Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy criticized Rep. Matt Gaetz and suggested that the GOP would benefit if he were no longer in the picture.
During an interview with CNN’s Manu Raju, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy stated that the GOP would benefit “tremendously” if Gaetz were not around. He further emphasized that individuals need to earn the right to be in Congress and that Gaetz’s lack of a conservative philosophy and focus on certain issues has raised concerns within the party.
McCarthy stated that it is up to the conference to decide whether to move forward with expelling Gaetz, as he believes that there must be consequences for one’s actions in order for the ‘party to heal.’
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“People have to earn the right to be here,” McCarthy continued. “I mean, he’ll admit to you personally, he doesn’t have a conservative bent in his philosophy. And just the nature of what he focuses on. I don’t believe the conference would ever heal if there’s no consequences for the action.”
Gaetz shot back at the former Speaker on his podcast on Thursday in response to McCarthy’s attack on him, saying, “If what Kevin McCarthy wants is to make a motion to throw me out of the Republican conference, I guess all I can really say is bring the effing motion.”
Throughout the tumultuous period of uncertainty surrounding the Speakership, the feud between McCarthy and Gaetz escalated.
Both took public shots at each other, fueling the flames within the Republican Party.
Gaetz’s decision to challenge McCarthy’s leadership resulted in a significant shift within the party, garnering support from Democrats, Republicans, and independents alike.
In October, former President Donald Trump told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade that Gaetz may have done a ‘tremendous favor’ for the GOP.
“Well, he was upset that Kevin was doing a lot of the Obama work, he was working on the budget and getting something approved that, you know, we could have gotten a lot for, and the debt ceiling, everybody was hurt with that,” said Trump.
“At the same time, Kevin’s a great guy, he is a wonderful guy, but people were hurt by that. It depends, I mean, on how good the new speaker, whoever that may be, how good he does. Maybe we’ll end up with one of the great speakers of all time, in which case Matt Gaetz did a tremendous favor,” said Trump.
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A CBS News poll taken in October revealed that 60% of respondents agreed with Gaetz and a majority of lawmakers in Congress that former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy needed to go.
That included clear majorities on both sides of the aisle.
Republican Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana secured the gavel on the first vote on October 25 after the House had been without a speaker for three weeks.
Every House Republican voted for Johnson, and all House Democrats supported Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries for speaker.
House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York gave Johnson a nominating speech ahead of the vote and praised the congressman for being a “servant leader” who has the ability to unite GOP members.
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