'Republicans Rejoice Amidst Democratic Turmoil: An Experience Comparable to Liberation'

Former President Donald Trump’s latest controversy. The fate of Kevin McCarthy. George Santos. For nearly a decade, congressional Republicans have faced — and largely sought to dodge — uncomfortable media questions.

So how did they feel when they saw congressional Democrats swarmed by reporters this week and having to face uncomfortable questions about President Joe Biden? “It’s fucking awesome,” said Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.).

Watching the press pursue Democrats this week — even the most obscure backbenchers got a camera crew outside the Capitol, if they were feeling chatty — Republicans basked in the joy of being ignored. Whether they chaired a committee or had Trump’s ear, all of that was secondary next to the opportunity to talk to Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), who was one of the few Democrats to come out against Joe Biden already, or first-term Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who has become one of the president’s most fervent defenders.

“It’s almost like you feel left out,” said Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-N.Y.), a first-term lawmaker from suburban Long Island.

Almost. Instead, most seemed to enjoy their time alone, away from the prying reporters asking awkward questions about matters they were desperate not to talk about. “When I was walking into conference yesterday, there were only one or two cameras there and we are used to having 30 cameras,” said Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.). “It’s just freeing actually. It's like being liberated.”

One Senate GOP aide marveled at how little the media was interested in talking to Republicans at all. “I could self-immolate in front of the Senate subway and people would still walk past me to chase [New Mexico Democratic Sen.] Martin Heinrich.”

It wasn’t just a feeling of relief. It was almost a sense of glee that their Democratic colleagues seemed under siege, finally getting the treatment from the media that has long been a staple of Republican gripes.

“It’s so funny. I don’t think some of my Democratic colleagues have ever taken a tough question from a reporter and I see a lot of long faces in the elevator,” said Rep. Nick Langworthy (R-N.Y.), another first-termer. For them, watching Democrats squirm and duck repeated uncomfortable questions from the press — particularly after the past two years of a dysfunctional Republican majority — was something to celebrate, akin to a Red Sox fan watching the Yankees go on a prolonged losing streak.

“Quite frankly, they finally get to walk a day in a pair of Republican shoes,” said Mace. “We deal with the deluge of you guys and gals every single day in and out and it has been glorious to watch. Finally, the shoe is on the other foot.”

Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.) described it as “poetic justice,” while for one senior Republican aide, it conjured up perhaps the oldest and most familiar form of schadenfreude. “It’s felt a bit like being an oldest sibling who gets their shit kicked in their whole life watching the youngest sibling cry because they get their iPhone confiscated for an hour.”

No one wants the moment to end, either. Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) pleaded into a reporter’s phone for the embattled Biden to stay on the presidential ticket. “Democrats, I want you to know this, keep Joe Biden right here,” he said, as he wore a Trump tie and held the lit stub of a cigar. “Jill, keep fighting for your husband, babe. Keep fighting for your husband. Keep him in the race.”

A few took a broader view.

“I think it's a tough time for our country. If you just look at it as Democratic political problem you’re missing the point. I think this is a national security problem,” said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) “I know Joe Biden. I’ve known Joe Biden for years. I don’t dislike him. I feel bad.”

But not bad enough to refrain from going online to play pundit about the political advantages of the Democratic unrest. “From a political point of view President Biden’s commitment to stay in the race no matter what is very good news, not only for President Trump but for the entire down ballot Republican team,” Graham tweeted last week.

Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) said he found it a sad situation, noting that Speaker Mike Johnson invited us all to “hug a Democrat today. So I actually hugged a few.”

“Anybody could see, don’t think this is being mean, particularly political, he’s having a tough time and it’s not really humane at some level, but political considerations seem to have exceeded all of that,” he said.

In the meantime though, most Republicans were just celebrating that Democrats finally have their time in the barrel. “This is going to make for a great summer,” said Flood.

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