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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrump is Reportedly "Livid" Over Kevin McCarthy's GOP Balancing Act
McCarthy avoided censuring Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, but didnt tell off Rep. Liz Cheney. In walking a line down the middle in the Republican partys existential crisis, McCarthy is playing a risky game.BY ERIC LUTZ
FEBRUARY 8, 2021
Last week, as one faction of Republicans sought to punish Marjorie Taylor Greene and another for Liz Cheney, Kevin McCarthy was faced with a choice: Would he apply at least some standard of discipline to his partys members? Or would he embrace the nihilistic vision of power-for-powers sake that has defined the Donald Trump era? It was an unwelcome question for the House minority leader. But with the MAGA wing trying to strip Cheney of her leadership role over her impeachment vote, and more mainstream Republicans eager for distance from the conspiratorial Greene, it seemed hed finally have to make it.
McCarthys talent for elusion, however, was clearly underestimated. Somehow, he managed to push the partys existential crisisand its looming civil wardown the road. McCarthy did not reprimand Greene over her support for conspiracy theories and unsuitable conduct, leading Democrats to remove her from her committee assignments themselves. At the same time, he allowed the wing she represents to rail against Cheney, the number-three House Republican, for voting to impeach Trump last month; she would go on to easily survive a MAGA push to remove her from her leadership post. In short: Mitch McConnells establishment got what it wantedGreene sidelined and Cheney safeand the Trumpist right got what it wantedto indulge in their grievances without significant pushback from party brass.
McCarthy led by not leading, and in the short term it seems to have paid off. The splintering GOP remains intact, for now. But not choosing is still a choice, and its not clear how long the intra-party peace will last. Kevin never takes a stand, an influential Republican adviser told CNN last week. He is always on every side of every issue. Does he want to be the Republican party, the adviser continued, or the QAnon party?
Though he tried his best to avoid answering that question, McCarthy effectively did: Refusing to denounce Greene makes it clear that there is a home for that kind of extremism in the GOP. Whats more, declining to take a harder stand in support of Cheney, whom he reportedly pressed to apologize for her impeachment vote, suggests that insufficient loyalty to Trump is an appropriate litmus test for members of his party to impose on one another. That doesnt say much about McCarthys principles, or those of the GOP. Kevin McCarthy stands for nothing, except the perpetuation of his own position, Democrat Adam Schiff told Meet the Press on Sunday, when asked about the minority leaders threats of retribution following the vote to strip Greene of her committee assignments. He has no values, and in my view cares about little except for hoping to be speaker one day.
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https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/02/trump-reportedly-livid-over-kevin-mccarthy-gop-balancing-ac
COLGATE4
(14,732 posts)talent has been glad-handing anyone who could possibly be of use to him and kissing ass of any above him. He thinks he can walk the razor's edge and cultivate both Trump humpers and the Q crazies. He can't, and he has the Coatless wrestler breathing down his neck for the Speaker's job. He is and always was a zero to the left of the decimal point.
Cha
(296,881 posts)"livid" puts a smile on my face he's rotting fish wrap.
McQ is a wormy weasel not fit for service.
And, of course, this was Predicted!
Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)world wide wally
(21,739 posts)Hugin
(33,059 posts)I could afford to subscribe to all of the pluses, maxes, gos, and whatnots the cable channels are rolling out.
robbob
(3,522 posts)Sorry, thats one acronym I havent seen before...
Hugin
(33,059 posts)TONTBM = (the one not to be mentioned)
I'm sick of hearing about the petulant man-child and I'd prefer not to sully Mary Trump's good name any more than necessary.
He who shall not be named! Gotcha!
Paladin
(28,243 posts)As repulsive as he is, I'm thankful for McCarthy doing our dirty work for us.