'Absurdity from absurd members': Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle slam MTG's new move

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are slamming Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's new motion to vacate House Speaker Mike Johnson, they said in interviews with Raw Story Friday.

Outrage churned on Capitol Hill as Greene targeted Johnson — who forced members to vote on a massive omnibus spending package to prevent a government shutdown — by taking steps similar to those that ousted the previous House speaker Kevin McCarthy just last October.

"What do I make of absurdity from absurd members?" Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) asked Raw Story. "Members like...Marjorie Taylor Greene are arsonists who are intent on burning down the institution."

Torres urged Greene to remember she is just one among 435 House representatives, each representing constituents with specific priorities.

"It never occurs to them, you only represent a small subset of the country," Torres said. "You cannot expect to run the House as if you were the speaker."

But the Bronx, N.Y., lawmaker struck an optimistic note to conclude, arguing Greene and fellow political arsonists were going to end up burned.

"It's just inexplicable stupidity," said Torres. "It's going to backfire."

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL) agreed with Torres that Greene's antics served as a distraction from the important work of legislating.

"I came here to focus on gun violence and the issues I think are really important right now, but we can't really do that because nothing is coming to the floor," Frost told Raw Story. "It's just a clown show, here we go again."

The two House Democrats found themselves in philosophical alignment with Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), who also decried what he described as mere "theatrics."

Tillis suggested Greene's decision not to ask for privilege — which would make her motion eligible for immediate consideration under House rules and procedures — was telling.

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"It sounds like she's venting more than serious," Tillis said. "It kinda reminds me of my kids when they were teenagers."

Sen. Ron Johnson (R-TK) told Raw Story his preference would be for the House of Representatives to turn their attention to passing a federal budget.

"We need to have a functioning appropriations process," said Johnson. "That would be my suggestion."

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) wholeheartedly agreed.

"What we've come to do is to support democracy and freedom of human rights all over the world," Raskin said. "If Speaker Johnson wants to break from the ...Trump-MAGA faction that's been controlling the Republican party, I would love to see it."