Dream job or Horror for Republican Kevin McCarthy’s
2023.01.07 09:00
Dream job or Horror for Republican Kevin McCarthy’s
Budrigannews.com – On Saturday morning, Kevin McCarthy realizes a long-held ambition: He was elected speaker of the United States House of Representatives after a four-day standoff, making him the most powerful Republican.
However, because that position requires leading a caucus that strongly opposes leadership, it could become a nightmare. Conservatives have frequently criticized top Republican in the Senate Mitch McConnell for agreeing to any kind of compromise with Democrats, and this week, they rejected former President Donald Trump’s request to quickly follow McCarthy.
The Californian, who is 57 years old, persevered through 15 rounds of voting to eliminate a group of 20 right-wing hardline opponents and reach compromises that would bring the majority of them into his camp. He stated to reporters on Friday night that the prolonged procedure would make him a better leader.
“We’ve learned how to govern because it took this long. As a result, we’ll be able to finish the job now,” McCarthy stated. In the end, we’ll be more efficient and effective, and the government will definitely be more accountable.”
In order to secure a position that is second only to Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for the Oval Office, McCarthy made significant concessions, including a rule that stipulates that any of the 435 members of the House could at any time force a vote to remove him.
The Republicans’ weaker-than-expected performance in the November elections gave them a narrow majority of 222-212, which gives a small group of right-wing extremists a lot of power. They lashed out at McCarthy, who had held the position of minority leader since 2019 and was accused of being too lenient and willing to make concessions to President Joe Biden and his Democrats, who also control the Senate.
“We know who Mr. McCarthy will use power for, so we don’t trust him with it.” “And we are concerned that it will not be for the American people,” said Representative Matt Gaetz, who cost McCarthy the second-to-last vote on Friday night by withholding his support, causing McCarthy one more humiliation.
However, a divided government necessitates compromise, and McCarthy’s concessions increase the likelihood that the two parties will not be able to reach an agreement when the federal government reaches its $31.4 trillion debt limit later this year. A default that would shake the global economy could occur if agreement is not reached or even if there is a prolonged standoff.
The idea that the deal might make him less powerful was dismissed by McCarthy.
McCarthy stated to reporters, “That gives me no problem or concern whatsoever,” describing his agreement with critics as a “very good” agreement that “empowers the members.”
Additionally, beginning in October, he pledged to pursue extensive spending reductions in order to achieve a balanced federal budget in ten years and promised his hardline critics increased influence on important committees.
Despite the fact that his candidacy has been deadlocked for a week, the Republican majority only needs four votes to pass legislation, which has encouraged individual lawmakers.
Before being elected to the House in 2006, McCarthy worked as a congressional staffer and then as a state legislator. He has spent his entire adult life in politics. In 2015, he ran unsuccessfully for speaker, and the election marked the culmination of his career.
However, Republicans have found the speaker’s position to be a formidable obstacle in recent years, as evidenced by John Boehner’s resignation in 2015 following a struggle with rebellious conservatives.
Paul Ryan, Boehner’s successor and a frequent target of conservatives, decided not to run for president in 2018, as the party’s focus shifted from Ryan’s fiscal priorities to immigration and culture war issues under Trump.
When McCarthy made the public admission, just a few days after the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, that Trump was to blame, he came under fire from hardliners. He later pledged allegiance to the former president on multiple occasions.
In advance of the midterm elections, McCarthy campaigned for over 165 candidates in at least 34 states. More than $160 million was given to Republican House candidates by a group connected to him called the Congressional Leadership Fund. According to McCarthy’s campaign team, he sent candidates $6.5 million from his own campaign and four other companies under his control.
However, in order to win the Speakership, he also agreed not to interfere in any further Republican primaries, even if it meant supporting candidates he thought were more likely to win the general election than their right-wing opponents.
Kevin is a decent person. In a speech on Friday supporting McCarthy, Republican Representative Mike Garcia said, “He’s a man of God.” He is an American. Over the past four years, he has led this conference to its current majority. Those things cannot be defeated.”
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