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Matt Gaetz Didn’t Oust McCarthy. He Just Helped Democrats Do It.

Posted on Thursday, October 5, 2023
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by Outside Contributor
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Kevin McCarthy next to Matt Gaetz

Kevin McCarthy has become the first House speaker to ever be successfully ousted in a motion to vacate vote. One day, you can tell your grandchildren you were alive to witness this completely pointless bit of history.

Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) self-aggrandizing political stunt makes no sense and changes nothing — other than perhaps his fundraising totals. And other than some platitudinous blathering about “the establishment” and “the uniparty,” I still haven’t seen anyone offer a coherent reason — not even retroactively — for how any of this is the “best way to advance the conservative agenda.”

It would be one thing, perhaps an admirable thing, if Gaetz had gone on this crusade for a coherent ideological or principled reason. But his post-ousting demagoguery and grandstanding about issues completely unrelated to McCarthy’s job performance proved it was a personal matter.

“I don’t think voting against Kevin McCarthy is chaos,” Gaetz explained. “I think $33 trillion in debt is chaos. I think that facing a $2.2-trillion annual deficit is chaos.” Now, there are numerous people to blame for the impending fiscal disaster, but McCarthy is no more guilty than most.

One of the least convincing claims by Gaetz’s defenders is that McCarthy was punished for ignoring the base. “The base,” of course, is a popular euphemism for the most vociferous populist faction of the GOP. This faction enjoys blowing things up — mostly their own party’s prospects. In this case, the “base” was represented by eight Republicans and the entire Democratic Party.

And among these principled eight GOPers who were fighting for the honor of the base — what The New York Times called the “far-right GOP faction” — were Reps. Nancy Mace (who said Gaetz was a “fraud” the last time he tried to knock off McCarthy) and Ken Buck (who we last heard was reportedly looking for a CNN gig). I’m going to go out on a limb and say that the future of conservatism was not the motivating factor for their votes.

Most Trump-endorsed candidates didn’t even participate in McCarthy’s removal. Donald Trump himself tepidly supported the speaker because, as he noted, the man had said “very great things” about him. And, really, what’s more important? Though, I bet McCarthy was expecting a far more energetic defense after pathetically ingratiating himself to the former president a couple of weeks ago.

Even if Gaetz had excellent reasons, Republicans did not eject McCarthy. Eight Republicans can’t do anything by themselves. No, 208 Democrats ousted McCarthy with the help of some petulant backbenchers nursing personal vendettas. It is a political coup for the Dems.

Gaetz, who only yesterday was going on about McCarthy’s “secret deal” with Democrats, had no qualms sitting on the opposition side of the House plotting to oust a speaker who holds a rickety nine-seat majority. If there was actually a brewing House rebellion, Gaetz would have been able to corral far more votes.

But Gaetz wanted to “break the fever” of D.C., so he teamed up with minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, “the squad,” Adam Schiff and so on. Jeffries claimed he was supporting Gaetz’s efforts because Republicans have shown an “unwillingness to break from MAGA extremism in an authentic and comprehensive manner.”

The notion that Democrats are backing a leading MAGA loyalist because they want to temper the “extremism” of Republicans makes about as much sense as Jamaal Bowman’s fire alarm story. Democrats keep pretending they yearn for a more responsible GOP and stable political environment, then keep supporting every fringe effort and candidate to undermine both.

Of course, no one is owed anything. McCarthy isn’t the only person available in D.C. to serve as a middling speaker of the House. And, frankly, if he’d been more talented at the job, he might have headed off this challenge more effectively. But it’s doubtful anyone is going to perform better with a slender majority and the Senate and presidency in Democrats’ hands.

But then again, none of that matters when you’re having a tantrum.

David Harsanyi is a senior editor at The Federalist. Harsanyi is a nationally syndicated columnist and author of five books — the most recent, “Eurotrash: Why America Must Reject the Failed Ideas of a Dying Continent.” His work has appeared in National Review, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Reason, New York Post and numerous other publications. Follow him on Twitter @davidharsanyi.

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BRH
BRH
1 year ago

David…well written for someone who is deaf, dumb and blind. It’s you who don’t get it. The Marxists of the Democrat Party were Gatez’ useful idiots. Congress is no longer for “get alongs” when he are face to face with enemies of our country dressed in sheep’s clothing while they devour our nation posing as Democrats.

