Kevin McCarthy, the former speaker and last of the Republican “Young Guns,” bid farewell to Congress on Thursday.
With a mix of defiance, gratitude and a little self-praise, McCarthy (R-Calif.), 58, urged his soon-to-be former colleague to be bold and fearless.
“If you come across the question of whether you have to do what’s right for fear of losing your job, do it,” McCarthy said on the House floor.
Supporting his parting advice is the fact that he introduced a stopgap resolution to avoid the government shutdown at the end of September that was the catalyst for his removal as speaker.
Barring some extension of the current session, Thursday is expected to be McCarthy’s last day in the lower house, ending a tumultuous year for him.
Yet McCarthy, who made history with the third shortest speech in US history, insists he would do it again if he could.
Kevin McCarthy expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity given to him. AP
“Don’t be afraid if you believe your philosophy brings more freedom to people … that you can lose your job over it … Do it too. I would do it all over again.”
— Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) gave a farewell speech ahead of his resignation later this year pic.twitter.com/M34FNgPWXD
— The Recount (@therecount) December 14, 2023
“I know the day we decided to make sure to choose to pay our troops when the war was breaking out, instead of shutting down, was the right decision,” he said.
“I would do it all over again.”
Before his speech, McCarthy took a photo with lawmakers to cap what could be his last day in session.
Tributes from coalition Republicans and even some Democratic lawmakers poured in.
A large number of Members of the House of Commons supported him during the rebellion against him in October. Getty Images
“We have different perspectives, but I want to stand up and thank Speaker McCarthy for the things we can agree on,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). “Good luck, God willing.”
“Personally, what I can see is the legislative equation of an elite power athlete, a person who works with skill, process, policy to get the best results in this chamber,” said Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC).
McHenry famously slammed the speaker’s gavel in anger when taking over as speaker pro tempore when McCarthy was removed as speaker.
A key McCarthy ally, McHenry recently announced he would not seek re-election in 2024.
“He is a great leader for House Republicans, for this institution, for America,” McHenry added.
A sense of regret and reopening the wounds of frustration among Republicans seemed to fill the room during his exit speech.
Most House Republicans want McCarthy to remain speaker, but given the slim GOP majority, they can’t save him from the nearly 10-week-old rebellion.
Firebrand Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who McCarthy claims harbors a personal grudge against him, led eight Republicans to join a strong Democratic bloc to oust him in early October.
Matt Gaetz cheers after he succeeds in ousting Kevin McCarthy as speaker of the House. AP
The rumor mill went into overdrive following McCarthy’s ouster that he intended to leave Congress, but he initially downplayed the suggestion.
Then, earlier this month, McCarthy announced that he would step down by the end of the year, reducing the GOP’s already slim majority.
His appearance as a speaker has been turbulent. In 2015, he tried unsuccessfully to replace former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), before abandoning his bid.
He became State Assemblyman No.1 in 2019 after Democrats took over and then claimed the speaker’s gavel after an unprecedented 15 votes on the House floor in January.
Starting from a low point, McCarthy presided over the growth of the Republican majority in the House, something he crowed about in his farewell address.
“[In] same period of time, the party I love lost in the Senate both rounds, lost the presidency, but we won. The secret? A quality candidate,” he said.
With McCarthy out, the House GOP majority is expected to plummet to just a one-seat majority by early next year when Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), left for a gig at Youngstown State University.
That will make life more difficult for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) as he tries to navigate a tumultuous caucus through a big spending fight in January through February and other flashpoints on the horizon.
The former speaker is coy about his plans after his exit from Congress. Getty Images
McCarthy hasn’t said exactly what he plans to do once he walks out the doors of Congress for the last time as a lawmaker.
Rumors have circulated that he might do work with artificial intelligence and that he has opened the door to serve in a Cabinet post should former President Donald Trump win in 2024.
“I am very grateful for being given the opportunity to serve. I will take off. That doesn’t mean I’m going to stop serving,” he teased during his farewell.
McCarthy joins an exodus from Congress, which appears on track to sustain the most retirements of sitting members since 2011, underscoring growing frustration among lawmakers.
Back in 2011, he co-authored a book with former Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) and former Republican Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) titled, “Young Guns: A New Generation of Conservative Leaders” that talked about the future GOP.
Kevin McCarthy is the last of the so-called ‘Young Gun’ Republicans in Congress. Getty Images
The Californian was the last of them still in Congress.
He pondered aloud whether he left “this place better than I received it,” and recalled seeing the contrast in diversity between Democrats and Republicans in the chamber as he climbed the leadership ladder.
“I see the Democrats standing up – very diverse – they look like America. I see us standing up, we’ve lost the majority,” he said. “We look like one of the most respected country clubs in America.”
The former speaker later referred to the progress Republicans have made in recruiting candidates from diverse backgrounds.
McCarthy once again expressed his gratitude for the opportunity before concluding his speech.
“I am grateful to this country for creating a body that is represented by the people. I think we should rise again. With that I give in,” he said while clapping his hands.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
