Of Course

[Content Note: Guns; misogyny.]

Yesterday, House Republicans delayed a vote on an "anti-terrorism" package that included some gun reform proposals because they don't want to "reward" Democrats for doing their fucking jobs. No, seriously:

House GOP leaders have decided to postpone a vote on an "anti-terrorism" package amid Republican objections over amendments and concerns about rewarding Democrats for their daylong gun control "sit-in" on the House floor.

...Republicans members have offered at least 10 gun-related amendments to the package. But leadership was hoping to keep amendments — particularly Democratic amendments — to a minimum so as to avoid giving the left the vote on the gun measures they've been seeking all along.

Republicans worry that giving Democrats votes on their gun provisions, which could be offered as amendments, would only reward their behavior on the floor during the daylong protest. Republicans said the sit-in was an affront to the institution, and they want to be careful not to appear to be caving in response.

Emphasis mine.

What is there even to say anymore? Party above country. Party above decency. Party above all. The Republicans literally do not give a single fuck about saving people's lives from gun violence. Especially not if they have to concede that the Democrats are doing exactly what a majority of voters in both parties are asking Congress to do.

And in case that wasn't evidence enough: "Ryan: GOP will hold hearings on Clinton probe."

Republicans will hold hearings to learn more about the FBI's decision to not recommend criminal charges for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Tuesday night.

"People have been convicted for far less," Ryan said during an interview with Megyn Kelly on Fox News's "The Kelly File," saying that he thought FBI director James Comey "was going to recommend prosecution" based on the FBI director's opening remarks in a press conference Tuesday.

..."We're going to have hearings," Ryan said on Fox, mentioning House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah). Chaffetz indicated hours earlier on Fox that he was considering calling Comey to Capitol Hill to testify about the FBI's probe and conclusion not to recommend charges.

Because the spectacle of a woman repeatedly acknowledging the mistakes she'd made and apologizing for something that essentially comes down to a fairly routine bureaucratic matter (no matter much her opponents try to elevate it to something more) and being summarily subjected to a public chastening that no man in the same position (*cough* Colin Powell *cough*) isn't enough for Republicans. Now they need to make a (literal) federal case out it, just to try humiliate her.

Which they evidently believe is way more important than doing anything of actual practical value for the people they purport to represent.