Get ready for the Matt Gaetz show! Unless you’re a fan of absurd political theater, you might want to sit this one out.
The bombastic Republican congressman from Florida, known for his attention-grabbing antics, is making his boldest move yet by threatening to remove Kevin McCarthy from the speakership with a motion to vacate.
McCarthy’s offense? He relied on Democratic votes to pass a last-minute spending measure and avert a government shutdown that would have been blamed on Republicans.
Could McCarthy have handled the situation better? Perhaps, but Gaetz and his GOP cohorts refused to support any viable Republican alternative.
So Gaetz is both the arsonist and the firefighter, forcing McCarthy into a predicament for which Gaetz argues he should be fired. It’s a classic case of Catch-22, as Joseph Heller would appreciate.
Considering Gaetz’s motion would require a majority to succeed and is likely to have limited support from Republicans, Gaetz must turn to Democrats for help in ousting McCarthy and becoming the new speaker.
Ironically, Gaetz’s plan contradicts the idea of ideological or partisan purity. Seeking Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ approval for the Republican leadership of the House is an unusual approach. After all, the most left-wing members of the House are not the most reliable judges of Republican speakers.
In other words, Gaetz wants to use House Democrats’ majority to overturn the will of the House Republicans in deciding McCarthy’s fate. If successful, this move would go down in history as one of the most foolish acts of partisan self-sabotage in Congress.
He’s making Marjorie Taylor Greene look like Joseph Cannon in comparison. This escapade, reminiscent of past internal conflicts within the House Republican party, adds a twist to Karl Marx’s famous quote: “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce, finally as a sensational event for extra notoriety.”
Gaetz and his allies believe Republicans have a leadership problem, but it’s more about the quality of their followership. In the past, Republican backbenchers like Jack Kemp and Paul Ryan earned their positions by promoting well-developed ideas they genuinely believed in and persuaded their colleagues to embrace.
Now it seems the emphasis is on becoming a micro-celebrity by constantly stirring up outrage. Gaetz, with his thoughtless behavior resembling an anonymous Twitter account, values attention above all else, especially on social media. To him, Congress is merely a stage for personal brand development and enhancement, rather than an institution to honor and serve.
This isn’t to say that Speaker McCarthy is above reproach. However, one flaw with Gaetz’s motion is the lack of a viable alternative. Even Gaetz, the ringleader of his own circus, isn’t endorsing anyone else, and for good reason. There’s simply no one who can clearly outperform McCarthy or represents a different philosophical perspective.
With a narrow majority and Democrats controlling the Senate and the White House, House Republicans have limited leverage. Being the House speaker is a thankless job in these circumstances, requiring the management of a divided caucus and dealing with members who will never be satisfied. And let’s not forget, whoever holds the position must also confront Matt Gaetz. Who would willingly take on that challenge?
Twitter: @RichLowry
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