In the intra-party battle for the presidency of the US House of Representatives, Republican faction leader Kevin McCarthy went on the offensive today. McCarthy said shortly before the inaugural session of the newly elected Congress that his opponents are only concerned with personal advancement, not with the country. McCarthy wants to be elected powerful chairman of the chamber there, but has to deal with a rebellion from party colleagues who refuse to vote for him.
In recent weeks, McCarthy had tried to persuade his critics to change their minds with all sorts of concessions behind the scenes – without success. McCarthy revealed that he was told yesterday that he would only get the necessary votes if he gave certain positions and budgets to certain members of the group.
One of his opponents, Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, even said bluntly that he didn’t care if the Democratic candidate won in case of doubt, McCarthy said. His critics are not concerned with America, but only with themselves.
“Battle” in plenum, for McCarthy “okay”
“I will always fight to put the American people first – not a few individuals trying to get their own way.” There may be a “battle” in the plenary chamber, but this is about them entire faction and the country, “and that’s okay with me,” said the 57-year-old before the start of the meeting.
“I hold the record for the longest plenary speech,” McCarthy said. He has no problem setting a record for the most ballots in a vote for the presidency of the House of Representatives. The last time it happened was a hundred years ago that the vote for the powerful office required more than one ballot and a parliamentary group refused to support its candidate in the first round.
