Push to censure Tlaib divides Georgia Republicans
McCormick, Greene spar over Tlaib censure push
Two Georgia Republican lawmakers have introduced rival measures censure U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), the only Palestinian-American member of Congress who has been critical of the United States’ support for Israel.
Rep. Tlaib is drawing backlash from Republicans and even some Democrats after saying on X that President Joe Biden is supporting a “genocide” of Palestinians.
U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Rome) quickly reintroduced a privileged resolution to censure Tlaib. A privileged resolution means that it must face a vote within two legislative days. A similar move by Greene was defeated on the House floor last week after its language was criticized
But another Georgian, U.S. Rep. Rich McCormick (R-Suwanee), introduced a similar resolution Monday after he and around two dozen of his Republican colleagues joined with all Democrats to table Greene’s censure motion last week.
“My resolution is factual, measured, and has significant support, he said. “I am hopeful that it will pass this body with bipartisan support.”
Rep. McCormick reportedly approached Greene and offered to co-lead the push with her if she agreed to change some of the language in the resolution, an offer that Greene refused.
“A source familiar with the floor interaction noted that McCormick approached Greene after the resolution was tabled and did not voice his concerns to Greene ahead of the vote. The source also said McCormick wanted to introduce the revised resolution himself, which Greene was not interested in.”
Rep. Greene spoke with the right-leaning Daily Caller Tuesday, and she had strong words for McCormick and the other Republican lawmakers who blocked her move to censure Tlaib last week.
“We had 23 Republicans that voted with the Democrats to table my resolution because they claimed they were protecting what [Rep. Tlaib] did to leave freedom of speech, which is jaw-dropping to me because I wasn’t silencing her freedom of speech,” Greene said.
She went on to say that her Georgia colleague “got his ego severely bruised” when he voted with Democrats to block her measure last week. She also said that she believes her conference will side with his censure resolution because the language isn’t as strong.
“Our Republican conference won’t be able to stand in with me. They’ll probably prop up rich McCormick’s little censure resolution because it doesn’t hurt anyone’s feelings, especially Rashida Tlaib,” she said.