In a drama-filled afternoon, friends and allies of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pled and remonstrated, citing his kindness and leadership style. But in the end, the so-called GOP hardliners, led by Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), and with the smirking support of the Democratic caucus, carried the day by a margin of 216 to 210. Kevin McCarthy became the first speaker in American history to be removed from his position.
McCarthy was, simply put, the wrong man for the job. Despite his affability and experience, he has been committed to doing things according to what have become the traditional rules in DC: promises unkept, backroom horse-trading, and pandering to selfish special interests. And, as has been the case for three decades, refusal to operate under the restraints of a budget and focused appropriations bills. McCarthy’s postponement of making tough budget choices until the last possible moment — and then capitulating in the passage of yet another omnibus continuing resolution — proved to be the final straws for a growing contingent of principled constitutionalists within the House GOP who have had it with business as usual.
It is not yet clear who will replace McCarthy, but we hope it will be someone equal to making the hard decisions required.
Gaetz may not have made many friends on Capitol Hill with his one-man war against the speaker, but he has probably won grudging admiration from many ordinary Americans shocked at his resolve. As Gaetz said repeatedly, we have run out of time to keep kicking the can down the road, hoping that our growing debt and economic crisis will magically evaporate.
Beyond all the stirring platitudes and the undeniably wrenching spectacle of a man whose personal ambitions have been shattered, the hard reality is that those who can face hard realities are desperately needed.
America is running out of time for making the right decisions. If our leaders do not take steps to reduce the debt, and with it the size and cost of the federal government, the pitiless laws of economics will do it for us — the hard way.
Ask the people of Weimar Germany how that went.
