Here’s the problem with “both sidesing” the chaos that was the Republican Oversight hearing.
Republicans VOTED in cmte to allow the rhetoric that was used against Ms. Crockett last night.
Notice that when Dems have the majority, these things don’t happen.
It also gets worse…
Remember: the hearing was about contempt proceedings - otherwise known as a “markup hearing,” where the full committee must vote at the end.
In markups, both parties offer amendments. This is standard. Amendments are voted on and then the full proposal.
Dems had 7 amendments.
This is where the GOP chaos matters.
AFTER the Republican Chair and GOP members broke official House protocol to allow MTG’s horrific opening silo of rhetoric, they THEN made another change to dispense with the legislative process.
THAT part is not getting enough attention.
They THEN did something highly unusual and still unclear to me how legitimate it was - they cut off the *rest of the amendment process,* end all legislative debate, and cut straight to a vote on their text without standard procedure.
Needless to say, this is not normal at all.
You see, this is the microcosm of what authoritarians do on a larger scale.
ID a vulnerable person/community that’s easier to break the rules towards, normalize it (often w/ “both sides” rhetoric), and then use that rule-breaking to undermine deeper processes and rule of law.
That’s why this stuff isn’t just all-sides chaos, or mere distraction, or a pox on everyone’s house.
They WANT you to think this was some random devolution of conduct instead of a structured GOP outcome.
We must understand who and what actions created the situation. It matters.
