Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Tuesday that he doesn’t understand what House Republicans will gain from opposing Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) for the role.
Gingrich challenged them to explain their “end game.”
“I do not understand what the CONTRARIAN house republicans think they will gain by opposing Speaker Mike Johnson. They have no one who can get more votes. they risk crippling President Trump’s electoral win on January 6. They are in effect allies of the Democrats. I challenge them to explain what their end game is other than noise,” Gingrich said.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) accepted the challenge.
“First let me note that the ‘vote for Mike’ camp is not trying to make the case that Mike Johnson is endowed with the qualities necessary to lead our conference. Even you have limited yourself here to procedural justifications for his speakership rather than telling us why he is a good or capable leader,” Massie said.
“Even if Mike’s entire goal is to do everything Trump wants without debate or question (which I would argue is not healthy for the institution of Congress), he’s not going to be good at it. He already demonstrated this month that he won’t tell the President what is achievable and what is not achievable in the House, and he lacks the situational awareness himself to know what can pass and what cannot,” he continued.
Challenge accepted.
First let me note that the “vote for Mike” camp is not trying to make the case that Mike Johnson is endowed with the qualities necessary to lead our conference. Even you have limited yourself here to procedural justifications for his speakership rather than…
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 31, 2024
FULL TEXT:
Challenge accepted.
First let me note that the “vote for Mike” camp is not trying to make the case that Mike Johnson is endowed with the qualities necessary to lead our conference. Even you have limited yourself here to procedural justifications for his speakership rather than telling us why he is a good or capable leader.
Even if Mike’s entire goal is to do everything Trump wants without debate or question (which I would argue is not healthy for the institution of Congress), he’s not going to be good at it. He already demonstrated this month that he won’t tell the President what is achievable and what is not achievable in the House, and he lacks the situational awareness himself to know what can pass and what cannot.
1. “What do we hope to gain?”
A competent Speaker who has the will and the ability to capitalize on this once in a decade opportunity. Johnson is not up for this task. Also, we want a Speaker who inspires the public and who can make our case in the media, so we can keep the majority for the second half of Trump’s term. Johnson nearly led us to the minority in what was a banner year for Trump. He is certain to lose us the majority in 2026.2. “No one can get more votes.”
It’s somewhat ridiculous to assert that Mike Johnson is the only member of Congress electable to Speaker. He was only electable the first time because he hadn’t held any type of leadership position, nor had he ever fought for anything, so no one disliked him and everyone was tired of voting. He won by being the least objectionable candidate, and he no longer possesses that title.3. “Risk crippling Trump’s win.”
This is argument is a scare tactic, meant to stampede the masses, plain and simple. There is no legal or parliamentary argument for nullifying the national election if a speaker is not in place on January 6th.4. “They are allies of the democrats”
Actually it is Mike Johnson who routinely passes major legislation (Ukraine, Omnibus, FISA spying) with only a minority of republicans, and relying on most democrats. He also owes his current speakership to the democrats. Here’s the roll call for the motion to table the motion to vacate last summer. Pelosi and Jeffries teamed up to save Johnson:
https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2024/roll188.xmlIn closing, the emperor has no clothes and the entire conference knows it but few will say it. The general public knows it too. Please don’t shoot the messengers
Massie shared the results of a poll he conducted on X that allowed users to vote for who they wanted as House Speaker.
to wit pic.twitter.com/nmyjov84cP
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 31, 2024
“My reply to Newt Gingrich who I respectfully consider to have been a great Speaker,” Massie said.
My reply to Newt Gingrich who I respectfully consider to have been a great Speaker. https://t.co/xalFHcUyUe
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 31, 2024
On Monday, President Trump endorsed Mike Johnson for the role.
