It was embarrassing. And Kevin McCarthy knows it and how it appeared to the independent voters in the United States. Even prior to the SOTU, McCarthy had warned the entire caucus to keep their damned mouths shut. He knew what it would look like. His caucus could sound as crazy as it actually is. They ignored him, and the humiliation that he (and surely many others) feared was on display for the entire country.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, now one of the most powerful Republicans and Kevin McCarthy’s boss, knew she didn’t need to heed the warning, shouted “Liar!” at one point. Others bellowed and cried out insanely. Kevin isn’t in control.
McCarthy knew he would get questions about it, though. You cannot lead a group of people into the most hallowed chamber for the most formal speech and have them act like a second-grade class without the teacher having to account for them. He can’t say, “Look, they’re assholes, what am I going to do?”
So Kevin went on Fox and Friends and promptly blamed Biden… the adult. From The Hill:
“Apparently the White House Comms team is delighted at the reaction because it looked like Joe Biden was standing up to the Republicans,” Steve Doocy, a host on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” said to McCarthy during an appearance by the Speaker on the network.
“At one point it looked like you were trying to shush your side of the aisle … what happened?” McCarthy deflected, blaming Biden for riling up members of the House GOP. “Well, the president was trying to goad the members and the members are passionate about it,” McCarthy said.
Trying to goad them? With what? A great speech? Popular programs? Things Biden likes, but they hate? I am willing to bet that there were intensely passionate feelings throughout the 90s and 00’s, and yet it took the “GOP Post-Modern MAGA” to get to the point where yelling back is acceptable.
If they want to yell, change the rules. Just like the Brits, perhaps once or twice a month, have a session like “Prime Ministers Questions,” where each side bellows out “Hear hear,” and all. That’s actually pretty cool. Chief Justice Roberts can yell “Order!” and bang his hammer. It is not cool to interrupt a formal speech, ever, especially the most formal speech.
Let’s hear from Kevin:
After Steve Doocy points out to McCarthy polling showing that independents were turned off by the GOP heckling of Biden last night, McCarthy talks about his members like they're children: "Well, the president was trying to goad the members, & the members are passionate about it" pic.twitter.com/yuY8YJq0Xj
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 8, 2023
Sorry, Kevin. You don’t get to warn your caucus to “behave,” and then when they don’t, blame the man who you knew would say things that aren’t popular with your passionate party.
The White House should be giddy. In the span of two hours, they got to send out their message, framed their way, and have it appear as though there were adults on one side of the room and… a second-grade class on the other.
****
[email protected], @JasonMiciak, SUBSTACK: MUCH LEFT ADO
Has anyone polled the fine folks back in Georgia who voted MTG into office? Do we know what they think of her performance as their representative in Congress? I cannot believe that they really want a loudmouthed ignoramus, but that’s sure as hell what they have.
I have to reluctantly disagree. After being stripped of her committee assignments in the last Congress MTG was free to run around not just her district but the entire country doing and saying & generally behaving just as you saw last night. The voters their knew EXACTLY who they were voting for and what they’d be getting. What’s even worse is that all the predictions were that the GOP would retake the House (remember all the red wave talk? And even Democrats were grim at their prospects, thinking that holding the GOP to a majority of twenty seats or less would be the best they could do) and that MTG would have some actual power! Sorry but they have what they wanted. And they will vote for her again next time. Such are the fucked up minds of those in MAGA world districts like MTG’s.
I think that “Empty” Green was happier when she had no responsibilities and could jet around the country with “Sugar-daddy” Gates or speak at KKK rallies with Nick Fuentes. Now she is whining that being on committees is “haaaard”.
Her only purpose in life is “owning the libs” and believing everything she reads on the Interwebs.
No, not just for the country to see, the entire WORLD. As for Marge Trailer Queen, there was an expression I sometimes heard growing up in the south…”white trash”.
It is a term that’s common outside the south and has been for as long as I can remember, and I’m in my 60s.
Point taken.
I often mention that the world watches us, even our WH Daily Briefing (At least intelligence services do)
But forgot to mention it above and it is really good that you’re reminding people in the comments.
Thank you.
Evidently they have neither the brains nor the honor to take a bus ride to DC to confront the nazi bitch they put in congress. The Yankees win again.
Going to see that speech would have been something to remember the rest of my life, but if I had, I probably would have been arrested for telling that stupid MTG to sit down and STFUP …
I can think like that, but my 77 year old body would be a problem … 🙂
McCarthy’s whining? For fuck’s sake! HIS side spouts lie after lie and has for several decades had a major TV network “news” operation amplifying those lies. (And creating plenty of their own for their GOP friends to take up and use) Then President Biden by golly has the NERVE to stand up live and on national TV and tell the truth on the GOP. I can see why there was a collective WTF? reaction on their part. They have gotten away with SO much shit for SO long they freaked the fuck out at someone, a President no less pushes back on their LIES with unvarnished truth! So (predictably) their reaction was to scream like schoolchildren who expected chocolate milk and got regular ole white milk instead! Their “just who the fuck does the President think he is to stand up there and tell truth, truth that exposes how big of assholes we are” was as sure a thing as the sun coming up this morning.
McCarthy had advance notice of what was in the speech and he TOLD his people what to expect and to not take the bait. But these are asshatted clowns with a form of Political Tourette’s and they Just Couldn’t Help Themselves! Oh, they will raise a shitload of money of their political jackassery but the damage to the GOP and its prospects for achieving its political goals took a major hit. I don’t see Kevin lasting as Speaker, but even if he were to do so he’s headed back to minority leader status once the results of the 2024 election are in. If he had any sense at all he’d realize his high water mark was his speech after accepting the Gavel. It’s been downhill ever since and the slope is getting steeper. He should quite while he’s ahead. Resign, take a year off and join some K Street firm and get rich lobbying.
The only thing I disagree with you on is the Tourette’s. It’s funny, but please don’t insult those of us with Tourette’s by affiliating them with us.
Sorry, I was thinking of a story line from West Wing when I wrote that and used that term. “Reflex” would I think now have been a more appropriate term to use.