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Tucker Carlson, host of Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News, recently made a thinly veiled threat against a GOP representative because he believes one of his staff made a disparaging remark about nepotism and his son Buckley Carlson.
Carlson believes a member Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer's staff is responsible for a quote in a Daily Beast article from last week which was credited to an anonymous "GOP strategist."
The anonymous comment was more disparaging of Indiana Representative Jim Banks, current Republican Study Committee Chairman and possible Republican Whip hopeful if the Republicans win control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections next month.
"Deep down, he dies to be liked by the Establishment. He hires Tucker Carlson’s son, a 24-year-old kid, to be his communications director."
Because Banks is possibly going to be contending with Emmer for the position of Whip, some assumed the strategist who made the comment was one of his staffers. Apparently Carlson was among them.
According to Axios, Carlson was so incensed by the quote he called GOP Representative Emmer and demanded he either reveal the name of the person who made the remark or Carlson would assume Emmer himself was responsible.
Though Emmer denied any of his staff were involved, Carlson didn't believe him and "made clear to Emmer that he now had a personal problem with him."
Journalist Judd Legum thoroughly mapped out the issue in a thread on Twitter.
\u201c1. @TuckerCarlson is OUTRAGED that anyone would suggest that his son Buckley Carlson got his job as Communications Director for @RepJimBanks on anything other than PURE MERIT\n\nLet's look at the facts\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
\u201c@TuckerCarlson @RepJimBanks 2. Buckley Carlson was initially hired by @RepJimBanks immediately after graduating from college as a staff assistant, essentially an entry-level job, earning 40K per year\n\nHis only prior experience was as an intern for Trump in the White House\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
He didn't stay at the entry level for long though.
\u201c3. After one year on the job, Buckley Carlson was given a 25K raise and was now earning 65K as a staff assistant. \n\nGreat work!\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
On his way up again.
\u201c4. 6 months later, in January 2021, Buckley was promoted to Communications Director, the highest-ranking communications job in a Congressional office. \n\nHis salary was increased again to 75K.\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
If only everyone had this kind of upward mobility.
\u201c5. 10 months after that, Buckley got another huge raise, to about 130K per year. \n\nBuckley went from a 40K entry-level job to being the communications director and earning 130K in a bit over two years.\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
\u201c6. Buckley now makes only slightly less than Banks' Chief of Staff, David Keller, who has been working with Banks for years, including as his campaign manager in 2106\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
The case for nepotism might already seem pretty strong.
But there's definitely more and it involves someone most almost definitely aren't expecting.
\u201c7. Now, Tucker Carlson would never use his political connections to assist with Buckley's career. Right? \n\nExcept that Carlson wrote HUNTER BIDEN in 2014 and asked for his help getting Buckley into Georgetown\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
\u201c8. Buckley is now 24-years-old and makes almost as much as the Congressman he works for. \n\nIf you suggest that this isn't all on the level and Carlson is pulling strings for his son, Carlson will call you up and threaten you\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
\u201c9. Now, Buckley Carlson, is apparently the "victim" of something\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
It kinda seems like Buckley Carlson's Communications Director position has rather different job duties than are usual for that job title, too.
\u201c10. Unlike most Communications Directors on Capitol Hill, Buckley does not appear to have any presence on social media and does not give on-the-record quotes to local or national media.\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
He's got great connections though.
\u201c11. In his defense, since Buckley has been working for Banks, he has been able to get Banks booked on Fox News' biggest show, @TuckerCarlson, five times \n\nThat's not easy to do.\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1666619742
Carlson's vendetta against Emmer caused a rift in the Republican party.
Some like Donald Trump Jr and Marjorie Taylor Greene stand with Carlson while others side with Emmer.
\u201cI stand with Buckley Carlson.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1666560750
\u201cIt was bad enough that RINO Tom Emmer had his henchmen attack Tucker Carlson's 25 year old son to the Daily Beast, but now Emmer is trying to throw the staff of another member of Congress under the bus to cover his own ass???\n\nWhat a pathetic coward.\u201d— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1666574083
Greene couldn't resist getting in one more little bit of criticism in a followup tweet.
\u201cConsultants at national party political action committees should only focus on helping their party\u2019s candidates win.\n\nThey shouldn\u2019t fund or not fund races based on candidate\u2019s conservative views.\n\nAnd they should never attack Member\u2019s staff to left wing activist bloggers. Ever.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1666562805
National Republican Congressional Committee communications director Michael McAdams defended Emmer, saying:
"Chairman Emmer and his staff have never attacked any other members' staff. Period. These baseless accusations are meant to distract and divide Republicans. Our focus is on retaking the majority and firing Nancy Pelosi."
Twitter users were largely incredulous about the whole situation, with some taking the opportunity to lambaste the whole Republican party...
\u201c@RonFilipkowski\u201d— Ron Filipkowski \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Ron Filipkowski \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1666577310
\u201c@RepMTG A Republican is upset about how special interest groups use their money and influence. \n\nTHAT is some premium gaslighting.\u201d— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1666562805
...and Tucker Carlson for good measure.
\u201c@RonFilipkowski @mehdirhasan I think it\u2019s hysterical that Tucker Carlson is demanding to know the source of a story. He certainly doesn\u2019t care about that when he does his own \u201creporting\u201d\u201d— Ron Filipkowski \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6 (@Ron Filipkowski \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\udde6) 1666577310
\u201c@DonaldJTrumpJr Like - we all knew that Buckley Carlson has worked on the Hill since 2019.\u201d— Donald Trump Jr. (@Donald Trump Jr.) 1666574083
\u201c@CheriJacobus How embarrassing for a 24 year old man having his daddy call because someone was mean to him.\u201d— Cheri Jacobus (@Cheri Jacobus) 1666576281
\u201c@miker75058 @CheriJacobus \u2026..into the ground. \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\u201d— Cheri Jacobus (@Cheri Jacobus) 1666576281
This rift between Carlson, who has an extremely devoted fanbase who are often influenced by what he says during his show, may have a significant effect on Emmer's image with GOP voters, and Carlson knows it—hence the ultimatum.
Will Tucker Carlson attempt to use his influence to affect Emmer's political career?
We'll soon find out.