The ongoing struggle to appoint a House speaker has not occurred in a century. A century ago, it required nine ballots to select a speaker. Despite having the support of former President Trump, Kevin McCarthy has been unable to secure the necessary votes to secure the job. Members of the House Freedom Caucus who view McCarthy as a RINO and part of the issue are opposed to McCarthy. Others, like as Trump, view him as a strong leader who is qualified for the position.
As the first week of the new 2023 House session remains in limbo owing to the ongoing voting for Speaker, the Republican Party is removing their gloves. Not just Trump, but many other prominent Republicans are expected to support McCarthy. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has tirelessly advocated for Rep. Kevin McCarthy to become House speaker for the past month and a half.
Greene, on the other hand, has just reaffirmed his devotion to McCarthy and declared that everyone who votes against him is a “destructionist.” Greene, a conservative, addresses her fellow conservatives in the House. She would even criticize her former ally in Congress, Representative Matt Gaetz.
Greene remarked, “If my friends in the Freedom Caucus, Matt Gaetz and others .. they’re proving to the country that they don’t care about doing the right thing for America .. they’re just destructionists. That’s why Republicans fail, and I’m really tired of it.”
Marge: “If my friends in the Freedom Caucus, Matt Gaetz and others .. they’re proving to the country that they don’t care about doing the right thing for America .. they’re just destructionists. That’s why Repubs fail, and I’m really tired of it. 🎥 RSBN pic.twitter.com/T1gMvN8uOI
— Ron Filipkowski 🇺🇦 (@RonFilipkowski) January 3, 2023
In response to MTG’s criticism, Gaetz stated to the media, “If you want to drain the swamp, you cannot put the biggest alligator in charge of the exercise.”
Rep. @MattGaetz on opposing Kevin McCarthy for House Speaker: “If you want to drain the swamp, you cannot put the biggest alligator in charge of the exercise.” pic.twitter.com/2hPDMF1RqB
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) January 3, 2023
The Freedom Caucus, sometimes known as the House Freedom Caucus, is a caucus of conservative Republican members of the United States House of Representatives. Jim Jordan was designated the group’s inaugural chairman after it was founded in January 2015 by conservatives and supporters of the Tea Party movement with the intention of pushing the Republican leadership to the right. Scott Perry currently serves as chairman.
There are some libertarians inside the caucus, which originally held 54 seats in the House. The caucus has consistently supported President Trump. Pew study finds 36 Caucus members.
As the second day of voting for Speaker in the House proceeds, the caucus members remain steadfast despite former President Trump’s call for unity.
“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.” Trump posted today. He beseeched Republicans not to “TURN A GREAT TRIUMPH INTO A GIANT & EMBARRASSING DEFEAT.” “Kevin McCarthy will do a good job, and maybe even a GREAT JOB – JUST WATCH!” Trump added.
According to The New York Times, the conservative lawmakers’ “mutiny” has remained steadfast in its opposition to McCarthy, “paralyzing the chamber at the dawn of Republican rule, delaying the swearing in of hundreds of members of Congress, putting off any legislative work and exposing the deep divisions that threatened to make the party’s House majority ungovernable.”
However, this is precisely why the Caucus exists. To remove RINO MPs from leadership positions. And the Caucus views McCarthy as one of many RINOS obstructing the Republican Party’s conservative goals.
McCarthy, for his part, is not giving up. McCarthy is quoted in the Times as saying, “I’m staying until we win. I know the path.” McCarthy has pledged to remain steadfast until he attains the speakership, creating the possibility of an arduous series of votes that may last for days.
More on this story via The Republic Brief:
House precedent dictates that members continue to vote until someone secures the majority needed to prevail. But until Tuesday, the House had not failed to elect a speaker on the first roll call vote since 1923, when the election stretched out for nine ballots.
“I think that Kevin knows that this is his last shot, and so he’s going to play this as long as ” he can, said Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado, who voted for McCarthy three times on Tuesday. “He withdrew once so that he would have this chance. He’s not going to have this chance again.” CONTINUE READING…