Kevin McCarthy has not ruled out a surprise return to the House speaker post if fellow Republicans can’t agree on who should replace him.
Although not actively running to reclaim the gavel he lost last week, McCarthy (R-Calif.) expressed his willingness Monday to serve again if called upon by his colleagues.
“Look, whatever the conference wants, I will do. I think we need to be strong. I think we need to come together,” McCarthy told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt when asked if he would step in if the House GOP conference proved deadlocked.
McCarthy became the first speaker to ever be voted out of office on October 3, when eight Republicans joined with a united bloc of Democrats to remove him by a vote of 216-210.
“Eight, in my view … it’s a personal matter. It’s not about where we’re going,” McCarthy told Hewitt. “If you take some of their comments why are they doing this, because I’m keeping the government open?”
The former speaker held the role for nine months before getting the boot.REUTERS
Republican defectors supported a motion to vacate the seat, the House of Commons to fire the speaker, after McCarthy introduced a continuing resolution to avoid a partial government shutdown late last month.
“Can you imagine? They are the ones preventing the appropriations bill from going forward. They are the people who voted against a continuing resolution that secures our borders and cuts spending.”
The California Republican later reiterated his openness to serving as speaker during a press availability late Monday morning, telling reporters: “I can lead in any capacity.”
McCarthy also received a verbal swipe at Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who led the rebellion against him, as well as Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), who joined the rebellion.
Kevin McCarthy stands by his decision to introduce the CR bill to avoid a shutdown that sowed the seeds for a rebellion against him. Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images
“Can you imagine if we’re sitting here and we’re listening to more Gaetz and Mace – that we’re being shut down?” he asked. “We live in very dangerous times. That pettiness must stop.”
Centrist Republicans have struggled with McCarthy’s ouster, and some have sought to reinstate him.
“A short window is all we need in the House to reinstate Kevin McCarthy and change the rules,” Rep. John Duarte (R-Calif.) told Politico over the weekend.
After his ouster, McCarthy announced he would not run for speaker again and dismissed rumors Friday that he would resign from Congress.
Amid impasse in the House, Congress faces a Nov. 17 deadline to avoid a government shutdown. Reuters
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives is effectively in limbo with Speaker Pro Tempore Patrick McHenry’s (R-NC) powers limited by rule.
Without a fully empowered speaker, the lower house lacks the ability to pass bills, including those to deal with the war between Israel and Hamas that erupted over the weekend.
“Unfortunately the House can’t do anything without the speaker,” McCarthy said Monday. “I can be upset with eight people, but I can be upset with every Democrat, too.”
House Republicans plan to hold a candidate forum on Tuesday followed by a speaker vote on Wednesday, according to McHenry.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) are the top two contenders for the post.
“Is our conference just going to pick someone to try to throw them out in another 35 days if eight people don’t get 100% of what they want,” McCarthy told reporters Monday.
“[If] you allow eight people to continue to do so without consequence — no one will succeed.”
The Post’s cover story on Kevin McCarthy’s ouster as speaker. rfaraino
McCarthy, a staunch supporter of Israel, urged the Biden administration to enact a five-point plan to “help our allies” following attacks by the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas.
Specifically, McCarthy called on the administration to rescue all American hostages held by Hamas, demand the extradition of the terrorist group’s leader from Qatar, oppose Iran for its support of Hamas and Hezbollah, improve US national security, and crack down on anti-Semitism in the Democratic Party.
“America is grateful for our friendship with Israel. We are a better country because of it. And we can’t be shy to stand up. Now is the time to act,” said McCarthy.
“And to the president, turn off the barbecue and talk to the American people.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
