Fox News personality Laura Ingraham criticized Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, saying "national divorce" idea would likely fail to "withstand legal scrutiny."
Ingraham made her comments after Greene came under fire for calling for red states to secede from the United States and suggesting a "national divorce" is in order.
Greene claimed "everyone" she talks to believes the country "need[s] to separate by red states and blue states and shrink the federal government" to escape "sick and disgusting woke culture issues" furthered by Democrats' "traitorous America Last policies."
But Ingraham suggested a "national divorce" would actually not help conservatives, pointing out that the traditionally red states of Arkansas and Georgia gave us Democratic Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter respectively and that strong blue states like New York and California gave us Republican Presidents Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan.
Ingraham couldn't resist criticizing Democrats of course—suggesting they'd "given up on America"—but was firm in her assessment of Greene's idea that Republicans should not fall into the same trap, a striking dismissal of the proposal.
You can hear what Ingraham said in the video below.
\u201cIngraham: How would this national divorce be good for conservatism? Now why would we want to embrace the states that gave us Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton but give up on states that gave us Reagan and Trump\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1677123059
Ingraham said:
“First of all, a law prohibiting American citizens who have not committed a crime from voting would probably not withstand legal scrutiny."
“And second: How would a national divorce be good for conservatism? Now, why would we want to embrace the states that gave us Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton but essentially give up on the states that gave us Reagan and Trump?”
“The last thing we need is an American breakup of any sort. Remember, a motto of this show ― almost from the start over five years ago ― has been ‘No state left behind.'"
“Just because it often seems like Democrats have given up on America themselves doesn’t mean ever that Republicans or conservatives should.”
Blue states tend to be wealthier than red states and pay more money to the federal government than they receive so they effectively subsidize low-tax red states.
An Associated Press fact-check notes that high-tax red states "send far more tax dollars to Washington than residents in low-tax states" and the majority of low-tax states "make a profit from the federal government’s system of taxing and spending."
In fact, a "national divorce" would likely bankrupt red states—and Ingraham and the executives at Fox News know they can't afford to alienate their valuable viewer base.
Many couldn't help but remark that Ingraham's break with Greene is a sign that even she thinks the loud-mouthed reactionary has gone too far.
\u201c@Acyn She knows they are stepping in some stuff they don\u2019t want to be stepping in. \n\nWonder if that dominion lawsuit weighs heavily around there these days.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1677123059
\u201c@Acyn She\u2019s basically saying \u201chow can we give up on the states that give you all the money.\u201d But coding it in political strategy.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1677123059
\u201c@Acyn In other words, we like the handouts but not having to say thank you.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1677123059
\u201c@Acyn It\u2019s almost as if MTG doesn\u2019t think about the consequences of what\u2019s she saying.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1677123059
\u201c@Acyn And then they realize a divorce leaves 'em with Arkansas and Mississippi. Yeah. Not looking so great now, is it?\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1677123059
\u201c@Acyn She forgot to finish her sentence - \u2018but give up on states that gave us Reagan and Trump and many of my network\u2019s biggest advertisers\u2019\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1677123059
\u201c@Acyn Well I guess after having thought about it a bit overnight, Laura realized that trading Alabama and Mississippi for California and New York isn\u2019t a good idea.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1677123059
\u201c@Acyn She knows blue states keep red states alive.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1677123059
Greene's call for a "national divorce" is not a new one given that she polled her Twitter followers in October 2021 on the same topic only to be met with considerable pushback even by members of her own party who pointed out that such a proposal is unconstitutional.
Her undemocratic and authoritarian ideas were criticized further this week after she said red states should impose a 5-year voting moratorium for Democrats who move to them in an effort to kneecap their power as a viable voting bloc.
Greene said those who move from blue states—which Republicans have long alleged are falling apart due to Democratic leadership—should not get to "bring [their] values" to red states, essentially punishing any left-leaning person regardless of the individual policies they may or may not support.