Republican Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger criticized Republican Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, saying “she is not a Republican” and shouldn’t have the “privilege” of being on any House committees.
In a Thursday appearance on CNN’s “New Day,” Kinzinger was asked by host John Berman about Greene’s past social media activity, her harassment of gun control activist David Hogg and what he thought should happen to her. (RELATED: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Says There Are ‘Legitimate White Supremacist Sympathizers That Sit At The Heart’ Of The Republican Caucus)
“Let’s be clear. She’s not a Republican. She may be like this new definition of Republican, but that’s kind of a RINO thing. A Republican in name only is what she is,” Kinzinger responded. “I personally don’t think she should have any committees. I, you know, I look at that and I go, well, the education committee is not considered a good committee to get on, but I don’t think she should have the privilege any of committees, especially when you see the things that are coming out, embracing conspiracy theories.”
Greene has been in the spotlight since a CNN report discovered that she previously liked Facebook posts calling for the execution of members of the “deep state,” and one that said “a bullet to the head would be quicker” to remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She was also seen in a video following David Hogg as he walked along a street in Washington, D.C., yelling questions about his stance on gun control. Greene released a statement on Twitter addressing the Facebook posts.
Fake News CNN is writing yet another hit piece on me focused on my time before running for political office.
I will never back down to the enemy of the American people and neither should you. pic.twitter.com/K3JuvqrDGS
— Marjorie Taylor Greene ???????? (@mtgreenee) January 26, 2021
Berman then questioned Kinzinger’s claim that Greene is not a Republican by pointing to her margin of victory in her House race, in which she received nearly 75% of the vote. Kinzinger claimed that he “actually did better” than her in his election, and then said that Republicans have to “quit being a party of personality and go back to being a party of principles first.”
“In a way, the Republican Party now, for you, is on kind of a double secret probation. And you’re not sure if this will ultimately be the party for you as you go forward. When will you know? How will you know whether there’s a place for you in the Republican Party?” Berman asked.
“I don’t know the answer to that. I think, you know, that’s why I’m focused on engaging in this battle now. And not in a fight like an angry throwing things at you, but just going back to the American people and the Republican Party and reminding folks of where we came from, which we’ve lost,” Kinzinger said.
“And I think, look, if there becomes a point at which a guy like me is just completely ostracized … then obviously that will be a moment but, man, until then, I’m going to fight hard. I’ve never been a kind of person to give up, and, look, you know the idea of a third party, a lot of people are floating around, they just don’t work in the country. It will be the Republican and the Democratic Party. I’d just love to see the Republican party be strong again and aspirational again,” he continued.