Staff Reports
A conservative group known as Republicans for Ukraine has kicked off a major ad campaign in strategic districts, putting pressure on Republican members of Congress to prioritize voting on a bill that includes crucial military aid for Ukraine. The ad, titled “No Weakness in the Face of Aggression,” features lifelong Republican supporters emphasizing the importance of continued U.S. assistance to Ukraine.
Key House Republicans targeted in six-figure ad buy to support aid for Ukraine https://t.co/zTbosWIN2g https://t.co/zTbosWIN2g
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 21, 2024
One California Republican in the ad warns about the potential consequences of not supporting Ukraine, suggesting that failure to do so could embolden China to invade its neighbors. Meanwhile, an Arizona Republican highlights the global implications of the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A Republican woman from Wyoming also ties the party’s core principles to the opposition of communist forces, thereby emphasizing the historical significance of supporting Ukraine.
According to Republicans for Ukraine, the purpose of the ad is to urge specific Republicans in Congress to sign a discharge petition to bring the supplemental aid bill, already passed by the Senate, to a House vote. The Senate had previously approved a $95.3 billion supplemental bill that allocates additional military aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. However, the fate of this bill hangs in the balance in the House without a discharge petition to facilitate a floor vote.
Gunner Ramer, the national spokesman for Republicans for Ukraine, asserts that it only takes a few Republicans to sign the discharge petition to support America’s allies and safeguard national security. Additionally, it is suggested that passing the Senate bill in the House would garner significant Republican backing.
The ad will be broadcasted in the districts of several Republican representatives, including Mike Gallagher, Ken Buck, Mike McCaul, Mike Rogers, Mike Turner, Don Bacon, Steve Womack, Jake Ellzey, Brian Fitzpatrick, and Dan Crenshaw. These specific representatives were targeted due to their perceived inclination to support a discharge petition.
A spokesperson for Bacon expressed the representative’s refusal to back the discharge petition. The spokesperson mentioned Bacon’s concerns about the legislation, emphasizing his collaboration with Rep. Fitzpatrick and others on bipartisan legislation that addresses Ukraine aid, along with Israel and Taiwan, as well as border security.
Regarding McCaul, a spokesperson opted to primarily point to the representative’s prior statements. McCaul himself had stated that Republicans supportive of Ukraine might not rally behind a discharge petition, as the process circumvents leadership. Nonetheless, he expressed confidence that aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan would ultimately make it to the House floor.
The launch of the ad campaign and the subsequent responses from Republican representatives highlight the intense pressure and internal divisions surrounding the issue of providing military aid to Ukraine. As the political dynamics continue to unfold, it remains to be seen how these developments will shape the Republican stance on the matter.
