How did it all go so wrong for Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, who was set to become the third most powerful person in the United States Government and therefore one of the most powerful people in the world?
In December he issued a statement declaring Republicans would “deliver the accountability the American people deserve” to the Biden Administration.
But instead accountability appears to have come for Kevin: for his lack of convictions, his deals with the devil, and his flip-floppery that has seen him calling out the January 6 insurrection of 2020 and Trump’s involvement, only to backflip when he realised that doing so may impact his own personal power.
McCarthy was destined to become House speaker and replace Democrat Senator Nancy Pelosi, in a vote that was supposed to be largely ceremonial. But things haven’t gone according to plan, with the US House of Representatives continuing to reject his attempts to win a majority of votes to become leader of the chamber.
The problem? A small number of Republicans from the right of the party refusing to back him.
He lost his sixth consecutive vote earlier this morning, with members voting for a break to try and determine a solution. The House hasn’t failed to elect a speaker since 1923 and nothing gets done until one is elected.
McCarthy was part of a self-described male trio called “The Young Guns”. They’d penned a book describing themselves as a “new generation of conservative leaders”.
Not known to hold strong political views, other than a general idea of conservatism, McCarthy has made deals across both sides of politics. But he’s especially made alliances and “mates” that he once assumed would be enough to achieve his path to the top. Perhaps it was his lack of convictions beyond generally being on the right that stumped him, and therefore a willingness to make friends whevever needed to secure he’s own power base (what a patriot!).
It’s telling that McCarthy was one of the earlier Trump backers and Trump once referred to him as “My Kevin.”
While some of his colleagues showed disgust at the tape of Trump released in October 2016 featuring Trump proudly talking about sexually assaulting women, McCarthy stayed quiet, and later saw his silence rewarded as Trump went on to become President. He shared a few words, quietly, following the January 6 insurrection and then later publicly, stating that Trump bore responsibility for the attacks on Capitol Hill and must ensure Biden is able to commence his term. But then on realising that he had distanced himself from Republican segments — and realising the consequences of making an enemy out of Trunp — he backtracked on his comments and sought amends, making the mission to Mar-a-Lago to meet with the former president.
But in this week’s many votes, it’s been the most loyal Trump backers – the fringe of the Republican party – that failed to deliver McCarthy the majority he needed to take the House leader position.
And even now as Trump backs McCarthy for the leadership post, taking to social media to declare that Republicans “VOTE FOR KEVIN, CLOSE THE DEAL, TAKE THE VICTORY,” McCarthy continued to lose even more votes.
Republican Lauren Boebert has deflected that order back to Trump, telling him to declare of McCarthy that, “it’s time to withdraw”.
McCarthy’s legacy looks set to be little more than a lesson on leadership and how a career of dealmaking and backflipping can be quickly derailed. It’s not merely that the deals one makes on the path to their self-believed destined leadership can go wrong, but also that such deals won’t always deliver on the gift you’d been expecting.
He may still ascend to the top and get the position he’s long sought — but he’s already been severely weakened. Meanwhile, there are other Republicans waiting in the wings, including Elise Stefanik, the third-ranking Republican in the House, and the youngest woman ever elected to Congress back in 2014, when she was aged 30. She too has given outspoken support to Trump.