Is Dan Crenshaw trying to score points with the Left?
Tom Joyce
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Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) is no stranger to punching right. But last week, he seemed less like he was trying to keep his party in check and more like he was trying to score points with the Left.
Crenshaw called some of his Republican House colleagues “terrorists” because they dared to oppose Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) in his bid to become House speaker.
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“We cannot let the terrorists win,” Crenshaw told Time. Of the Republicans who oppose McCarthy, he added, “Behind closed doors, tell us what you actually want, or shut the f*** up.”
Crenshaw then offered a half-hearted apology on CNN on Sunday, saying that he never meant what he said.
“To the extent that I have colleagues that were offended by it, I sincerely apologize to them,” Crenshaw said. “I don’t want them to think I actually believe they’re terrorists. It’s clearly a turn of phrase that you use in what is an intransigent negotiation.”
Cagey apology or not, Crenshaw’s comment was idiotic, and this rhetorical style is detrimental to the country. There is nothing inherently wrong with infighting, but Crenshaw’s comments accomplish nothing politically. Some Democrats may look at him as one of the “good” Republicans — whom they would still never support, such as Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger — but what Crenshaw said has a negative effect on his own party.
For one, about 20 House Republicans opposed McCarthy for speaker. No one individual member of Congress can get much done alone, so it’s short-sighted for Crenshaw to insult these people needlessly, since he may need to work with them in the future. If Crenshaw wants to get more corporate welfare for his donors in the energy industry, having a decent relationship with some colleagues who could help him get it done could be beneficial.
Not to mention, conservative Republicans across the country like the Freedom Caucus, so insulting its members may hurt Crenshaw’s political standing in his district.
Crenshaw’s name-calling makes him no better than any other attention-starved politicians in Congress who grandstand for the camera. A handful of people in both political parties do this, and they are often those with few political achievements, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
Over the last several years, politics have become increasingly divisive in the United States. Irresponsible rhetoric from politicians is partially to blame. Politicians who preach hate and pit the public against one another are not making this country a better place. Unfortunately, divisive words from these politicians may fuel violence and vandalism. Sometimes, their supporters end up in prison.
Given that Crenshaw attempted to justify his remark by calling it part of a negotiation, he will likely continue to make incendiary remarks for attention in the future. One has to wonder why he seems to be doing Democrats’ work for them.
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Tom Joyce (@TomJoyceSports) is a political reporter for the New Boston Post in Massachusetts.