McCarthy is really hurting the Republican Party and it’s downright selfish.
Alyssa Farrah Griffin, a former aide to Donald Trump, suggests that Kevin McCarthy’s decision to leave the House of Representatives is a strategic move aimed at causing political harm to Speaker Mike Johnson. McCarthy, a California conservative, recently announced in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that he will not seek reelection in 2024 and will leave the House by the end of the year. This decision follows his failed bid for the speaker earlier in the year, with his own conference voting him out in October.
McCarthy’s sudden departure further complicates the situation for the House GOP, which only secured a slim majority in November 2022 and is now facing challenges with McCarthy’s exit, Representative Bill Johnson’s upcoming retirement, and the recent expulsion of George Santos. The GOP currently holds a three-vote margin over House Democrats with 220 votes.
Griffin, now a co-host on The View, claims that McCarthy is motivated by a desire to make life difficult for Mike Johnson. She suggests that McCarthy wants to be missed, leaving Johnson with only two votes to pass anything, in an effort to show that things were better under McCarthy’s leadership.
Griffin also points out McCarthy’s role in the aftermath of the events of January 6, where instead of distancing himself from Donald Trump, he supported the former president and current 2024 GOP front-runner. She suggests that if McCarthy had stuck to his initial stance of being “done with Trump,” the GOP could have moved on from election denialism, potentially leading to a red wave.
Representative Matt Gaetz, a key figure in pushing McCarthy out of the speakership, mocks McCarthy’s exit. Gaetz and other conservatives, including Steve Bannon, warn that Johnson could face a similar fate if he doesn’t address spending concerns and appease far-right members of the party.
Political science professor Lisa Parshall suggests that Johnson’s lack of congressional experience and fundraising skills may pose challenges. Johnson’s brand of conservatism, particularly his opposition to reproductive rights and election denialism, could also be a drawback in moderate, suburban districts. Parshall questions whether Johnson can effectively lead both the Freedom Caucus and focus on retaining a majority in the House.