Stripped of the speakership, California Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R) took a shot at his Florida colleague while addressing his personal plans regarding the gavel and his tenure in Congress.
“I wouldn’t change a thing.”
For nearly an hour Tuesday evening, the now-former House Speaker McCarthy spoke before the press after losing his leadership position by a vote of 216-210, a historic first. Along with how he viewed the ouster initiated by Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R-Fla.) motion to vacate, inquiring minds most wanted to know if he’d simply run to reclaim the role.
In no uncertain terms, the California lawmaker confirmed, “I will not seek to run again for Speaker of the House. I may have lost a vote today, but I fought for what I believe in–and believe in America. It has been an honor to serve.”
I will not seek to run again for Speaker of the House. I may have lost a vote today, but I fought for what I believe in—and I believe in America. It has been an honor to serve. https://t.co/4EMpOuwtzy
— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) October 3, 2023
“Doing the right thing isn’t always easy, but it is necessary. I don’t regret standing up for choosing governing over grievance. It is my responsibility. It is my job. I do not regret negotiating. Our government is designed to find compromise,” he expressed in what sounded like a farewell address.
“I don’t regret my efforts to build coalitions and find solutions,” continued the legislator. “I was raised to solve problems, not create them. So I may have lost a vote today. But as I walk out of this chamber, I feel fortunate to have served the American people. I leave the speakership with a sense of pride, accomplishment and yes, optimism.”
“From the day I entered politics, my mission has always been to make tomorrow better than today. I fought for what I believe in, and I believe in this country of America. I believe I can continue to fight maybe in a different manner. I will not run for speaker again. I’ll have the conference pick somebody else,” McCarthy explained. “I hope you realize that every day I did the job, regardless whether you underestimated me or not, I wanted to do it with a smile.”
During the presser that began with the politician retelling some of his experiences growing up in the Golden State, McCarthy also spoke to the matter of resigning, to which he contended he “hasn’t thought about.”
The lawmaker criticized the eight Republican Conference members who had voted to vacate, and in particular Gaetz, as he said, “Just because Gaetz said something don’t believe it’s true. I haven’t heard him say one true thing yet.”
He also took aim at the rules that had been agreed to at the onset of the 118th Congress on the process to vacate the speaker if desired and called out Republican Reps. Andy Biggs (Ariz.), Ken Buck (Colo.), Tim Burchett (Tenn.), Eli Crane (Ariz.), Bob Good (Va.), Nancy Mace (S.C.) and Matt Rosendale (Mont.) who had joined the Florida firebrand in showing McCarthy out.
“Unfortunately, four percent of our conference can join all the Democrats and dictate who can be the Republican speaker in this House,” he said. “I don’t think that rule is good for the institution, but apparently I’m the only one”
As the lawmakers had publicly sparred, Gaetz had similarly tried to align McCarthy with the left as he had said after initial calling for the removal, “If the Democrats want to own Kevin McCarthy, they can have him, because one thing I’m at peace with is when we stand here a week from now, I won’t own Kevin McCarthy anymore. He won’t belong to me. So if the Democrats want to adopt him, they can adopt him.”
‘Bring it!’ Gaetz makes his move against McCarthy with motion to vacate https://t.co/z5QrRWswpE via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) October 3, 2023
“If he’s able to stay in power,” Gaetz had added, “it will be him working for the Democrats continuing to do their bidding. So this is a revealing exercise, and I think it’ll show the country who’s really in charge.”
McCarthy joked that if the media wanted to know more about his thoughts on the fight over the gavel they’d have to “Wait for my book.”
Meanwhile, reactions over his decision to opt out of running to reclaim the leadership spot were mixed.
He tells us about his life which was luck and hard work combined but then as Speaker doesn’t fight hard for those who are trying to do the same. D.C., consultants and some in conservative media either don’t know or don’t care how hard it is right now for so many. They value…
— Brandon Saario (@SaarioBrandon) October 3, 2023
Thanks for your service and now, stepping aside. I wish you nothing but the best.
— Amy Kremer (@AmyKremer) October 3, 2023
You didn’t fight at all.
— Travis Sumpter (@ZeroToHero55) October 4, 2023
You did fine. Very hard to make an impact when you control half the Congress and not the presidency. Tough job. I liked you.
— Andy Martin (@Dollarlogic) October 3, 2023
Thank you, we deserve much better leadership
— Alexander Sheppard (@NotAlexSheppard) October 4, 2023
— StopWokeCulture (@MkayUokay) October 3, 2023
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
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