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Some Republicans Finally Denounced QAnon. That’s Great, But It’s Too Little Too Late

A man holds a QAnon sign at The Great Awakening Rally in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2019. (Photo: Jared Holt)

Analysis

Some prominent Republicans and institutions are stepping up to denounce the QAnon conspiracy theory after Georgia Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has voiced support for the outlandish conspiracy movement, won her primary runoff(link is external) this week and became Georgia’s all-but-certain next member of Congress.

Condemnations of Greene and the conspiracy theories she believes are a refreshing change of pace in a Republican party that has allowed the QAnon movement to fester and grow in its ranks(link is external) with tacit silence and winking online engagement. But the unfortunate truth is that any condemnation, no matter how powerful and from what perch, is likely to be ineffective in halting its spread or dissuading believers. QAnon has existed for nearly three years and has grown into an alternative universe to be reckoned with. As I wrote in July(link is external): “GOP leaders could have stopped it, and now it may be too late.”

Greene is among the dozens of Republican candidates(link is external) seeking office this year who have embraced QAnon, a conspiracy theory that at its core alleges a network of demonic child sex abusers is leading the world and plotting its destruction. The FBI considers(link is external) QAnon a potential source of domestic terrorism; followers of QAnon have been linked to criminal activity, including kidnapping(link is external) and murder(link is external).

Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger ​of Illinois denounced QAnon after Greene’s victory, calling it “a fabrication.”

“Could be Russian propaganda or a basement dweller,” Kinzinger tweeted. “Regardless, no place in Congress for these conspiracies.​"

The editors of ​the National Review published(link is external) a column yesterday urging Republicans to follow Kinzinger’s lead. They wrote:

House Republicans should go further and deny Greene committee assignments when she arrives in Congress in January. Stripping Iowa Republican Steve King of his committee seats in 2019 sent a message that there are boundaries of decency in the GOP that should not be crossed, and it signaled to GOP primary voters in Iowa that they should choose more wisely next time they had an opportunity. Thankfully, Iowans did just that in June.

Any such move would surely lead Greene to conclude there is a conspiracy against her, but some paranoids deserve enemies.

Managing editor of the Washington Examiner Jay Caruso admitted(link is external) that his earlier doubt ​that QAnon believers ​could take power in Congress “was wrong and the GOP invited this mess.”

Politico reported(link is external) that​ Republican Rep. Denver Riggleman of Virginia said the GOP would be in trouble i​f Greene was the face of its future. ​“QAnon is the mental gonorrhea of conspiracy theories. It’s disgusting and you want to get rid of it as fast as possible,” he said.

But for every condemnation​ of QAnon, there were congratulations​ directed at its followers that seemed to ring louder.

President Donald Trump congratulated(link is external) Greene on her primary runoff win​, calling her a "future Republican Star.​"

“Congratulations to future Republican Star Marjorie Taylor Greene on a big Congressional primary win in Georgia against a very tough and smart opponent. Marjorie is strong on everything and never gives up - a real WINNER!” Trump tweeted(link is external).

The Chicago Tribune reports(link is external) that Greene maintained support from many of her fellow Georgia Republicans, including Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Rep. Doug Collins. “It’s clear that we need more outsiders with business sense in Washington,” Loeffler said. ​Rep. Matt Gaetz also offered his support to the QAnon candidate Thursday, tweeting(link is external), "Proud to be in your corner, Marjorie!​"

House Republicans denounced Greene earlier this year after Politico surfaced a trove of videos(link is external) in which Greene espoused racist and bigoted views. Republicans began ​to​ distance themselves from her candidacy and some endorsed her primary opponent, but nearly all remained mum on QAnon.

QAnon conspiracy theories have also taken(link is external) root (link is external)within conservative evangelicalism, an essential part of the GOP base.