In a recent series of tweets, Texas Representative Veronica Escobar (D) explained her gripe with a Washington Post article subtly criticizing House Democrats for not voting to keep Representative Kevin McCarthy (R) as Speaker of the House.
Rep. Escobar argued that Rep. McCarthy proved himself to be untrustworthy and that it was not the job of Democrats to save his position from the faction of Republicans that he enabled.
“The argument this article presents that Democrats ‘risked contributing to the broader dysfunction in the House’ by removing McCarthy is misleading. How were we supposed to trust a man who consistently went back on his agreements just to appease his fellow MAGA Republicans?”
The argument this article presents that Democrats "risked contributing to the broader dysfunction in the House" by removing McCarthy is misleading.
How were we supposed to trust a man who consistently went back on his agreements just to appease his fellow MAGA Republicans?
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) October 5, 2023
McCarthy’s tenure as Speaker of the House was riddled with controversy. Moreover, Escobar found his previous baffles and gaffes to be a sign of him being unqualified to lead.
“Kevin McCarthy held our economy hostage, and after reaching an agreement with the President, reneged on his word. The same man who admitted the Benghazi hearings on Hillary Clinton were to hurt her politically - began a unilateral impeachment inquiry into President Biden.”
Kevin McCarthy held our economy hostage, and after reaching an agreement with the President, reneged on his word.
The same man who admitted the Benghazi hearings on Hillary Clinton were to hurt her politically - began a unilateral impeachment inquiry into President Biden.
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) October 5, 2023
The Texas congresswoman emphasized McCarthy’s repeated acts of hypocrisy.
“He moved to censure Adam Schiff. He said Trump was responsible for January 6th, only to travel to Mar-a-Lago with his hat in his hand and beg for forgiveness.”
He moved to censure Adam Schiff.
He said Trump was responsible for January 6th, only to travel to Mar-a-Lago with his hat in his hand and beg for forgiveness.
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) October 5, 2023
Escobar continued, stating “As the article puts it, the eight Republicans who voted to vacate represent 1.8% of the country. But no one forced Kevin McCarthy to agree to the terms the right-wing extremists put forth in January, especially the motion to vacate.”
As the article puts it, the eight Republicans who voted to vacate represent 1.8% of the country.
But no one forced Kevin McCarthy to agree to the terms the right-wing extremists put forth in January, especially the motion to vacate.
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) October 5, 2023
The Texas representative pulled no punches when discussing various questionable Republican acts that have been ridiculed by Democrats.
“As I said on Tuesday, the Republicans making the argument that Dems should've saved McCarthy are the same folks who tried to overturn an election, defend insurrectionists, and show porn at hearings. So don't lecture me or any other Democrat about ‘protecting the institution.’”
As I said on Tuesday, the Republicans making the argument that Dems should've saved McCarthy are the same folks who tried to overturn an election, defend insurrectionists, and show porn at hearings.
So don't lecture me or any other Democrat about "protecting the institution."
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) October 5, 2023
“Kevin McCarthy made his bed with the fringe group of Republicans in January, and now he's sleeping in it.”
Kevin McCarthy made his bed with the fringe group of Republicans in January, and now he's sleeping in it.
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) October 5, 2023
Escobar concluded her gripe by stating her desire to elect a speaker that diverges from the extremist rhetoric that she claims McCarthy and other Republicans espoused and enabled.
“My hope is that the moderate Rs reject electing an extremist as Speaker and insist that whoever they support for the position will work across the aisle with us to address our nation’s great challenges. Otherwise, we'll be right back in the same place again in a month.”
My hope is that the moderate Rs reject electing an extremist as Speaker and insist that whoever they support for the position will work across the aisle with us to address our nation’s great challenges.
Otherwise, we'll be right back in the same place again in a month.
— Rep. Veronica Escobar (@RepEscobar) October 5, 2023
In other news, Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) recently announced plans to surge resources to his much talked about program, Operation Lone Star. The added resources are intended to help combat illegal immigration and drug smuggling across the U.S.-Mexico border.
