Sean Hannity is whipping votes for Jim Jordan

Gage Skidmore | Flickr.com

Fox propagandist Sean Hannity is effectively whipping votes for Jim Jordan as the Ohio Congressman sprints for empty House Speakership.

After ignominiously ejecting Kevin McCarthy from the Speakership on October 3rd, the floundering House Republican conference initially designated McCarthy’s former lieutenant Steve Scalise to be their nominee to replace him. This—it should be noted—after Donald Trump publicly endorsed Jordan for the role.

Scalise won an internal vote of 113 to Jordan’s 99 but was far from the “magic number” needed to defeat Leader Hakeem Jeffries of the House Republican conference. After reopening and closing the House of Representatives for a literal 3 minutes, Scalise dropped out of the race the very next day. The day after, Jordan won the designation in a 152-55 vote.

House Republicans went home for the weekend but Jordan went on the attack, triggering a pressure campaign involving one-on-one meetings and external pressure applied by Hannity, a popular Fox propagandist and Trump loyalist. Hannity’s staff have been reportedly sending potential resistors pointed emails.

As of writing, two previously outspoken critics of Jordan have reversed course, committing to voting for him. Whereas as recently as Sunday night Jordan was facing an opposition bloc of 10-20, the number is “down to 7” as of Monday.

It may very well be that, thanks to the “own the libs” animus which unambiguously drives the Republican Party, the least effective Congressman is awarded the most powerful position in Congress by virtue of his role as an outspoken culture warrior.