‘Our Message Is Unity’

But the House Republican retreat in Orlando was marked by division.

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ORLANDO—For three days in Orlando, Florida, earlier this week, House Republicans projected confidence about their prospects to retake the House majority in 2022 and downplayed divisions among the conference. 

“I think that our message is unity,” said House GOP conference vice chair Mike Johnson.

Many of those in attendance here voiced that tagline repeatedly. But it’s far from the reality. It didn’t take much probing to make it clear that, despite public assurances of a unified front against the Biden administration, deep fissures remain in the House GOP conference.

Members are divided over what role former President Donald Trump should play in the party post-January 6. They’re also at odds over how to address a growing contingent of fringe, conspiracy theory-friendly voices in the conference. The rift reaches to the very top of GOP leadership.

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  1. Avatar photo
    Octávio Lima

    It is not Congresswoman Cheney that is focused on Mr. Trump. It is all of those who to this date did not acknowledge Mr. Trump lost the election and that what he did between November and January 6th was wrong. Ms. Cheney is only a topic because she was one of the only ones to acknowledge it clearly. As for Republican policies, it seems rich from a party that did not even wanted to commit it to paper not six months ago.

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    Paul Montagu

    As long as the most divisive and polarizing and corrupt ex-president in American history stays in the GOP picture, there won't be party unity, nor should there be.

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  3. Amy in Wyoming

    They are going to destroy the Republican Party. Liz Cheney is the future. Period.

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    Robert Knudson

    Great reporting as always.
    Singing from the same hymnal:
    "Knives are sharpening, Lord, Kumbayah"

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    Narwhal

    If Rep. Cheney was running against VP Harris for president in 2024 then I’m not entirely sure who I would vote for.

    I probably disagree more with Cheney than with Harris overall. But, maybe not by a lot.

    My current impression is that Cheney is more principled than Harris. Though that could obviously change. Both strike as having the capacity of being ruthless which is a necessary trait for president today whether I like it or not.

    Cheney obviously comes from a political dynasty of sorts and that has afforded her and continues to afford her unique advantages politically. Im generally not a fan of political dynasties, but based on what little I know of how Harris got her start in politics I can’t say I find that appealing either.

    Cheney has impressed me with her stand against Trump since he lost re-election. If she also showed she was willing to stand up forcefully and vocally for proper accounting practices for our military then I would be impressed. I don’t expect that she will, but given her family’s connections she is well situated to do so and her doing so might surprise more than a few people in a good way.

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      Matmos

      I hear you. On the "positive" side the Republican Party would never allow this to happen. So no agony needed.

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        Narwhal

        True right now, seems likely to be true then; but, not impossible. Either way I’d prefer Sen. Romney. And if Trump runs again I’ll vote for Harris or Biden.

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      rlritt

      That would be a tough call.

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      Narwhal

      Ex: https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/04/biden-nominee-pentagon-weapons-buyer-under-investigation/173672/

      The issued raised in the article would give Rep. Cheney a chance to pursue accountability in a way that might be viewed favorably by her side. But, if she really wants to impress then she won’t show fear or favor to either side when it comes to national defense. She currently has a spotlight on her and how she uses it will be interesting to watch.

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    JR

    I live in an outer suburb that has gone from Team Red to Team Blue over the last 20 years. My neighborhood, though, has been solidly blue-collar Team Blue over that time.

    But there's one neighbor who has a banner over his garage door: "Trump 2024."

    Am I being disrespectful to the Almighty for seeing this as possibly an act of divine judgment?

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      rlritt

      What does that mean? Do you think your neighborhood is embracing Trum

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        JR

        OK, so I looked at the numbers. The short answer: Not at all.

        In 2016, Trump got 39% of the vote in my precinct.
        In 2020, he got 36%.

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          JR

          And also ... turnout was 21% higher in 2020. Trump's vote total increased by 11% but the D turnout increased by 27%.

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            Rochejaquelein

            I’m guessing, based on my hometown’s experience of shifting red to hard blue in three cycles, that the idiot with the Trump flag personally motivated a chunk of that new D turnout. Suburban MAGA sticks out like a sore thumb and poisons the well.

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    Jason Gibson

    Great article Audrey..........its challenging to report about depressing things.........but you do it well.

    Liz Cheney is the last of the Jedi.

    If Trumpiness wins the day I will have to go into hiding.

    *insert GIF of Yoda "failed I have...into exile I must go*

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    Jason Gibson

    So McCarthy isn't like Speaker Pelosi who rules with fear and reprisals. Who else could be accused of using such methods?...............hmmmm...............

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      Matmos

      My thought precisely.

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    C C Writer

    You want to know my favorite parts of this piece? "Cheney told 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩." It tells me that my subscription dollars are supporting a medium that can get the people I'm interested in hearing from to comment on the record about the things I want to hear about.

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      Aylene Wright

      I am also happy that the Trumpier Republicans are also going on the record, even if what they are saying is rather disheartening.

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    Pat Riot

    “Oh, we all have our own races to run, I don’t know about that.”

    Kevin Williamson once said that Republicans have a "Playboy problem": that their shtick needs to get increasingly salacious every day or it gets old.

    I added on to this by saying that Republicans have an "Ayn Rand problem": that their religious devotion to personal *selfishness* will lead them to being dysfunctional as an organized political party.

    If individual Republican lawmakers care only about their own primary election, then they will necessarily devote themselves to Trump.

    If Liz Cheney feels as though her power in her district is sufficient to overcome an attack by Trump, well, good for her. Virtually every other member of the Republican House is not the daughter of the former vice-president who can raise infinite money from all over the country.

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      JR

      Sounds like a collective action problem.

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