Hoping to replace retiring House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) shot himself in the foot telling Fox News Sean Hannity that the Benghazi Select Committee succeeded in hurting former Secretary of State and Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton’s polls. McCarthy expressed all the bravado trading insults against Hillary with Hannity, bragging how the Benghazi Select Committee did its job of weakening Hillary 2016 presidential bid. Letting the genie out of the bottle, McCarthy and the GOP tried frantically to walk back McCarthy’s damaging remarks. But no matter how McCarthy said he misspoke, it confirmed to GOP conservatives that he’s not the right man to takeover Boehner’s job. Whatever the truth about the Benghazi Select Committee, McCarthy helped Hillary and hurt the GOP’s 2016 chances.
McCarthy’s clear statement to Hannity about how the Select Committee damaged Hillary’s credibility left little room for ambiguity. Boasting about what the Committee accomplished, McCarthy gloated with Hannity over Hillary’s downfall. “Let’s be very clear. Benghazi is not political,” said McCarthy, walking back what he’s now describing as a gaffe on national TV. While McCarthy put his foot in his mouth, Hannity delighted so much in his own rip-Hillary-frenzy he didn’t see the damage to McCarthy and the GOP. “It was created for one purpose and one purpose only: To find the truth on behalf of the families on the four dead Americans,” said McCarthy, trying his utmost to undo the damage. McCarthy was emphatic and clear when he said the Benghazi Select Committee did its job of discrediting Hillary, sounding like it was created for more than one purpose.
Democrats pounced on McCarthy’s gaffe, displaying the extremes the GOP would go to throw mud at Hillary. McCarthy’s so concerned about getting to the truth about Benghazi, he can’t fathom how his gaffe harmed his quest to become House Speaker and harmed the GOP’s chances. Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fl.) said he plans to file a formal ethics complaint with House Select Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.), regarding politicizing a Congressional probe. Republicans blame Clinton for lax security in a remote, terrorist-infested part of North Africa, but never blamed former President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney for nearly 3,000 deaths due to lax security on Sept. 11, 2001. Finding a Cabinet member accountable for lax security half-way around the globe shows the GOP’s degree of desperation as they fight an uphill battle for president in 2016.
New informal vote tallies show that what looked like a shoe-in for McCarthy for Boehner’s job is anything but. McCarthy’s gaffe on Fox News raises doubts about his savvy and readiness for prime time. “There’s no way you can vote for McCarthy and go back home and tell your constituents you did the best thing for them,” said Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). “His comments [about Benghazi] disqualified him as Speaker but as Majority Leader,” showing the extent to which McCarthy’s gaffe hurt his chances of being Speaker. Without the backing of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, McCarthy can’t get the 218 floor votes on Sept. 29 to become speaker. “We have every intention to vote together,” said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) chairman of the Freedom Caucus, ruling out McCarthy. While not withdrawing his name for Speaker yet, it’s just a matter of time.
Showing how bad things got for McCarthy, House Select Benghazi Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) defended his work. “Kevin screwed up,” Gowdy told MSNBC. “Our interest in her [Hillary] is because she was secretary of state at the time,” refuting McCarthy’s political motives told to Hannity. Denounced by the Select Committee’s chairman, McCarthy has no choice but to withdraw his name for consideration for House Speaker. Rep. Jason Caffetz (R-Ut.) and Rep. Daniel Webster (R-Fl.) both tossed their hats in the ring to House Speaker. McCarthy no longer has the backing of the GOP’s most conservative caucus, ruling him out for Speaker. McCarthy’s practically stood on his head trying to walk back his gaffe. GOP’s House leadership understands the damage done to Gowdy’s committee, especially with Hillary slated to testify Oct. 22 after McCarthy’s public remarks.
McCarthy got carried away preaching to Hannity and the Fox News Hillary-bashing choir on national TV. No one aspiring to Speaker can make those kinds of mistakes without serious consequences. As Massie put it, McCarthy disqualified himself for House Speaker and Majority Leader. Whatever discontent the Freedom Caucus had with Boehner, they knew they could trust his political savvy not to damage the GOP. McCarthy’s time in the limelight made Gowdy’s work interviewing Hillary Oct. 22 next to impossible, without mentioning McCarthy’s remarks. Giving House Oversight Chairman Jason Chaffetz a shot in the arm, McCarthy’s all but out, waiting for the formal announcement. Listening to Gowdy’s harsh words, there’s no fallback position for McCarthy. McCarthy’s love-fest on Fox News’ Hannity proved that he lacks the savvy to be House Speaker.
