Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy can be replaced. And he will be. Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican who introduced the motion to vacate McCarthy from his leadership perch, should be replaced. Gaetz and seven other House Republicans turned on McCarthy, whom they branded as insufficiently conservative. You see, McCarthy was willing to work with Democrats to prevent a government shutdown. That, social media trolls argue, makes McCarthy a RINO, or Republican in Name Only.
The GOP used to be a party that valued its diversity — a “big tent” that recognized that people of good faith can disagree.
In GaetzWorld, the eight Republicans who voted with 208 Democrats against McCarthy are good Republicans.
Rep. Chip Roy — a Texas Republican, member of the Freedom Caucus and McCarthy voter — was not amused. “Some of our brothers and sisters — particularly in the, you know, MAGA camp, I think — particularly enjoy the circular firing squad,” Roy told The Blaze. “You want to come at me and call me a RINO, you can kiss my” — well, you can figure the rest out. (READ MORE from Debra J. Saunders: The Problem With Being Mike Pence)
Roy added that he spent “a lifetime fighting for limited government conservatism. I have laid it all on the line. I have not seen my family for two days in the last 30 days. You go around talking your big game and thumping your chest on Twitter? Yeah. Come to my office, come have a debate, mother.”
I understand his rage. The GOP used to be a party that valued its diversity — a “big tent” that recognized that people of good faith can disagree.
Be it noted: Republicans don’t win government shutdowns. And they cannot possibly win a government shutdown without the Senate and the White House.
After he was dumped Tuesday, McCarthy announced he would not run for his old leadership post. Who can blame him for leaving the field to the likes of Reps. Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Jim Jordan of Ohio?
Now everything’s a loyalty test. Forget honest disagreements. Let the extremes define the middle. Let the eight bark orders to the 210 who voted to keep McCarthy. (READ MORE: Five Quick Things: It’s the End of the McCarthy Speakership, and I Feel Fine)
They’ve tossed the car keys to the opportunists who are happy to cede the majority if that gets them with a sweet spot on cable TV.
Debra J. Saunders is a fellow at the Discovery Institute’s Chapman Center for Citizen Leadership. Contact her at dsaunders@discovery.org.
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