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GOP infighting takes stupid to a whole new level | TheHill - The Hill

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When historians look back on the first quarter of the 21st century, it's a good bet that social media will be judged a net-negative for politicians of both parties (as well as for the media covering them).

Exhibit A comes in the form of an online feud between Reps. Marjorie Taylor GreeneMarjorie Taylor GreeneGOP efforts to downplay danger of Capitol riot increase The Memo: What now for anti-Trump Republicans? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she's meeting with Trump 'soon' in Florida MORE (R-Ga.) and Nancy MaceNancy MaceDemocratic caucus chairs call for Boebert committee assignment removal Mace chief of staff steps down during turbulent week McCarthy faces headaches from far-right House GOP MORE (R-S.C.). This wasn't your typical disagreement over public policy. This was a “Mean Girls”-esque exchange, with Greene referring to Mace as "trash" and Mace retorting with explicit emojis to describe her intra-party adversary as “crazy.” 

The pointless war of words rightly generated headlines and certainly got the attention of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyDemocratic caucus chairs call for Boebert committee assignment removal War of words escalates in House The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden talks up bright side beneath omicron's cloud MORE (R-Calif.), who privately urged his members to stop feuding ahead of the 2022 midterms, now only 11 months away. 

But "trash" seemed to drive the news cycle, as two other congressional Republicans, Rep. Lauren BoebertLauren BoebertDemocratic caucus chairs call for Boebert committee assignment removal War of words escalates in House Mace chief of staff steps down during turbulent week MORE (R-Colo.) and outgoing Rep. Adam KinzingerAdam Daniel KinzingerOn The Money — Congress races to keep the lights on House sets up Senate shutdown showdown McCarthy faces headaches from far-right House GOP MORE (R-Ill.) slammed each other. Boebert had decided it was a great idea to publicly infer that Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarDemocratic caucus chairs call for Boebert committee assignment removal War of words escalates in House Mace chief of staff steps down during turbulent week MORE (R-Minn.) is a terrorist, prompting Kinzinger to describe her in all-caps as “TRASH.” Boebert subsequently apologized and reached out to Omar in a phone call that went nowhere quickly, according to both parties.  

The list of disparaging comments goes on, but you get the point: GOP House members seem to be fracturing more each day. It's ugly and pointless and something out of teenage drunk-dialing, except that this is playing out in front of millions on social media and is driving cable-news segments. 

All of this comes as Republicans should be planning what to do if they retake control of Congress after the 2022 midterm elections, thanks to President BidenJoe BidenManchin to vote to nix Biden's vaccine mandate for larger businesses Congress averts shutdown after vaccine mandate fight Senate cuts deal to clear government funding bill MORE dragging down his own party with the worst drop in presidential poll numbers since World War II. 

The 46th president is close to 10 points underwater in the RealClearPolitics average overall and is losing independents at an alarming rate. On the economy, crime and immigration, he's in the 30s and 20s for approval — and that’s just some of the issues on which his administration appears incompetent or worse. He’s even polling underwater on his administration’s response to COVID-19, an issue on which he was at +30 points approval as recently as this summer. 

The GOP is on track to gain 40, 50, 60 or more seats next November; it needs to flip just five seats to retire Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiCongress averts shutdown after vaccine mandate fight On The Money — Congress races to keep the lights on House sets up Senate shutdown showdown MORE as House speaker. Given that Barack ObamaBarack Hussein ObamaPolitics must accept the reality of multiracial America and disavow racial backlash To empower parents, reinvent schools Senate race in Ohio poses crucial test for Democrats MORE lost 63 congressional seats in the 2010 midterms despite ramming through ObamaCare and given that Donald TrumpDonald TrumpBaldwin calls Trump criticism following 'Rust' shooting 'surreal' Haley hits the stump in South Carolina Mary Trump files to dismiss Trump's lawsuit over NYT tax story MORE lost 43 seats in 2018 despite ramming through tax cuts, the safe bet is that Democrats will lose not only dozens of House seats but perhaps even the Senate, now in a 50-50 split. 

Yet some Republican House members simply can't discipline themselves to stay off Twitter and stick to the issues, to make common-sense arguments on how to fix the myriad problems created or exacerbated by Biden, Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck SchumerChuck SchumerProgressive groups urge Schumer to prevent further cuts to T plan Collins says she supports legislation putting Roe v. Wade protections into law Biden should seek some ideological diversity MORE (D-N.Y.), who all seem to believe that passing bills with trillions in new spending will lower inflation and decrease the deficit. 

Social media is a look-at-me megaphone for more than a few lawmakers of both parties who draw attention to themselves through snarky, provocative tweets. It isn’t just Republicans, of course. Rep. Eric SwalwellEric Michael SwalwellThe Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden to update Americans on omicron; Congress back GOP eyes booting Democrats from seats if House flips Omar calls out Boebert over anti-Muslim remarks, denies Capitol incident took place MORE (D-Calif.) launched a presidential campaign largely off of being a Twitter troll and an MSNBC darling. 

The same goes for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezWar of words escalates in House McCarthy faces headaches from far-right House GOP Noncitizen voting doesn't pass this test MORE (D-N.Y.), who has received more media attention for doing less than any other member in recent congressional history. Why? Largely for over-the-top tweets like one claiming that Supreme Court Justice Brett KavanaughBrett Michael KavanaughWhat's that you smell in the Supreme Court? The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by Facebook - Biden talks up bright side beneath omicron's cloud Overnight Health Care — Presented by March of Dimes — Supreme Court weighs abortion restrictions MORE "remains credibly accused of sexual assault on multiple accounts with corroborated details" and somehow tying that to the court hearing arguments on abortion. It's enough to make your hair hurt. 

According to a study by the non-partisan Center for Effective Lawmaking at Vanderbilt University, Ocasio-Cortez is one of the least effective lawmakers in Congress. Among Democrats, she ranked 230th out of 240; she ranked last among New York’s 18 congressional Democrats. 

No matter: CNN gave her a primetime documentary called "Being AOC." Time Magazine dubbed her "The Phenom" on one of its covers and New York Magazine committed multiple writers to pen essays talking about everything from her beauty to her authenticity to – you guessed it – her social media "greatest hits." 

 

Where does all this media love stem from? Mainly her ability to insult others (including fellow Democrats) on Twitter and Instagram. 

But the focus at the moment isn't on Democratic infighting — it’s on Republicans. (That could change when the Senate pares Biden’s Build Back Better bill even further, and House progressives once again voice their displeasure.)

Social media is the worst thing that’s happened to political debate. It's too easy to criticize others on the most personal terms, in ways that make junior high students look mature. The provocateurs score cheap points and get news coverage embracing the snark.

Right now, a few members of the Trumpian wing of the Republican Party are getting their time in the spotlight by doing this. They were sent to Washington to solve problems, to help make lives better for others. Instead, we’re getting sound and fury in the form of social-media disrespect and scorn. 

And Congress wonders why its approval rating is down 15 points since earlier this year, from 36 percent to 21 percent overall.  

Americans are tired of lawmakers making themselves the story. They want them to do their jobs, get to work, grow up — and get off of Twitter.  

Joe Concha is a media and politics columnist for The Hill.

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