McCarthy Relying on Moderates in the House to Run Interference for Him
By Rick Moran 1:07 PM on December 15, 2022
Wannabe Speaker of the House Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has a narrowing path to achieve his goal, largely because the opposition to him is adamant that he not ascend to the speakership.
At least seven members have indicated they will not vote for McCarthy under any circumstances. And that sets the stage for a once-in-a-century floor fight that is likely to leave the Republican majority in the House in disarray and the Democrats grinning from ear to ear.
It’s even remotely possible that a Democrat could squeak into the speaker’s chair. It’s highly unlikely, but if the vote for speaker goes on long enough, a few moderate Republicans might say, “to hell with the Freedom Caucus” and back a moderate Democrat. It would only take eight Republican defectors to put a Democrat in the speaker’s chair.
But that’s not going to happen — despite McCarthy’s dire warnings that such a thing was possible. Far more likely is a deal between McCarthy and Freedom Caucus members that will give them the chairmanships of a few committees and perhaps a modified “motion to vacate” that will make it possible for a member to call for a vote on ousting the speaker.
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