The Republican Congresswoman Taking on Lauren Boebert
Why is a South Carolina Republican policing her party’s far-right flank? Here are three possibilities.
In a world where elected Republicans were not terrified of the most extreme elements of their base, the response to Representative Lauren Boebert’s open Islamophobia would have been swift public condemnation. We do not live in that world.
Kevin McCarthy, the leader of the House Republicans, has not denounced Boebert’s comparing Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota to a suicide bomber. He knows that scolding her could anger the base, divide his caucus, and threaten his dream of someday being crowned speaker of the House. Other congressional Republicans recognize this reality too, which is why so few of them denounced Boebert’s “jihad squad” comments or Representative Paul Gosar’s as a member.
