Four Republicans—Mike Flood of Nebraska, Jeff Hurd of Colorado, Cory Mills of Florida, and Tom McClintock of California—cast votes on September 17, 2025, to shield Rep. Ilhan Omar, of Minnesota, from facing any consequences for her vile reposts mocking the assassination of conservative icon Charlie Kirk.
This 214-213 House vote to table Rep. Nancy Mace’s censure resolution isn’t just a political misstep; it’s a gut punch to the very principles of constitutional conservatism that have long anchored the Republican Party. Let’s unpack this betrayal, piece by perplexing piece, and ask: What in the world were these lawmakers thinking?
First, let’s set the stage. Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA and a tireless defender of American values, was gunned down on September 10, 2025, by a deranged transgender activist at Utah Valley University. The nation reeled, and rightfully so. Yet, in the aftermath, Omar—never one to miss a chance to stoke division—reposted content labeling Kirk a “stochastic terrorist,” a term dripping with justification for the violence that ended his life.
Rep. Mace, a fierce patriot, introduced a resolution to censure Omar and strip her of her committee assignments, a move rooted in the House’s constitutional authority to discipline its members (Article I, Section 5). It should have been a slam dunk. Instead, four GOP turncoats joined Democrats to protect this radical, fracturing party unity and spitting on the graves of those who’ve fought for free speech without incitement.
Take Mike Flood, Nebraska’s supposed conservative stalwart. This former Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature has built a career on rural values and limited government—until now. His vote to shield Omar suggests either a stunning lapse in judgment or a craven bow to some unseen pressure. Flood’s district, reliant on agriculture, deserves a representative who stands firm against those who glorify violence, not one who coddles a congresswoman with ties to radical ideologies.
The backlash is already brewing—X users like McCall Calhoun (@the_J6_Lawyer) are calling for his ouster in the primaries. Good luck, indeed.
Then there’s Jeff Hurd, the freshman from Colorado’s 3rd District, who rode into Congress on a wave of rural healthcare promises. Hurd’s vote reeks of naiveté or worse—perhaps a misguided nod to “free speech” that ignores the Constitution’s clear allowance for Congress to police its own. His district, with its Medicaid-dependent population, might tolerate this if he spins it as compassion, but constitutional conservatives know better: protecting Omar’s seat undermines the rule of law.
Cory Mills, Florida’s Bronze Star veteran, is perhaps the most confounding of the bunch. A Trump ally with a record of pushing border security and anti-China legislation, Mills’ vote against censure is a head-scratcher. His district, once a GOP stronghold, now questions his loyalty—Rick Waite (@RJWaite) branded him a “disgrace.”
Is this a tactical pivot to moderates, or did his military background lead him to avoid escalating tensions post-Kirk? Whatever the reason, it’s a betrayal of the constitutional principle that elected officials must face accountability, not a free pass to incite violence.
Finally, Tom McClintock, California’s libertarian-leaning veteran, offers a twist. Known for ditching the House Freedom Caucus in 2015 over strategy, his vote aligns with his free-speech absolutism—evidenced by his own statement defending Omar’s First Amendment rights. But this is where the perplexity peaks: Does McClintock not see that Omar’s rhetoric crossed into incitement, a line the Supreme Court has long recognized (e.g., Brandenburg v. Ohio, 1969)? His deregulatory zeal doesn’t excuse shielding a lawmaker who mocks a murdered American husband and father. The “RINO” cries on X Baxter Allen (@baxterallen2) are harsh but not unwarranted.
This vote isn’t just a procedural hiccup; it’s a seismic shift away from Republican principles. Constitutional conservatism demands accountability, a strong defense of life, and a rejection of radical ideologies—principles these four have abandoned. The House’s power to discipline members isn’t a suggestion; it’s a safeguard against those like Omar, who’ve supported ISIS and the Muslim Brotherhood, as Rep. Mace rightly noted. Yet, Flood, Hurd, Mills, and McClintock chose party discord over duty, handing Democrats a victory in a 214-213 squeaker that leaves conservatives reeling.
The fallout is already chaotic. X is ablaze with calls to primary these defectors, with Zack Everett (@ZachObryan13) urging checks for challengers. The Reuters/Ipsos poll showing 67% of Americans linking rhetoric to violence underscores the stakes—yet these four ignored the public’s cry for sanity.
As a constitutional conservative, I’m left wondering: If Republicans won’t police their own house, who will? The primaries in 2026 will be the battleground, and these unprincipled four should brace for a reckoning. Stay tuned, Texas—corruption and cowardice know no state lines.