It was understandable to let the guy sink. But, it will prove to be a huge strategic mistake. It isn’t that McCarthy lost, it’s that Matt Gaetz won. As much as I disdain the things McCarthy did in order to pursue a policy of appeasement toward the hard-liners in his party, I am more worried about the ability of a few extremists to sow chaos–especially when sowing chaos is their only motivation. We now, once again, have a house of government that is leaderless. In the short term, it may seem as if that is not a problem for Democrats. In the long term, it is bad for the country in very big ways. For one thing, the alt-right has learned it can take the House of Representatives hostage.
I don’t like it either. But, if helping McCarthy weather the challenge from the so-called right of his party was going to keep the House from devolving into chaos, it should have been done. I fear very much what the road ahead looks like. We may wind up with a Republican in power far worse than McCarthy. If you think about it, where is the Republican party going to go from here? Only a person even more beholden to the far-right can get enough votes to be elected speaker.
McCarthy has grown weary of his right flank. If it had been made clear to him that he could keep his speakership, he might have been willing to break with the radicals for good. That would have been a tremendous win for the nation as a whole. Now, we face yet another speaker that made promises to get enough votes to secure the gavel.
McCarthy could have been reformed. With effort, he could have learned how to conduct himself politically in a way that would give him consistent bi-partisan support and, therefore, the ability to break free of the Representatives that have turned on him. McCarthy did, ultimately, do the right thing. He risked his speakership to do what was in the best interests of the nation. We shouldn’t let a small group of radicals punish him for that. It sets a very bad precedent, one that will have a chilling effect on future bi-partisan negotiation. By allowing the hard-liners to oust McCarthy, Democrats have sent the message that extremists are capable of destroying the career of anyone who engages in bi-partisan talks.
In 45 days the country may be facing another government shutdown. Who will be speaker of the House then? Do Democrats really believe it will be somebody better than McCarthy?
What will the Freedom Caucus demand this time? and, more importantly, will they be able to get it? Moving forward, Democrats should take a different approach to the House speakership. If they have an opportunity to support someone relatively moderate who seems willing to break with the alt-right, they should hold their noses and do it. It will be a win not for a Republican, but for the country.
Progressive Without Apology 