Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said Friday he believes the Senate leadership vote should be postponed until the candidates for the position are vetted for “genuine [commitment] to fighting for the priorities & values of the working Americans.”
“The Senate GOP leadership vote next week should be postponed,” Rubio tweeted. “First we need to make sure that those who want to lead us are genuinely committed to fighting for the priorities & values of the working Americans (of every background) who gave us big wins in states like #Florida.”
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) backed Rubio’s idea and criticized leadership for wanting to hold a vote before the Senate races were completed.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) speaks at the Heritage Foundation March 29, 2022, in Washington, DC. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
“Exactly right,” Hawley said, retweeting Rubio. “I don’t know why Senate GOP would hold a leadership vote for the next Congress before this election is finished. We have a runoff in #GASenate — are they saying that doesn’t matter? Don’t disenfranchise @HerschelWalker.”
Exactly right. I don’t know why Senate GOP would hold a leadership vote for the next Congress before this election is finished. We have a runoff in #GASenate – are they saying that doesn’t matter? Don’t disenfranchise @HerschelWalker https://t.co/atIETyoCKY
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) November 11, 2022
According to Politico, Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Rick Scott (R-FL) have also circulated a letter among GOP senators to gain support to postpone the vote.
The letter is a shot across the bow to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and his leadership team, who believe their previous leadership record justifies two more years.
Senate Republicans are scheduled to vote on McConnell’s leadership position on November 16. Just eight percent of voters view McConnell favorably, while 80 percent view him unfavorably.
Under McConnell’s Senate leadership, the national debt has soared over $20 trillion, illegal immigration has continued, and real wages for American workers have remained stagnant. Obamacare was enacted in 2010. Big banks were bailed out in 2008, and social media companies have silenced individuals without repercussions. Dr. Anthony Fauci has not been held accountable for allegedly twice lying to Congress.
Follow Wendell Husebø on Twitter @WendellHusebø. He is the author of Politics of Slave Morality.
