As reported recently, sparks are flying in Congress, not just across the aisle but within the ranks of the conservative leaders we all know and admire. Leaked text messages show a heated exchange between two well-known figures: Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Matt Gaetz.
Greene, known for her vocal support of former President Donald Trump, found herself defending her conservative credentials in a text message sent to Gaetz. This came in the wake of a public feud with influential conservative commentator Steve Bannon and amidst a mounting critique of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from California.
In recent times, Greene has openly thrown her support behind McCarthy, endorsing his leadership campaign earlier this year despite Gaetz’s strong opposition. Interestingly, her voting record lines up with McCarthy’s stance an impressive 94% of the time.
Greene’s text to Gaetz was emphatic: “I have almost the same identical voting record as Thomas Massie, the most fiscally conservative member of Congress. And I voted with him on this bill,” referring to McCarthy’s recent debt ceiling agreement with President Joe Biden. Greene defended her position against those who accuse her of betraying her MAGA roots.
Taking a swipe at Bannon, Greene highlighted his tenure as senior counsel to Trump and pointed out his role in a previous debt ceiling increase, arguing that Bannon’s call for her to be challenged in a primary was hypocritical. She stated, “Bannon is reckless and nowhere near fiscally responsible, is now telling everyone I should be primaried.”
In response to Bannon’s call for primary challenges against her and Ohio Representative Jim Jordan over their support of the debt ceiling deal, Greene remained confident. She dismissed any potential threat from Bannon and conservative activist Laura Loomer, who has indicated she might consider running against Greene.
In her text, Greene had some choice words for her critics: “Steve, Loomer, and any other POS attacking me will not beat me.”
She proceeded to express her aversion to reconciling with Bannon, even going so far as to characterize him as a “toxic and bad individual.” She concluded by urging Gaetz to relay her message to Bannon that any notion of a renewed alliance was off the table.
The leaked texts have also alluded to some friction between Greene and fellow House Freedom Caucus member, Representative Lauren Boebert.
At a time when unity within conservative ranks is of utmost importance, these exchanges reveal the complex dynamics at play. While we respect the independent spirit that defines conservative politics, let’s remember that our shared values and collective goals are what make us strong. As conservatives, let’s focus on keeping our house in order so we can continue to be the voice of the people who rely on us to uphold the principles that make our nation great.
