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Republican Rep.-elect Dan Bishop of North Carolina accused opponents of “grotesque and racist” rhetoric after a Democratic lawmaker called black Rep.-elect Byron Donalds a “support” of arch-conservatives backing him for House speaker .
Bishop lashed out at Democrats in the House of Representatives on Thursday while delivering a nomination speech for Donalds, who burst into the spotlight on Wednesday after a group of Republican rebels endorsed him as their surrogate candidate for president in his battle against Representative-elect Kevin McCarthy.
Democratic Rep.-elect Cori Bush (Mo.) tweeted that Donalds was a “support” whose candidacy champions “white supremacy,” drawing criticism from both Donalds and Bishop.
I’ve been spending quite a bit of time with Mr. Donalds, especially lately. He is no support! Bishop said, to applause from Republicans who gathered to once again try to pick a speaker.
Rep-elect Dan Bishop (R-NC) said Rep-elect Byron Donalds is “not a supporter” and criticized Rep-elect Cori Bush, who suggested he was. A group of arch-conservatives, including Bishop, have been voting for Donalds as speaker as he resists Kevin McCarthy’s offer.
“I know Byron… He is a man of personal convictions,” he said of Florida’s second legislator.
The hardline Republican said he sat at Donalds’ feet as Bush launched his tweet and called her attack, without naming her, an example of “grotesque and racist rhetoric.”
The incoming House minority leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, avoided directly answering a question on the matter during a news conference on Thursday.
Bishop had previously made the same point on Fox News.
“That’s so improper… it’s time to move on from some things we’ve been doing for far too long and now is a good time to do it,” he said.
Republican Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida fired back at Democratic Rep. Cori Bush for suggesting he was a ‘prop’ in the speaker’s race because he supports white supremacy.
Democrats applauded Rep.-elect Hakeem Jeffries of New York when Bishop said the House “could have nominated the first black speaker in the House.”
There was a lighter moment of racial politics earlier in Bishop’s comments.
“Yesterday, we could have nominated the first black Speaker of the House of Representatives,” he began. That got Democrats on their feet and chanting ‘Hakeem!’ while rallying around their own leader, who is the first African American to lead either party in the House or Senate. Democrats have pointedly pointed out that Jeffries continues to command the highest vote totals for president amid the split GOP.
Rep.-elect Chip Roy of Texas mentioned race when he nominated Donalds on the floor Wednesday, referencing Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
“We do not seek to judge people by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character,” he said.
The defense came after Donalds himself hit back at Bush for suggesting he was a “support.”
The Florida congressman-elect said “nobody asked” the team member her opinion, asked her for a political debate and told her not to be a “crab in a barrel.”
In announcing the first round nomination, Roy noted the historic nature of having two black candidates for House speaker. It came after Jeffries was nominated for the deck multiple times by Democratic Rep. Pete Aguilar of California.
He got a standing ovation from both sides of the House chamber, but Bush was unmoved.
“He’s supportive,” Bush, who is also black, wrote on Twitter Wednesday afternoon.
Bush dismissed the enthusiasm surrounding the historic nature of Rep. Byron Donalds’ nomination for House Speaker.
Rep. Byron Donalds of Florida Responds to Democratic Rep. Cori Bush’s Comments That He Was a “Support” for Republicans
“Despite being black, he supports a political agenda that tries to defend and perpetuate white supremacy. His name in the mix isn’t progress, he’s pathetic.’
‘Nobody asked Cori Bush her opinion on the matter. Before judging my schedule, let’s have a discussion about policies and results. Until then, don’t be a crab in a barrel! Donalds replied.
Donalds was also asked about Bush’s comments during an appearance on Fox Business on Thursday morning and said: Man, that sucked, man, to be honest with you, man… If you see a black man standing up, let let the man stand up, even if you disagree with him.
Former Republican Rep. Doug Collins criticized Bush’s comments as racist.
‘Congressman, this is racism, and you must be held accountable. It’s shameful, disgusting and dishonorable,” Collins responded to the post.
Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee said: ‘[I]If you can’t disagree with your colleague… without accusing them of racism, you could be part of the problem.’
Earlier on Wednesday, Donalds spoke to reporters on the steps of the US Capitol during an impromptu press conference after his name was submitted in the race.
He said it “is up” to McCarthy if he drops the House speaker bid.
When asked by DailyMail.com about his reaction to Donald Trump’s endorsement of McCarthy, Donalds, a supporter of the former president himself, dismissed the high-profile endorser.
President Trump has been in that position for several months. Knowing President Trump, he doesn’t change his mind,” Donalds began.
‘That’s great, but the members are going to decide this process. And you know, that’s, that’s not disrespectful to President Trump. That is the reality of the House.
It comes after Colorado Republican Party Rep. Lauren Boebert, another Trump ally, publicly demanded that the former president call McCarthy and tell him to withdraw from the race, as she nominated Donalds in his place during a of the votes on Wednesday.
The House of Representatives failed to elect a speaker in the first round of voting for the first time in 100 years on Tuesday, and then fell further into chaos when McCarthy failed multiple times on Wednesday and Thursday.
It has gotten the new GOP majority, though slim, off to a chaotic start.
A group of 19 conservatives derailed McCarthy’s candidacy, even though he made last-minute concessions they had asked for, including passing a measure that would allow five Republicans to ask for a new vote for president at any time, known as the vacancy motion.
Donalds joined his rebellion in the third round, by which time all of McCarthy’s critics had rallied around Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, who has repeatedly said he doesn’t want the sledgehammer.
Then on Wednesday, Donalds was nominated by Texas representative Chip Roy in the first round and Boebert in the second round.
He told reporters on Wednesday that he “didn’t really” want the presidency, adding: “I never really came here to try to be in leadership.”
House Republicans have been in disarray and without a majority leader since Jan. 3.
The lack of leadership has produced multiple heated moments on the House floor between Republican members for and against Rep. Kevin McCarthy.
“I didn’t come to DC interested in becoming House speaker,” Donalds said.
“But I also understand that, you know, part of my responsibility is to make sure that our conference gets to a point where we’re doing things effectively and constructively.”
Unlike Jordan, however, who also said he didn’t want the role he was nominated for on Tuesday, Donalds voted for himself in all three rounds on Wednesday.
The Republicans have already descended into chaos on the third day of their slim majority.
The 118th Congress has yet to be sworn in due to the delay in choosing a new Speaker.
Republican lawmakers could be seen having intense conversations on the House floor and in various hallways outside the chamber.
McCarthy’s critics have made it clear that his concessions are not enough, indicating that the interpartisan struggle has taken a deeply personal turn.
Donalds originally supported McCarthy, but has since called for more discussions and meetings for his party to reach a compromise.
However, he told reporters that the fight for the current Republican head of the House is not over yet.
“I don’t think we’re there right now,” he said when asked if McCarthy should step aside. “I think there are a lot of members in the chamber who want to have serious conversations about how we can bring this all to, you know, come to an end.”
“But I’m not going to speak for Kevin, and that’s something he and his team have to figure out.”