Braintree
Braintree
1 year ago

KEVIN got fired. I would’ve hoped AMAC would have said this via Federalist. Because most of us are busy working – not trying to DECIPHER the Web of nonsense in the house. They’re devious. The most egregious to me is KM changed DEBT LIMIT in his side negotiations to JAN 2025, from March 2024 which had already been voted on.

Grrr.

Gonzo
Gonzo
1 year ago

… indicative of the first and only quarterback in NFL history having thrown 5 interceptions, in the first quarter, the two-faced, double-dealing, underhanded uniparty candidate Kevin McCarthy, got himself benched. Permanently. Everyone knows, no way the 2020 election could ever have been rigged, without Pelosi, Schumer, McConnell and McCarthy, elbows deep in the middle of it –

William Levitt
William Levitt
1 year ago

Geez, I just joined AMAC and this is the first news article I have to see? I’ll be very clear. I stand with Congressman Gaetz and the 7 others that showed the guts to do what had to be done. McCarthy squandered every opportunity to advance the America First agenda. Back to Commifornia with you. Good riddance.

Dan W.
Dan W.
1 year ago

McCarthy’s problem was that he lied to everyone on virtually every issue and made conflicting promises depending upon his audience. Nobody trusted him.

Now let’s see if we can elect a Speaker who can walk the tightrope between impeaching Biden and retaining the House majority in 2024 (and who can get rid of that stupid rule that one idiot can get rid of the Speaker if the Speaker is not pure enough on every issue).

RobertE
RobertE
1 year ago

Gripe all you want, but there was a deal ans McCarthy fail to honor it. It’s about time someone stood up for integrity. Sadly only 8 people.
It’s weak people like McCarthy, Ryan and Behnor who have helped the Dems become the establishment party. Gaetz for all his faults, recognizes the urgent national emergency we have right now – $33T debt and an open border. The Dems have established an election process designed to ensure their power for the foreseeable future!
McCarthy could have turned it around and told the Dems “You will shut the government down because of no border enforcement?” But instead, once again, he caves to lets the Dems blackmail the with the gov’t shutdown farce and the country is another few $Trillion in debt.
Ironically, the Dem party is run in a top down, very anti-democratic military-like fashion. Look what they are doing to RFKJr. But they act as a bloc and get their agendas passed. They do not run circular firing squads like the GOP.
So I say good riddens, Mr. McCarthy. I only wish that failure Ms. McDaniels we’re next.

MrsCorr
MrsCorr
1 year ago

Mr. Harsanyi, please remember that representative McCarthy promised to keep all of his deals upfront and to take care of the budget with straightforwardness. Representative Gaetz promised if he or others found this to be a lie they would remove him if possible.

Woodreaux
Woodreaux
1 year ago

I disagree. No one has stood on principle in Congress for decades. McCarthy failed to honor commitments to reign in spending and release J6 evidence. He should have been ousted. Maybe the next speaker will work for the people who elected them and not maintain the DC status quo.

W Poiter
W Poiter
1 year ago

Guess what the new MSM left-wing complicit in colluding MEDIA is putting out now about this? That it was Maga Republicans that dumped McCarthy and Maga Republicans who will now be in control. Not one mention that ALL Democrats voted to vacate the speaker ship. The speaker was dumped by Maga Republicans. The Msm is 100% lie after lie complicit in concluding with a DNC narratives.

Martha
Martha
1 year ago

I have written Matt Gaetz off and will not support him for anything.

Jeanette
Jeanette
1 year ago

My opinion…McCarthy should have remained as Speaker..Jeffries should not get that job..that is just another goof if it goes to Jeffries.

bill gustafson
bill gustafson
1 year ago

McCarthy is a fraud. He said the killer of Ashlee Babbitt was just doing his job. What a joke of a thing to say. Good riddance to this rino!!!

Stephanie
Stephanie
1 year ago

Matt Gaetz is an arrogant, self-righteous a**hole, IMHO Thanks to him, we have no Speaker & thus we can’t help Israel or anyone else. [You can’t move legislation till a new one is chosen].

Steven
Steven
1 year ago

McCarthy is a California left wing neoconservative Republican who should have never been put into the Speaker of the House position… good job Matt you proved accountability still exists!!

They know it
They know it
1 year ago

I havent seen republicans this mad since I gave them a toothbrush lol

Oliver Holmes
Oliver Holmes
1 year ago

Gaetz needs to Getz outta town, cuz this is a job for Big Boys n Girls, this is not Miami beach on a steamy FL. Nite, typical pedo…

Rik
Rik
1 year ago

GOP infighting, just what the Democrats love to see! . . . Then they will Divide and Conquer and AMERICA LOSES!

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