Outgoing U.S. Rep. Gibbs blasts Biden and redistricting, lauds Musk

U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Lakeville, made one of his last public appearances while still in office Monday at the Richland County Republican luncheon.

Gibbs announced in April that he would retire from Congress after six terms rather than face a stiff primary challenge in a substantially redrawn district in northeast Ohio.

In a statement declaring his retirement, Gibbs criticized the Ohio Supreme Court for taking a long time on deciding legal challenges to the congressional map and leaving the delegation in limbo. He noted that his 7th Congressional District changed substantially.

“It is irresponsible to effectively confirm the congressional map for this election cycle seven days before voting begins,” he wrote, “especially in the Seventh Congressional District, where almost 90% of the electorate is new and nearly two-thirds is an area primarily from another district, foreign to any expectations or connection to the current Seventh District.”

Ohio Rep. Marilyn John, R-Shelby, chair of the local Republican party, introduced Gibbs, who spoke at the Kobacker Room at DLX.

"I have always appreciated the accessibility, the representation," she said. "He may be in D.C., but he has never forgotten where he's from and who he represents.

"He has really carried the banner for conservatives in D.C. That is not easy."

Gibbs dishes on Washington during speech to local Republicans

Gibbs seemed relaxed during his address as he touched on a number of topics.

"I know we were all disappointed with what happened on election day," he said of an expected "red wave" of Republican victories that didn't materialize. "Ohio is an exception."

Gibbs criticized states that did not have votes counted that night.

"It shouldn't take weeks to count votes. We have technology now," he said. "It's always the suspect states that have this problem."

Gibbs praised Elon Musk, the world's richest man, for his purchase of Twitter.

"Thank God for Elon Musk," he said. "What he did for Twitter is amazing."

Gibbs said Musk has posted material on Twitter that could spell trouble for President Joe Biden.

"The only way you can fix things in this country is by election or prosecution," he said.

After the luncheon, Gibbs elaborated on his concerns about Biden.

"It's really a national security issue to me," he told a News Journal reporter. "The evidence is pointing in the direction that he (Biden) is compromised....

"Right now, the evidence doesn't look good for Joe Biden."

Outgoing congressman critical of Democrats

During his speech, Gibbs criticized Democrats.

"It's all about power and control. They want to control your life and have power over you," he said.

Gibbs reserved his harshest criticism for the president.

"President Biden has never gone to the border," he said.

Gibbs said he did go to the border, traveling to Arizona. He said spotters from drug cartels watched immigrants who were detained and sent drugs across the borders with others who weren't.

Gibbs lamented crime and the price of energy, among other concerns.

"All these things are self-inflicted by the Biden administration," he said. "It makes me sick."

Gibbs said he looked forward to congressional investigations of Biden after the first of the year, calling the stakes as high as they were in 1776 or 1865.

Zoi Romanchuk, wife of Ohio Rep. Mark Romanchuk, R-Ontario, gave Gibbs a gift basket with goodies from around Richland County before he began his speech.

After the luncheon, Gibbs revisited the redistricting issue, which he called a "fiasco," and his subsequent decision to retire.

"I was so upset by what was going on in the country (that I decided to run again)," he said. "Then they came out with the second map. I was thinking about not running anyway, but that pretty much cemented that."

Gibbs previously served in the state Senate and the state House, and he was once president of the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation.

"It's kind of bittersweet," he said of his decision to retire. "When I first got elected (to the U.S. House), I was thinking 12 years was long enough.

"I think deciding to get married and have kids is an easier decision than when to retire."

mcaudill@gannett.com

419-521-7219

Twitter: @MNJCaudill

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: U.S. Rep. Gibbs addresses local Republican party at DLX