Marco Rubio (FL) and Rick Scott (FL).”

The other GOP signatories were Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), James Lankford (R-OK), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Thune (R-SD), Mike Braun (R-IN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), James Risch (R-ID), John Hoeven (R-ND) and Roger Marshall (R-KS).

The House extremists who signed on included original co-signers Robert Aderholt (AL). Mark Alford (MO), Jodey Arrington (TX), Brian Babin (TX), Jim Banks (IN), Cliff Bentz (OR), Andy Biggs (AZ), Lauren Boebert (CO), Mike Bost (IL), Michael Burgess (TX), Jerry Carl (AL), Buddy Carter (GA), Ben Cline (VA), Michael Cloud (TX), Andrew Clyde (GA), Warren Davidson (OH), Jeff Duncan (SC), Jake Ellzey (TX), Ron Estes (KS), Mike Ezell (MS), Randy Feenstra (IA), Virginia Foxx (NC), Russ Fulcher (ID), Tony Gonzales (TX), Bob Good (VA), Michael Guest (MS), Andy Harris (MD), Diana Harshbarger (TN), Kevin Hern (OK), Ronny Jackson (TX), Bill Johnson (OH), Mike Johnson (LA), Trent Kelly (MS), Doug LaMalfa (CA), Doug Lamborn (CO), Debbie Lesko (AZ), Lisa McClain (MI), Mary Miller (IL), John Moolenaar (MI), Alex Mooney (WV), Nathaniel Moran (TX), Andy Ogles (TN), David Rouzer (NC), Keith Self (TX), Pete Sessions (TX), Adrian Smith (NE), Chris Smith (NJ), Claudia Tenney (NY), Randy Weber (TX), Daniel Webster (FL), Brad Wenstrup (OH), Roger Williams (TX), and Joe Wilson (SC).

Vulnerable Republicans— even anti-Choice fanatics— ran in the other direction, savvy enough to want nothing to do with the amicus brief for such an unpopular position. None of the Long Island or Hudson Valley Republicans signed on, not even George Santos, or whatever his name is. And nervous Republicans in Iowa— Mariannette —Miller-Meeks, Zach Nunn and Ashley Hinson—and among California Republicans who have drawn credible opponents— Kevin Kiley, David Valadao, John Durate, Mike Garcia, Jay Obernolte, Young Kim, Michelle Steel, Kevin Calvert.

The Republicans in relatively close districts who did sign on are either crazy and stupid like Lauren Boebert or more worried about primary challenges than about the general election, like Tony Gonzales. For independent voters this is just another example of why voting for a Republican candidate is a bad idea.

Yesterday, Dan Pfeiffer took a look at how the GOP culture war has backfired in their faces. "The 'Culture War' is a broad term, but it highlights divisive issues centered around identity— race, gender and sexual orientation. Crime and immigration fall into this category because Republicans use them as none-too-subtle proxies for race. Cultural wedge issues have sat at the center of GOP strategy for more than a half century— Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy, George H.W. Bush’s “Willie Horton” ad, and George W. Bush’s homophobic crusade against marriage equality. For decades, abortion has been THE prototypical wedge issue. Republicans used it to rev up their voters and Democrats worked overtime to change the subject or sand down the differences with focus-grouped phrases like 'safe, legal, and rare.' All of that changed in recent years. As the Republicans squeeze more turnout from a shrinking base, the party’s position on cultural issues drifts further and further from the mainstream. Extremist, less electable candidates pushing unpopular policies has become the norm. And the Republicans are paying a significant price. Abortion and marriage equality are now points of strength for Democrats. There are signs that Democrats can make similar progress on other issues, including crime and the GOP’s anti-trans agenda."