House Republicans express frustration with the minority leader Kevin McCarthy
Democrat Kevin McCarthyHouse calls for resolution to oust Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress McCarthy to meet with Trump in Florida The video shows Rep. Greene saying the Parkland shooting survivor is a “coward” MORE (R-California), highlighting divisions at the conference following the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
Critics of McCarthy say his messaging has been inconsistent. They point out that he has sometimes been criticized before President Trump
Donald Trump, the FBI, said the California extremist could have targeted the Newsom House Democrat announcing the resolution to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress Facebook for re-branding political content on the MORE platform for his role in the mob’s attack on the Capitol, to reverse course later.
They also say that McCarthy has sent different messages through Rep. Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn Cheney Statewide Republicans Assaulted by Division After Trump’s Loss Former lawmakers call on leadership to focus on On On Trail: Republican Party’s little interest in post-election introspection MORE (Wyo.), The third leader of the House Republican Party, who voted to oust Trump and now faces petitions for his removal from the leadership.
McCarthy, who will meet with Trump in Florida on Thursday, is also taking a stand for Rep. Marjorie Greene (R-Ga.), Who has raised questions about the veracity of school traits and offered statements calling for violence against Democratic officials. Publications have led to her being asked to lose committee seats and be removed from Congress.
“It’s hard to figure out where he’s coming from, because one minute he says he’s censoring the president and he’s responsible for that, and the next minute he backs down and changes position,” said a Republican lawmaker who believes that Trump’s rhetoric is ahead of the riots deserve to be reprimanded.
This lawmaker criticized McCarthy, saying that “it’s all about his political ambition and not being a leader of principles that will lead us to the majority.”
McCarthy’s office declined to comment on the story.
McCarthy, who was a close ally of Trump during his presidency, said Trump had some responsibility for the Jan. 6 mafia attack on the Capitol in a Jan. 13 floor speech arguing against the removal of Trump.
But at a Jan. 21 press conference, he told reporters he did not believe Trump would “provoke” the crowd “if you listen to what he said at the rally.”
He said Cheney should continue in the lead, but also told journalist Greta Van Susteren, “I support her, but I also have concerns.”
Critics say he is trying to play both sides in the debate and is undermining confidence in his leadership.
McCarthy, like Republican Party leaders before him, faces a difficult task in leading a group of government groups that are being dragged in different directions by members like Cheney who want to get away from Trump and a large number of Republican lawmakers who are firmly in favor of Trump. camp.
Trump’s energy is also more pronounced at the Republican Party base, which has put pressure on all members of McCarthy’s conference.
It’s a dilemma that predates Trump’s rise and that the two Republican Party leaders before McCarthy, ex-speakers John Boehner
John Andrew BoehnerCan the GOP break its show biz addiction? House Conservatives conspire to oust former President Liz Cheney Boehner after Capitol violence: “Republican Party Must Wake Up” MORE (R-Ohio) i Paul Ryan
Paul Davis RyanBiden’s inauguration marked by a conflict of hope and fear 12:30 The Hill Report: Attractions and Sounds of the Opening Day Review of the Power of Pardon: Let the President and Congress Have Voices MORE (R-Wis.), Also had to be treated.
Still, McCarthy is likely to face a greater challenge than his predecessors, given Trump’s rise over the past four years, and the Republican Party schism following the loss of a majority in the White House and the Senate and the hard attack on the Capitol.
“The Republican Party is at a crossroads and we have a decision to make: will we continue on a path that sows discord or will we begin to rebuild our party? Kevin should consider meeting members who are not involved in the theaters of politics and are eager to get things done, ”a critical member of the Conservative House Freedom Caucus told The Hill.
“If he did, I think he would understand the great support he has when he defends members who tend to put their own ambitions before the interest of the American people.”
Republican lawmakers who would like to see McCarthy challenge the right to his conference and Trump warn they are likely to lose seats and not win them, if they don’t.
Some argued that the successes the Republican Party saw in November in terms of turning back seats could be at risk after the uprising, and some feared that if the party continues to tie itself too much to Trump, it could hurt them. suburban swing districts to regain the majority. These voices warn that the conference runs the risk of being reduced to one inhabited only by those who can win in bright red neighborhoods.
“Think so [McCarthy is losing the trust of some in the conference] because we are many who hold ourselves responsible for the majority: it is easy to be brave in these R + 23 seats, ”said a GOP lawmaker in a competitive district.
“When you have primaries and generals you have to get online, and part of what I think has been forgotten is that we did win seats. Why? Because we play in our districts, we don’t subscribe that Trump will bring us [mentality]. Let’s go back and talk about the things we’re achieving. “
Although the Conservatives have disagreed with McCarthy in the past, a senior Conservative aide said there are currently no major grievances with the California Republican of this party faction at this time.
And several lawmakers argue that the California Republican is navigating current circumstances as best he can in the current climate.
“I think by the end of the day we’ll be a majority in two years because Democrats are doing ridiculous shit right now,” one member said. “And I think everyone wants them to have done something different during the period between the November elections and now. I think he did a B + job. ”
Several Republican lawmakers said they feel McCarthy’s focus on maintaining support for members of the Freedom Caucus, the group that ousted BoehnerJohn Andrew BoehnerCan the GOP break its show biz addiction? House Conservatives conspire to oust former President Liz Cheney Boehner after Capitol violence: “Republican Party Must Wake Up” and hampered his ability to get the Orador handkerchief in 2015: it could alienate a significant portion of the conference that has helped him and helped him rise to the ranks of leadership.
“At the moment he is trying to please everyone and I think we have some irreconcilable differences in the short term. I think he’s really playing with fire, because if they put pressure on deposing Liz, there will be a conversation [House Minority Whip] Steve [Scalise (R-La.)] and Kevin too, ”said a senior GOP lawmaker.
“They [the Freedom Caucus] he will take it, and try to avoid it, and maybe he will be able to do it successfully, but I think for now he trusts most of the conference, even if they don’t say that.
The loss of CAP corporate money to members who voted to challenge election results could also cause problems for the California Republican.
McCarthy, who voted to oppose certification from both Arizona and Pennsylvania, has publicly rejected the loss of corporate CAP money, telling reporters he is “not at all worried” about fundraising numbers this quarter. But he has also controlled the damage with K Street, suggesting there are concerns.
“Try to calm donors,” a Republican donor recently told The Hill.
Rep. Guy Reschenthaler
Guy ReschenthalerTapper fights Republican lawmakers over criticism of Afghan Veterinary Electoral College vote READ: Republicans who voted to challenge election results Cleaver concludes Congressional prayer with “amen and woman” MORE (Pa.), A member of the House GOP leadership, expressed confidence that McCarthy will prevail in the long run.
“He is the most prolific fundraiser we have ever had, he is our best recruiter. And he is our best strategist. Also, if you need proof of that, we went back to seats when we lost the Senate and we lost the White House: this is not a coincidence, it is not an accident, it is 100% Kevin McCarthy ”.
During a political call on Wednesday, McCarthy told conference members he would no longer tolerate members publicly attacking each other, adding that he would allow it to continue longer than it should have been supposed to have run out. according to two sources of the call.
“No more attacks on each other. Cut this crap out. If you spend more time on Twitter than talking to your constituents, you are doing it wrong, ”he told members.
And in a letter sent Monday to members of his conference, the Republican Party leader called for them to unite and “lower the political temperature” and focus on offering a contrast to the policies of the Biden administration.
Some senior Republican Party sources said they saw his tone as a positive step in putting the conference together.
Scott Wong and Alex Gangitano contributed.