“We are the Party of COMMON SENSE, a primary reason that we WON, in a landslide, the magnificent and historic Presidential Election of 2024. ALL SEVEN SWING STATES, 312 ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES, AND THE POPULAR VOTE BY MILLIONS OF VOTERS (Despite large scale voter fraud taking place in numerous states, including California, where votes are ridiculously still being counted, or under review!), ALL WON WITH EASE, CALM, & PROFESSIONALISM,” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
“Republicans are being praised for having run a ‘legendary’ campaign! Democrats are being excoriated for their effort, having wasted 2.5 Billion Dollars, much of it unaccounted for, with some being used to illegally buy endorsements ($11,000,000 to Beyoncé, who never even sang a song, $2,000,000 to Oprah for doing next to nothing, and even $500,000 to Reverend AL, a professional con man and instigator, who agreed to ‘interview’ their ‘star spangled’ candidates, Kamala and Joe). We ran a flawless campaign, having spent FAR LESS, with lots of money left over,” he continued.
“They ran a very expensive ‘sinking ship,’ embracing DOJ & FBI WEAPONIZATION against their political opponent, ME. BUT IT DIDN’T WORK, IT WAS A DISASTER!!! LETS NOT BLOW THIS GREAT OPPORTUNITY WHICH WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN. The American people need IMMEDIATE relief from all of the destructive policies of the last Administration,” he added.
“Speaker Mike Johnson is a good, hard working, religious man. He will do the right thing, and we will continue to WIN. Mike has my Complete & Total Endorsement. MAGA!!!” Trump concluded.
( @realDonaldTrump - Truth Social Post )
( Donald J. Trump - Dec 30, 2024, 10:01 AM ET )We are the Party of COMMON SENSE, a primary reason that we WON, in a landslide, the magnificent and historic Presidential Election of 2024. ALL SEVEN SWING STATES, 312 ELECTORAL COLLEGE… pic.twitter.com/X8qYAbBFwY
— Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 TRUTH POSTS (@TruthTrumpPosts) December 30, 2024
A closer look:
“I respect and support President Trump, but his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan. We’ve seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget,” Massie warned.
I respect and support President Trump, but his endorsement of Mike Johnson is going to work out about as well as his endorsement of Speaker Paul Ryan. We’ve seen Johnson partner with the democrats to send money to Ukraine, authorize spying on Americans, and blow the budget. pic.twitter.com/6Y7GAkcBzJ
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 30, 2024
Massie has already said he will not support Mike Johnson for House Speaker when the 119th Congress convenes on Friday.
"On January 3rd, 2017 Paul Ryan was elected Speaker by every Republican except me. Ryan went on to offer a fake repeal of ObamaCare, increased spending, backed the deep state, and didn’t fund a wall. Two years later we lost the majority and democrats made a living h*** for Trump," Massie said.
"Mike Johnson is the next Paul Ryan. On January 3rd, 2025, I won’t be voting for Mike Johnson. I hope my colleague will join me because history will not give America another 'do-over,'" he added.
Mike Johnson is the next Paul Ryan.
On January 3rd, 2025, I won’t be voting for Mike Johnson.
I hope my colleague will join me because history will not give America another “do-over.”
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) December 30, 2024
Meanwhile, former Congressman Matt Gaetz said resistance to Mike Johnson "is now futile" since President Trump has weighed in.
From the New York Post:
The Kentucky rep was one of the GOP hardliners who opposed Gaetz’s bid to topple McCarthy in the fall of last year.
ADVERTISEMENTGaetz, 42, who opposed the most recent attempt to depose Johnson (R-La.), 52, in May, warned that jettisoning the Louisianian from the speakership could imperil certification of Trump’s electoral victory.
“Trump endorsing Johnson is ‘art of the deal’ level practicality. We could never have held up McCarthy two years ago for concessions if a Trump certification hung in the balance. Now, it does,” Gaetz wrote on X.
“We were able to hold up McCarthy because Republican voters weren’t all that eager to see us getting back to being Biden’s b**** (which Kevin ultimately did anyway). The resistance to @SpeakerJohnson is now futile.”
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
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