South Carolina Representative Tom Rice was one of 10 Republicans to vote for President Trump’s impeachment – a decision that surprised Republicans and Democrats in the Conservative 7º District.
Rice said she voted twice for President Trump. A staunch conservative, Rice was re-elected with more than 60% of the vote.
And he voted against certifying Joe Biden’s victory last week – even after the right-wing crowd invaded the U.S. Capitol.
He initially said he would not vote for impeachment, but after thinking about the president’s response, he changed his mind. He discussed his decision in an interview with WMBF News.
“President Trump was tweeting that Vice President Pence did not have the courage to do what was right and just further angered the crowd,” said Rice.
He said he did not know whether the president’s words and actions before the riot had stirred up the crowd. But he said that once the violence started, the president’s lack of response was disqualifying.
He said that while other parliamentarians were huddled on the floor, “the president offered only a very lukewarm request for moderation. Things like, ‘the vote was stolen, but don’t be too violent.’ Stuff like that.”
Horry Democratic County President Tom Kohn praised Rice for, in his words, voting for his conscience. Asked if he thought Rice would ever have voted for impeachment, Kohn said, “No way.”
He added: “He is definitely not known as a dissident. I don’t remember an example I could give you when he went against the party on anything significant. “
Republicans are surprised.
“I’ve already received phone calls,” said Dreama Perdue, president of the Republican Party of Horry County. “There are already people lining up (to run against him). There will be several who are already throwing their hats in the ring against him. “
I supported this president for four years. I campaigned for him and voted for him twice. But, this total failure is inexcusable.https: //t.co/SCWylYEER0
– Congressman Tom Rice (@RepTomRice) January 13, 2021
Horry County is home to Myrtle Beach – and where Rice began his political career at the Horry County Council.
“Right now, there are so many people who are angry and disappointed in him. They will not vote for him again, ”she said.
Next door, in Marion County, Jeanne Lumpkin, chairman of the county’s Republican Party, said her reaction on Wednesday was “shock to begin with.”
“The Marion County Republican Party was a big supporter of Tom Rice,” she said. “We put up a lot of signs. Take a lot of time to get him re-elected. And having him vote that way just surprised us. “
In his interview, Rice said that if his vote costs him a job in 2022, “so be it.”
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