THE RETURN OF THE SPEAKER
Conservative lawmakers are pushing for former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to be reinstated in his previous leadership position after the recent turmoil in the House. This comes as House Republicans struggle to find a suitable candidate for speaker amidst the ongoing conflict in Israel.
McCarthy, who was pushed out of his role just days ago, has expressed his willingness to return if the conference decides to reinstate him. During a press conference, he stated, "I'll allow the conference to make whatever decision." He also acknowledged the urgency to select a speaker, stating, "Unfortunately, the House can do nothing without a speaker."
Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says he's not ruling out another run for the top GOP House leadership role.
The need for a speaker to oversee the passing of important legislation, such as aid to Israel, has fueled the push for McCarthy's return. Members of the Republican Main Street Caucus have been voicing their support for McCarthy, with one GOP lawmaker even calling the effort "very real."
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) expressed his belief that McCarthy is the right person to lead the House, telling reporters, "A lot of people believe that Kevin McCarthy is the right person to lead us." Representative John Duarte (R-Calif.) openly stated his support for McCarthy, saying, "I love Kevin. I thought he did an excellent job."
However, the main obstacle in McCarthy's possible reinstatement is a group of hardline Republicans who previously voted against him. Despite this, McCarthy believes the majority of the conference is in support of him, stating, "We have 96% of the conference in one place but are allowing 4% to control the outcome."
Yet the question remains, can McCarthy overcome this small but determined group of Republicans? He alluded to the possibility of facing similar issues if any alternative candidate is chosen, saying, "Is our conference just going to select somebody to try to throw them out in another 35 days if eight people don't get 100% of what they want?"
Former House Speaker Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announces a 5-point plan for U.S. to respond to the Hamas attacks on Israel: "Bidens policy on appeasement including money for hostage deals must come to an end. His policy has only emboldened terrorist."
In a surprising turn of events, a moderate Democrat has even expressed their openness to discussions about reinstating McCarthy. This bipartisan approach may be necessary in order to move forward with any decision regarding the House speakership.
As lawmakers continue to grapple with the aftermath of McCarthy's ouster, the possibility of his return as speaker remains uncertain. However, with tensions rising in Israel and important legislation on the line, the need for a strong and capable leader to guide the House is becoming increasingly urgent. Will Rep. Kevin McCarthy be that leader? Only time will tell.