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House Speaker Update

By Mike Huckabee

January 5, 2023
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After six votes Wednesday, holdouts were still refusing to back Rep. Kevin McCarthy, and the House voted to adjourn and reconvene later today. Reports are that negotiations continued last night with some possible progress. The New York Times, citing confidential sources, claims that McCarthy “privately agreed to more demands from the right-wing rebels that he had previously refused to countenance, including allowing a single lawmaker to force a snap vote at any time to oust him from the speakership.”

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/01/05/us/house-speaker-vote?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20230105&instance_id=81893&nl=from-the-times&regi_id=185440375&segment_id=121640&te=1&user_id=e72989d1d346165df7b3f4d8aabe2fdd

McCarthy has offered an astounding number of concessions, listed here by Victoria Taft at PJ Media.

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/victoria-taft/2023/01/05/here-are-the-latest-deals-kevin-mccarthy-has-made-to-become-speaker-n1658804

The Club For Growth has also reportedly cut a deal with a super PAC associated with McCarthy that could result in them endorsing him as Speaker.

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/01/04/speaker-race-breakthrough-mccarthy-pac-agrees-conservatives-no-spending-safe-open-seat-primaries/

Fox News has comments from Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, the latest alternative proposed for McCarthy.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-speaker-race-rep-elect-byron-donalds-responds-retribution-running-against-kevin-mccarthy

As noted in the article, until there’s a Speaker, the new House can’t even be sworn in, so this is preventing necessary action from being taken on many fronts. 

McCarthy’s detractors still have no alternative candidate who is more conservative and can attract enough votes to win. They keep pointing to the last time conservatives forced McCarthy to withdraw in 2015, but back then, a dark horse “unity” candidate stepped forward and won. Considering that was Paul Ryan, whom they now vilify as a squishy, Trump-hating RINO, it’s not exactly a ringing endorsement for this strategy.

This is a continuing (and continuing!) story, so keep checking the regularly updated Fox News feed for the latest developments.

https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/house-speaker-vote

One thing to note:  While the 10% wants to rule over the 90% (who has ever allowed that or thought it was the way elections work?), it’s revealing that some of the holdouts have said in interviews that what they are “demanding” of Kevin McCarthy is that they get choice committee assignments and a promise they won’t be punished for their attempted coup.  That’s not only delusional, but very telling.  If a person is objecting by sheer principle, one is willing to suffer whatever the consequences for the rebellion.  When a person says, “Hey, this is about ME…protecting MY position, MY role in leadership, and MY being able to take any shot I want at 90% of my colleagues and have no consequence other than being rewarded.”  THAT my friend is NOT acting on “principle.”  It’s a selfish act of a power grab and publicity stunt.  Reward THAT behavior and you’ll keep getting more of it in the future.

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Comments 11-20 of 110

  • Dale Baker

    01/06/2023 08:41 AM

    After reading about McCarthy having to make multiple concessions, I'm having doubts now on having voted for him in your survey. I don't want a weak-kneed as a speaker.

  • Ed Thompson

    01/06/2023 08:22 AM

    The one point that these holdouts have made is a valid point— McCarthy and the lobbying people have a history of doing what ever they want, no thanks to everyone else who won’t benefit from it. But again, get the vote done and go to work and then, you can tackle the lobby issues. Sure as heck kan’t do anything right now till you come together and vote in a speaker. Remember— you guys are supposed to be a TEAM— a FORCE against everything wrong with the current administration. Theres no “I” in team! Stop acting like children in a toy store and grow up and get the job done FOR US ALL! My respect for these people is dropping on an daily basis now. So disappointed in these people. Can only imagine how much they will ever get done for us if this is the example of how they are going to be every time someone tries to get something done. This is stupid and it’s sickening. I didn’t vote for these people just to watch them make fools out of everything and themselves. The Democrats are laughing at us all. I have to agree with that sadly. So close to the finish line only to sit down and throw a tantrum about what? Grow up and get the job done! These people should have not been elected, if this is the example of what they will be doing from here on! Shame on them all! Playing right into the Democrats hands. A blind person can see it.

  • Susan Kittrell

    01/06/2023 07:59 AM

    I am one who is not in favor of McCarthy being the speaker. For one thing, he speaks poorly, but that is not what is most important. McCarthy constantly gives in to the Left. Just lately, he has spoken out and sounds like a conservative, but that may very well be because his neck is on the chopping block. You and so many others think it is terrible that 20 could stop so many others, but who made 218 the final number? This very group. Now you say the House Speakership is being held hostage. If McCarthy agrees not to punish these 20 who are doing exactly what they are allowed to do and puts them on committees, then he has nothing to fear. If McCarthy's feet are not held to the fire, he will give in over and over, and I believe you know that. Also, according to Rasmussin, registered Republicans are against McCarthy. Congress should listen to the people. This 218 rule has been around a while, yet the GOP had no trouble with it until someone decided to use it. Sounds a lot like the Dems to me.

  • Lula Broome

    01/06/2023 04:51 AM

    If one of the elected 20 officials was a person that I voted for I would be sure NOT to vote for this individual again!!!!! If I had voted for one of the them I sure would be hounding them to let them know of my displeasure!!!

  • Laurie Tourville

    01/06/2023 04:29 AM

    Mr Huckabee, I have to totally disagree with you. It's supposed to be America first. I support the selfish ones!

  • Marcia Mapes

    01/06/2023 02:13 AM

    Maxine Waters is pushing for McCarthy and Mary Miller is voting against him. Doesn't that seem strange to you?

  • Sherri B

    01/06/2023 12:09 AM

    I don't think that becoming Speaker of the House should be easy to get; it's too important of a position and any backroom bargains or deals should be eliminated and things should be done openly with severe consequences of "greasing the palm" or buying favors. Consequences have become a thing of the past. So, Iif it takes some time to"get" the RIGHT person as S of the H, then so be it.

  • Mark S Hessert

    01/05/2023 09:58 PM

    And on the Senate side, McConnell has to go.

  • David Elenbaas

    01/05/2023 09:58 PM

    I usually agree with your views on subjects but you have been way out of line in your comments about the Representatives standing for conservative principles in the Speaker election! You have called them names, questioned their principles, and even acted in vengeance by promising never to support them again. I guess the latter means you'd rather have a Democrat win a House race than a pro-life, pro-family, and conservatively valued candidate. I never thought of you in the 'RINO' camp but I was evidently wrong. If you believe people are supposed to give up when they are in the minority, even against all odds, then I shudder to think what Christianity or our country would have become or will become. Again, I am very disappointed in you Governor Huckabee!

  • Mark Hessert

    01/05/2023 09:57 PM

    And we wonder why Republicans can't make any progress. We're in trouble in 2024 if Republicans can be united like their Dem foes.

Mike Huckabee

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