Five Thoughts on McCarthy's Intent to Remove Omar, Schiff & Swalwell From Committee Assignments

Kevin McCarthy has not yet been elected Speaker of the House but he has already declared three Democrats to be persona non grata from committee assignments - Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and California Congressmen Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell. Here are five thoughts I have on the subject.

First, Democrats did open the door when they stripped Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar of their committee assignments in February 2021 and November 2021, respectively. Now that Republicans will be in the majority we ought not be surprised that they would see fit to take the same measures.

Second, in the case of Omar, McCarthy says he will strip her of her committee assignments on account of her anti-Semitism. Yet Omar is hardly the only Democrat in Congress who has expressed anti-Semitic views. Omar's fellow squad members Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and AOC have also engaged in anti-Semitism. In the case of Tlaib, she has been characterized as anti-Semitic by no less than former DNC Chair and fellow Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. So why is McCarthy limiting this sanction to Omar? For that matter why doesn't he extend this to members of his own party?

Which brings me to my third point. Marjorie Taylor Greene is every bit as guilty of anti-Semitism as Ilhan Omar. But McCarthy will give Greene every committee assignment she wants because he cannot become Speaker without her. Greene demanded McCarthy give her "leeway" in exchange for her support. Should MTG express anti-Semitic views in the future she has immunity. Out of political expedience, McCarthy believes some anti-Semitism is less equal than others. It depends on who is spouting it.

Fourth, let's assume Omar, Schiff and Swalwell are stripped of their committee assignments. Chances are it will augment their political standing instead of diminish it. The proof in the pudding is the aforementioned Marjorie Taylor Greene. As I argued at the time she was stripped of her committee assignments:

While I'm glad Marjorie Taylor Greene has been stripped of her congressional committee assignments it remains to be seen if this will have the effect of marginalizing her. 

Indeed, I suspect this will have the opposite effect. Greene's standing in GOP and conservative circles will only be heightened. Absent any committee responsibilities, Greene will have ample opportunity to raise money. She might even emerge as a viable presidential candidate.

Whether or not Greene embarks on a White House bid, for all her crudeness, she has certainly become a power broker in Washington.

Finally, given the tiny majority Republicans have in the House, there is the possibility that some Republicans could buck him and defeat his proposal. If that comes to pass then McCarthy will be on thinner ice than he is now. He might last as long as Speaker of the House as Liz Truss lasted as British Prime Minister.