The group of renegade Republicans who joined with House Democrats to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R–Bakersfield) received something of a love note from Rep. Tom McClintock (R–Elk Grove).
Saturday, the California Republican wrote a letter as a “secret admirer” harshly rebuking the eight Republicans.
Driving the news: McClintock criticized the right-wing Republican core that mobilized to remove McCarthy, mocking the group’s martyrdom after they vowed to accept censure, suspension, or removal in order to elect Rep. Jim Jordan as the next Speaker of the House.
- The letter came after Rep. Jim Jordan’s (R–Ohio) candidacy to succeed McCarthy fell apart on Friday, leaving the House Republican Conference in chaos.
- The House of Representatives has been without a Speaker since October 3rd.
What he wrote: Entitled “Dear Wayward Colleagues,” McClintock asked the group to support his own proposal to end what he calls the national paralysis in the Republican party.
“I do not understand why a handful of our fellow Republicans couldn’t see the simple fairness of the principle to which you have been so unswerving in your devotion, ‘heads-I-win-tails-you-lose,'” McClintock wrote.
- “With this in mind, I modestly suggest that you plan your martyrdom in the only way that truly matters — to have the wisdom to see the damage you have done to our country and to have the courage to set things right before it is too late.”
Super snarky McClintock letter to the 8 who voted to oust McCarthy… “we truly don’t deserve you.”
Notes the world burning too pic.twitter.com/2qgK668ikJ— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) October 21, 2023
What’s next: In the days after McCarthy’s removal from the speakership, McClintock urged Republicans to reinstate him to prevent further rancor, chastising the eight colleagues, including Rep. Matt Gaetz, for sowing division among members of the Republican caucus.
- The House Republican conference is set to hold a secret-ballot vote for a new Speaker nominee on Tuesday, but the outcome remains uncertain.
