As the 118th Congress reconvenes for the fourth day with no Speaker some lawmakers can feel the desperation in the air.
As House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy heads into what will be the twelfth round of voting one of the more boisterous detractors says he is prepared to resign from Congress if Republicans strike a deal with Democrats to support a more moderate candidate.
“These 212 Democrats are going to vote for Hakeem Jeffries every single time. He’s a historic candidate. They’re not going to cleave off,” Gaetz told Fox News’s Laura Ingraham on Thursday when asked if he thought centrist Democrats would back McCarthy if they were promised co-control of House committees.
“If Democrats join up to elect a moderate Republican, I will resign,” Gaetz continued.
Gaetz, who has voted against McCarthy’s nomination during each round of voting says that no concessions the California Republican offers swill be enough to sway his vote.
“He’s the masthead of the lobby core. I resent to which Kevin McCarthy utilizes the lobbyists and the special interests to be able to dictate how political decisions are made. How policy decisions are made, how leadership decisions are made. Kevin McCarthy has been in the leadership for 14 years. He’s sold shares of himself to special interests, to political action committees, and that’s why I don’t think he’s right.”
The Florida Congressman, who cast his vote for Donald Trump for Speaker during Thursday’s round of voting, says that he believes Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) could garner 218 votes if McCarthy withdraws from consideration.
“If Kevin McCarthy got out of this race, Jim Jordan would get into it,” Gaetz said. “And I believe he would win and invigorate our movement. He’s broadly trusted in every corner of the Republican Party and with a lot of our donors and supporters and activists. That’s the type of option if McCarthy bows out.”
Thursday evening McCarthy indicated he may have a path to Speaker after all. A new deal has emerged that McCarthy hopes will propel him forward.
Lawmakers said the framework gives members of the House Freedom Caucus (HFC) who have been resisting McCarthy virtually everything they’ve been asking for. That includes a stronger HFC representation on key House committees, guardrails aimed at curbing excessive federal spending, and allowing just a single member of the House to make a motion to replace the speaker, lawmakers familiar with the framework told Fox News.
They were talking about Trump taking this job if he didn`t win the presidency the last time. This isn`t new and what is happening isn`t new either. Just some more scheit on the shingles.
I have to say I’m not crazy about Kevin either, but this has gone on long enough. If over 200 want him, and only 18-20 don’t, who do they think will step up and take over the leadership. We are stuck with Kevin, but you 20 are making the Republicans look like fools, and I’m not one bit happy about that. Get on with it and elect Kevin in so you can do your jobs and get on with it.
McCarthy is a long time RINO whose only job has been is to be in Government to create goodies for his fellow swamp Rats, whether they be Dems or fellow RINOs. He has resisted the Freedom Caucus consistently since it was created. This Nation’s survival as we knew it under Washington, Lincoln, Reagan, and Trump is to pick men who have never been politicians.
Oh that would fix them, wouldn’t it Matt! Just pick up your marbles and go home, that is the true sign of a coward, giving up. I like Mand he needs to stop this BS! Just hang in there and make your own demands from McCarthy, i don’t like him either! Make him do what the Republicans want and keep the DCAP (demoncrap/communist/atheist party) out of the committees! Just keep the “vacate’ at the forefront! Remind him of that every day! I know he is part of the swamp but we need to move forward with our own investigations!
I WOULD vote FOR JIM JORDAN….HE IS An HONEST MAN FROM WHAT I SEE AND HEAR AND “READ”….
Please resign, Gaetz!! You made a fool out of yourself and all Republicans!!
I agree 100%. Gatetz has had ample time and opportunity, at least since since Nov 2022, to find a way forward on the Speaker position. Waiting until now to throw a fit during voting is just incompetence.
The one and only thing the Republicans need to brand into their hearts, is to stop listening to the Marxist propaganda news media and their democrat masters! They are in the middle of destroying this nation and the constitution….period!
IT WOULD BE A BLESSING IF MATT GAETZ RESIGNED. He is a disgrace to the Republican Party. I am a third generation Republcan and I have never seen such nonsense in a grown individual who professes to have the interest of the American People especially the Republican. Go ahead RESIGN – MAKE MY DAY
globalist puppet mccarthy = globalist puppet jeffries = globalist puppet pelosi = globalist puppet ryan = globalists win . . . . .
Why not step away from the Rino infested congress and get someone with a proven track record and leadership ability. I think Sara Palin or Larry Elder would be great in the Speaker role and I think both want what is best for America and not just to gain power and money. Sara did a great job as governor of Alaska and if not for the media hatchet job and Mc Cain total inability to run his campaign they would have made a good addition to the White House. I was in Alaska in 85, and 2010 and 2011 and heard plenty about the then up and coming Palin and in 2010 I went to the public asking questions about her job as governor and the response was unbelievable. I think I was told she had a 85% approval rating. I found one person who said she did a good job but that he had supported what ended up being called the road to nowhere because it would have helped him. I’ve listened to Larry Elder for several years and think he is a man of high morals and dignity and also would do what is right for the American people. You don’t have to be a member of the house to be Speaker of the House.
NO Deal with NO Dems period