WASHINGTON — The US House voted on Tuesday 3 October, to remove Representative Kevin McCarthy from the speakership post, a move without precedent, which left the chamber devoid of leader and plunged it into chaos.
After a far-right contest to Mr. speaker Kevin McCarthy’s leadership, 8 G.O.P. hard-liners joined Democrats to ouster the California Republican of the speaker’s mantle. The 216-to-210 vote displayed the deep polarization in Congress as well as raised questions of who, if anyone, could gather the momentum to govern an increasingly chaotic House G.O.P. majority.
Speaker Kevin McCarthy was stripped off the job Tuesday in an unique showdown — a very first in United States history, compelled by a group of hard-right conservatives and subjected the House and its Republican leadership into disarray.
It’s the beginning of an end of the political line for Mr. McCarthy, who, in most occasions has said that he never despairs, but found himself with virtually no options remaining. Neither the right-flank Republicans who planned his removal nor the Democrats who piled on seem ready for negotiations.
Florida’s Representative Matt Gaetz spearheaded the attempts to ouster him, and eight Republicans joined Democrats to remove Mr. McCarthy, making him the first speaker to lose the reign in this manner.
“I may have lost this vote today, but as I walk out of this chamber I feel fortunate to have served,” said McCarthy in a press conference at the Capitol after ouster
The removal of McCarthy from office puts the U.S. in a difficult situation. The country faces a looming shutdown and it has no budget deal.
“The party has made it harder for themselves to win the presidential election next year. The removal effort also added to an already difficult moment for Congress,” said Republican strategist Dan Ronayne. “We are 44 days from a shutdown. We have no budget deal. And now we have no speaker. It is a very unfortunate development. We haven’t had this happen. The last time this was attempted was in 1910 and it failed. This is a very troubling day,” he further lamented.
White House weighed in the matter through its press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Biden “hopes the House will quickly elect a Speaker,” Once that happens, “he looks forward to working together with them,” she said.
“The American people deserve leadership that puts the issues affecting their lives front and center,” added Jean-Pierre.
Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager
