Jim Jordan founded the House Freedom Caucus.
“They can’t tell you what they’re for. They can tell you everything they’re against. They’re anarchists. They want total chaos. Tear it all down and start over. That’s where their mindset is.” October 30, 2017, “Vanity Fair”, Interview of former Republican Speaker John Boehner, who was commenting on Jordan’s Freedom Caucus.
What can you say? Well, I can tell you it’s simply nightmarish to have Jordan as our congressman here in Ohio’s 4th Congressional District.
Jordan, the most extreme of the ultra-right Republicans, plots daily to find innovative ways to take away social security, Medicare, and Medicaid funds under the guise of decreasing the federal deficit, caused in large part by his support of massive corporate tax cuts and tax gifts to the billionaires. He votes “No” nearly 100% of the time on environmental issues, educational issues, and health care issues that will benefit his own constituents. Some of the counties in Jordan’s district have continually lost population for 30 or 40 years; yet, he offers no meaningful help.
The horrifying part of the story is that if the blue wave doesn’t materialize, and Jordan’s re-elected, then all bets are off on whether he becomes Speaker of the House. How terrifying would that be: President Trump and Speaker Jordan?
Sure, I can hear people say: “Jordan doesn’t have a chance.” But how many of us said: “Trump will never be President?” One simply cannot underestimate the willingness of House Republicans to sacrifice their country in order to hold on to their base, nor can one underestimate the propaganda power of FOX and FRIENDS, who handpicked Jordan for the Speaker’s job.
Jordan, in his announcement letter for Speaker, told the Republican Congress they let Trump down! They should have fully repealed Obama Care and fully funded the wall. Jordan’s announcement came a day after he introduced legislation to impeach Rod Rosenstein so as to end the Mueller investigation.
News Flash. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, fourth most powerful person in the Republican House hierarchy, announced that she is open to supporting Jordan for Speaker. This is seen as a possible break in leadership ranks. (Washington Post reports).
News Flash. Jordan’s already left the district, campaigning through Florida’s Panhandle with his Freedom Caucus buddies: Rep. Matt Gaetz and Rep. Ron DeSantis, who are Florida’s top Trump supporters (this, according to the Tampa Times).
Any good news? Yes, there is plenty of it.
Every day, I’m out in the district talking to Republicans and Democrats. Their responses are the same—they are totally disgusted by the dysfunctional Congress, repeating the phrase: “If they are in there now, I’m voting them out.” Interestingly, these comments mirror the latest Gallup poll that gives Congress an 18% approval rating.
The district is not conservative at all when it comes to environmental, health, social security, and infrastructure issues. Jordan’s way out of bounds with his votes on those matters and people are now recognizing that his voting does not represent them on these issues. In addition, there’s the Ohio State sex scandal cloud hanging over Jordan’s head and folks aren’t afraid to mention it.
Also, the district has been unfairly misrepresented as “not winnable” because of Trump’s big 2016 victory here. Take for example Sandusky County where I live. Trump carried the county by a whopping 23% in 2016. But that was in part a protest vote. A good number of folks tell me they voted for Trump never thinking he’d really win. In perspective, Obama carried the same Sandusky County both times he ran, by 2% in 2012 and 5% in 2008. The national press would refer to Sandusky County prior to the 2016 election as one of the country’s great swing counties. It will swing back to the Democratic column this time around.
But the best news of all is Janet Garrett. Janet has mounted a textbook, grassroots campaign against Jordan. Janet takes her campaign directly to the people. She has committed herself to doing everything she can to make government work again.
Janet Garrett knows the problems the district faces: crumbling infrastructure, stagnant wages, inability to make ends meet, skyrocketing health insurance costs, soaring college tuition, attacks on women’s health care, and working together to solve the opioid epidemic.
The choice has never been more clear. Janet Garrett wants to make government work; Jim Jordan wants to destroy it.
This may be the best chance there ever will be to get Jim Jordan out of office. It may be the only chance voters have of ending Jordan’s dream of becoming Speaker of the House. It may be now, or never. Don’t let this moment in time pass by
Help Janet Garrett now, when it matters.
Jim Sherck is a retired appellate judge residing in OH-4.
Learn more about Janet at: http://www.janetgarrett.com/