Buck Squirms Over Speaker’s Vote
Congressman Ken Buck, representing Colorado's Fourth Congressional District, drew criticism from his own party for his erratic voting patterns for the Speaker of the U.S. House.
The one-time firebrand congressman initially refused to support fellow Republican Jim Jordan, citing his denial of the 2020 election results. However, Buck later joined all other Republicans in electing another candidate with a similar track record of denying the legitimacy of President Joe Biden's victory.
In an interview with CNN, Buck attempted to justify his vote for now-Speaker Mike Johnson, stating that while he may not be perfect, he did not engage in the same level of post-election activities as Jordan did. However, this distinction holds little weight as Johnson was also heavily involved in efforts to overturn the election results. He even collected signatures from House Republicans for a legal brief supporting a lawsuit to throw out the results in key states.
“I think people make mistakes and still can be really good speakers. We're at a point now where we need to move forward and make sure the government stays open. That we fund Israel, we fund Ukraine, we fund the border efforts and that's going to take a human being in that speaker position,” Rep. Ken Buck continued. “Not a perfect human being but a Mike Johnson who has done his very best to move issues forward and is a really good person.”
Johnson's claims of widespread election fraud and his attempts to reject electoral votes from battleground states further cemented his role in the failed attempt to overturn the election. This ultimately led to the violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, in which a pro-Trump mob stormed the building.
Despite facing criticism and threats over his opposition to Jordan, Buck refused to comment on his support for Johnson. In his statement, he only mentioned the new speaker's qualifications without acknowledging his previous actions. When pressed on Johnson's vote to reject the election, Buck simply brushed it off as a mistake, stating that even good people make mistakes.
Democrats were quick to condemn Johnson's election as speaker, with Rep. Dianne DeGette of Colorado calling him out for his role in perpetuating the “Big Lie and inciting the January 6th attack on the Capitol.”
Buck's erratic and controversial votes for speaker have sparked backlash from both parties, raising concerns about his judgment and loyalty to the Republican party.
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Despite any past actions, Johnson now holds one of the most powerful positions in Congress. As the government grapples with crucial issues like funding for Ukraine and Israel and border security, it remains to be seen whether Johnson's leadership will lead to meaningful and productive solutions.