Gaetz: Ousting McCarthy Worth It, Even if it Costs His Seat.
Rep. Matt Gaetz Willing to Lose Congressional Seat Over Efforts to Remove Kevin McCarthy
During an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) expressed his unwavering commitment to removing former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) from his leadership position, stating that it would be “absolutely” worth it even if it meant losing his congressional seat. Gaetz emphasized that he is determined to fight for his constituents and prevent America from heading towards financial ruin.
When asked about the possibility of being removed from Congress, Gaetz dismissed the idea as “crazy” and pointed out that the majority of voters in Florida’s First Congressional District support him. He firmly believes that anyone trying to kick him out of Congress simply because they don’t like him would face backlash from his constituents.
On October 3, McCarthy was removed from his position as House speaker in a 216–210 vote, with eight Republicans joining all present Democrats to oust him. Gaetz, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, initiated the motion to remove McCarthy.
Following his removal, McCarthy announced that he would not seek reelection as speaker. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) have officially entered the race to succeed McCarthy.
However, Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.), chairman of the Republican Study Committee, confirmed that he will not run for the top job, stating that a three-man race for speaker would only create more division.
Gaetz dismissed the notion that there is no clear replacement for McCarthy, asserting that there are two highly respected candidates in Jordan and Scalise. He expressed the need to hear their specific plans on spending and single-subject appropriations bills before pledging his support.
House Republicans have scheduled a speaker candidate forum on October 10, followed by the nomination of a new speaker the next day.
Gaetz believes that whoever becomes the new speaker, whether it’s Jordan or Scalise, will be an upgrade over McCarthy. He emphasized the importance of long-term financial stability for the country and expressed his anticipation for the positive changes that will come with a new leader.
Furthermore, Gaetz dismissed the suggestion that his actions to remove McCarthy have undermined U.S. national security, stating that other countries do not focus on McCarthy’s speakership as much as McCarthy himself does. He reassured that with a new speaker in place, the work will continue as planned.
What is the basis of Rep. Gaetz’s determination to remove Kevin McCarthy from his leadership position?
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