Kevin McCarthy is Voted Out as Speaker of the House Video
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A historic event deserves a historic celebration. McCarthy was a true establishment Republican ran by wealthy donors and powerful organizations. It's not that he didn't want to keep his broken promises, it's that the shadow government would not allow it.
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Kevin McCarthy Broke His Promises to the American People and Now Pays the Price
Kevin McCarthy made history on Tuesday as the first Speaker of the House of Representatives to be ousted by a floor vote instigated by members of his own party.
The removal came as a result of a vote of 216-210, with eight Republicans joining a united Democratic conference to declare the office of speaker vacant, effectively unseating McCarthy and throwing the House into a state of uncertainty. This move occurred less than nine months after McCarthy’s election as speaker on the 15th ballot in January.
McCarthy, who ruled out seeking the position again, expressed his lack of regret for his efforts to build coalitions and find solutions during his time in office. He described his tenure as “one of the greatest honors” and expressed a desire to continue fighting in a different capacity.
The unexpected speakership contest now takes precedence over all other legislative business and is set to consume valuable time required to complete government appropriations bills and potentially avoid a partial government shutdown by November 17.
This historic motion to vacate the speaker position, a rarely used maneuver, has created uncertainty in the House, as it is not yet clear who will succeed McCarthy. Multiple representatives have been considered as potential speakers, including House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, but a decision is pending.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, who initiated the motion to vacate, had previously suggested Scalise as a potential successor. However, he noted the need to consider Scalise’s ongoing treatment for blood cancer. The move to oust McCarthy followed his decision to advance a stopgap spending bill with the help of Democratic votes to avoid a government shutdown, which Gaetz and other critics found problematic.
The failed motion to table Gaetz’s effort led to an hour of debate between McCarthy’s supporters and opponents within the Republican party. Those in opposition criticized McCarthy for his handling of the debt limit deal with the Biden administration and his approach to avoiding a government shutdown.
This unprecedented development has thrust Congress into a state of chaos, with the House now facing the daunting task of selecting a new speaker and navigating the political dynamics at play.
