Stink bugs, Republicans and a clean house
OpEdNewsJUL 2023
Kevin McCarthy to Quit Congress at Year's End
Image copyright: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Right narrative
McCarthy has finally confirmed what Americans knew: his congressional career has come to an end. Though praising his fundraising talent in a farewell address that reads like a resume to impress the establishment and financial center-right, he should explain why he decided to undermine America First candidates to protect his congressional leadership at the expense of a larger House majority. History has now left the McCarthy era behind for the GOP and the right-leaning populist movement that underpins it.
Conservative narrative
While McCarthy isn't irreplaceable, his retirement from Congress is another indication that the era when the GOP valued its diversity and embraced good-faith disagreements may be gone forever. Matt Gaetz and his Gang of Eight are willing to push the Republican conference to the extremes — even if that means risking the implosion of the party and losing control of the House. More traditional conservative values and figures are needed to re-galvanize the power of the GOP.