All Americans who take civics in high school know that our Congress is designed for gridlock, and that fact is becoming more and more evident as the battle over the new Speaker of the House rages on.
The default candidate, former minority leader Kevin McCarthy, is short of the necessary votes. His election has been opposed by the Freedom Caucus, which includes Florida Representatives Matt Gaetz and the recently elected Anna Paulina Luna, accusing McCarthy of being a lobbyist puppet who is not ideologically reliable.
Last night the House adjourned after McCarthy lost his sixth vote for speaker.
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We’re not trying to dictate terms. We represent our constituents.
Kevin McCarthy has no ideology. He’s a vessel through which lobbyists and special interests operate.
My team are the people in Florida who sent me here to fight for them. pic.twitter.com/3mn093kcLo
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) January 5, 2023
.@TuckerCarlson on McCarthy’s bid for Speaker:
"You don't want to be ruled by a man who wears a Ukrainian flag lapel pin and lives with Frank Luntz? No problem, we get it." pic.twitter.com/lrrigARIVf
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) January 5, 2023
Various alternatives have been offered, including Jim Jordan and recently-elected Florida Representative Byron Donalds, who has been nominated for the Speakership.
You ever hear Kevin McCarthy talking like this? This is who we need @ByronDonalds pic.twitter.com/rZ6YTR5Yk2
— StaceyWallen✌🏼❤️🇺🇸 (@stacey_wallen) January 5, 2023
However, the pick has come under attack from left and right alike, accusing the Freedom Caucus of nominating Donalds based on skin color.
FWIW, nobody asked @CoriBush her opinion on the matter. Before you judge my agenda, let's have a debate over the policies and the outcomes. Until then, don't be a crab in a barrel! https://t.co/QF2OubL4mO
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) January 4, 2023
Even Former Trump spokeswoman Katrina Pierson jumped into the fray.
I agree with the affirmative action crap. It was insulting and unnecessary. Byron Donald’s candidacy didn’t need to be qualified by his race and KNOWING that he didn’t have the votes. He should have been given more respect than that. Unacceptable! https://t.co/effgh63Eds
— Katrina Pierson (@KatrinaPierson) January 5, 2023
To implicate Florida further, Trump issued an endorsement of McCarthy on Truth Social from his Mar-a-Lago home after initially playing his cards close to the vest.
“Some really good conversations took place last night, and it’s now time for all of our GREAT Republican House members to VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY,” Trump wrote. “REPUBLICANS, DO NOT TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.”
However, surprisingly to some, his endorsement seems to have had no impact. After Wednesday’s eventual adjournment, Trump issued a statement saying the wait was a victory.
Pretty safe to say that even @realDonaldTrump thinks that the Speaker of the House race is just getting started 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Tc3HQspLhh
— ThePeoplesPodcast (@SteakforPodcast) January 5, 2023
But that doesn’t mean Trump’s endorsements have had no impact. Once solidly an anti-establishment figure, Trump’s brand and judgment with endorsements have been called into question by current and former members of his base.
Nope. No RINO McCarthy.
Trump's been wrong before about who he backs.
That's a NO from the American people.— Suzanne (@zany_zombie) January 5, 2023
Ha ha ha! Dang, Lou … I'm getting confused about who's a RINO and who's a patriot at this point. So you're anti-RINO, which is pro-Trump, right? But Trump backs McCarthy. And you say McCarthy is RINO … so is Trump now RINO? Or are you RINO?
— Arch Stanton (@rabid_centrist) January 4, 2023
Except you know who in Florida is backing McCarthy.
We’re here because Kevin chose to spend his millions attacking other republicans instead of democrats. Not fit to be speaker. https://t.co/96l2i6gTNQ
— Augustus LeRoux (@AugustusLeRoux) January 4, 2023
The resistance to McCarthy has drawn severe frustration from some other republicans, including Dan Crenshaw. Crenshaw argued the caucus members were unserious and that while most Republicans “are standing against this, we’re standing for principle. They are standing for notoriety.”
He even called the resisters “terrorists” and then rebuked the resulting blowback as “pearl-clutching.”
Most notably @DanCrenshawTX pic.twitter.com/SgHdhSnPcc
— 🇺🇸Anthony🚛 (@AnthonyMDraghi) January 4, 2023
Unclutch your pearls. It’s a figure of speech. You can’t insult, slander, and hold everyone hostage with no way out – and not expect me to punch back.
Grow thicker skin. https://t.co/gmwDmfCney
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) January 5, 2023
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As it stands, no candidate for other Speakership has the sufficient 218 votes to win it, although Democrat pick Hakeem Jefferies leads, with all House Democrats in lockstep behind him.
McCarthy has failed to win or make progress in several consecutive votes. Eventually, the House adjourned, planning to resume work at noon on Thursday. As the failed votes piled up, McCarthy has been looking to make deals and concessions to drag himself over the finish line, including reaching out to Democrats, which has only made his republican opponents dig their heels in further.
This still likely won’t get him to 218, per several GOP sources. But it will close the gap
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 5, 2023
Another day, another lie from Kevin McCarthy.
Just weeks ago, Kevin McCarthy promised me and the entire House Republican caucus that he wouldn’t seek Democrat votes to secure the Speakership.
In fact his people said it was a “doomsday scenario” if this were to happen. pic.twitter.com/nUQhmmKT12
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) January 4, 2023
The hold-up is the first time the House has failed to elect a speaker on the first ballot in 100 years. The tumult will continue tomorrow at noon.
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