Boebert doesn’t seem too interested in the speech pic.twitter.com/grOEaxwtZd
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 22, 2022
A handful of conservative Republicans lawmakers have faced criticism for declining to stand or applaud during Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s address to Congress.
SO WHAT
U.S. support of Ukraine’s war effort against Russia is dividing the GOP, with major implications for U.S. foreign policy.
THE DETAILS
Some right-wing members repeatedly remaining seated in standing ovations during the Zelensky speech:
– Matt Gaetz
– Lauren Boebert
– Andrew Clyde
– Dianne Harshbarger
– Warren Davidson
– Michael Cloud
– Jim Jordan— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) December 22, 2022
As Zelenskyy drew repeated bipartisan standing ovations Wednesday, Axios congressional reporter Andrew Solender tweeted the names of seven “MAGA” Republicans who remained seated, at least until near the end of the address.
- Immediately afterward, Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., posted a video to Twitter in which she opposed further Ukraine aid until “Congress receives a full audit of where our money has already gone.”
- Other GOP lawmakers boasted about boycotting Zelenskyy’s surprise speech.
- Amid widespread media backlash against the “disrespectful” Republicans, Salon senior politics editor Amanda Marcotte distinguished herself with an essay condemning “the fascist faction” of the GOP.
THE FIGHT ON THE RIGHT
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A day ahead of Zelenskyy’s adress, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell and House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy made opposing statements that effectively summed up their party’s widening split over Ukraine aid.
- McConnell told reporters: “Providing assistance for Ukrainians to defeat the Russians is the number one priority for the United States right now, according to most Republicans.”
- But McCarthy, speaking to Fox News host Laura Ingraham, vowed “no more blank checks” for Ukraine after Republicans take the majority next session.
THE LAST WORD
“Your money is not charity,” Zelenskyy argued in his speech, apparently appealing to his skeptics. “It’s an investment in the global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way.”
- Zelenskyy said the world is “too interconnected and interdependent” for America to “stand aside and at the same time feel safe when such a battle continues.”
- Earlier Wednesday, the Senate voted for $45 billion in funding for Ukraine and NATO allies against Russia, on top of more than $100 billion that Congress has already appropriated for the cause.