WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Ken Buck, a Republican from Colorado, faced quite a backlash on social media after he stirred the political pot by openly admitting to voting for Representative Tom Emmer of Minnesota as the Speaker of the House.
This surprising turn of events occurred after Rep Jim Jordan of Ohio failed to garner sufficient GOP votes for the coveted position.
Ken Buck, known for his candid and unfiltered style, didn't mince words when he explained his decision to vote for Emmer. He cited his strong objections to Jordan's stance on supporting former President Donald Trump after the tumultuous 2020 election.
A blunt exchange on the Speaker's position
Buck's vocal criticism of Jordan's efforts became evident when he sat down for an interview with CNN's Dana Bash. During the interview, Bash probed Buck's rationale behind his vote. "Question is, do you really want Tom Emmer to be Speaker?" she asked.
Buck's response was rather blunt. "No, I don't. I don't like Tom Emmer. I figured this would be the worst job in America. Mike Rowe would not want to do this for his TV show. This is a terrible job,” he said, referring to the 'Dirty Jobs' television show host.
Bash continued to press the issue, seeking to clarify Buck's stance. "So just to underscore that you voted for somebody because you don't like them?" she inquired. Buck's responded with a somber tone, "I voted for somebody because I wasn't going to vote for Jim."
Bash made a note of the underlying discord, remarking, "Yeah, but you don't, it's not because you want him to be speaker. Okay. Well, that says a lot about where we are right now."
According to Mediaite, the discussion then shifted to the broader implications of Buck's stance. Bash reminded viewers that Buck had been one of the eight Republicans who voted to remove Kevin McCarthy from the Speaker's chair.
She asked if there was a possibility of a change of heart, given that Congressman Gimenez had expressed a desire for McCarthy to return.
Buck responded firmly, stating, "I'm not going to vote for Kevin McCarthy. As Carlos also said, we have 220 members, 221 members. We're going to find somebody to agree to and move forward, even if it's for a temporary basis. But we will find somebody so that we can get our work done."
After the CNN interview, Buck offered a seemingly contrasting statement on social media. He posted on X that his comment about Emmer had been a "joke" and that Emmer was his "good friend."
He stated, "Just to clarify, this was a joke. The office of Speaker is the hardest job in Washington. I wouldn't wish that on my good friend, [Emmer]."
'Ken Buck is the problem'
Regardless, Buck was excoriated on social media for his comments.
"Ken Buck is the problem," one responded on X.
"Are you a fake Republican…? I’m getting the sense you are really a democrat," another wrote.
"I truly hope you are voted out in the primaries. You are absolutely no different than the “minority” you have all complained about. Get back to work !!!" a comment read.
"Just to clarify: Our government is not supposed to be a joke. Unfortunately you clowns don’t understand that," someone else added.
"You are not funny," another offered.
GOP intraparty struggles and Jim Jordan's Speaker bid
It was evident that his remarks had struck a nerve within the party's base, further fueling the debate over the party's identity and leadership. The tension within the GOP became all the more apparent when Rep Jim Jordan lost a significant number of Republican votes in his first bid for the speakership on the House floor.
Jordan's underwhelming performance was a far cry from the level of support he needed to secure the position. Buck's opposition to Jordan was rooted in the latter's refusal to acknowledge Donald Trump's defeat in the 2020 election.
Ken Buck, a wildcard member of the right-wing Freedom Caucus, had consistently voiced his objections to the Biden impeachment inquiry. He even flirted with the idea of leaving Congress to pursue a role with CNN, reflecting the broader disillusionment among some Republicans.
As the House entered its third week without a Speaker following Kevin McCarthy's unprecedented removal, the future of the GOP's leadership remained uncertain. The turmoil continued as Majority Leader Steve Scalise, the House's number two Republican, briefly held the nomination after Jordan lost an internal conference vote.
The precariousness of the situation was evident, with Scalise withdrawing his nomination due to a lack of support. Jordan's persistence in his bid for Speaker, calling for multiple votes, left the party grappling for a viable alternative. This situation mirrored Kevin McCarthy's 15 rounds of ballots before he became Speaker.
If Jordan's inability to rally sufficient support persisted, the GOP faced a daunting challenge in identifying a clear alternative for the role of Speaker.
The Republican party had been embroiled in a civil war ever since McCarthy became the first Speaker in history to be ousted by colleagues just two weeks earlier when eight rebel GOP members joined with Democrats to remove him from office.
Who is Tom Emmer?
Born on March 3, 1961, Thomas Earl Emmer Jr is an attorney and politician. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as the Majority Whip in the United States House of Representatives since 2023 and has been representing Minnesota's 6th congressional district since 2015.
Before his election to Congress, Emmer served three terms as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2005 to 2011. He came close to winning the 2010 Minnesota gubernatorial election but narrowly lost to Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party nominee Mark Dayton by less than half a percentage point.
Emmer's family has a longstanding history in the lumber industry. In 1910, his great-grandfather and two brothers founded Emmer Brothers Lumber, which has since transformed into Viking Forest Products, an employee-owned company.
Emmer tied the knot with his wife Jacqueline in 1986. He is a family man with seven children and is known for his involvement in hockey, both as a player and coach. The congressman is known to adhere to the Roman Catholic faith.
