With the votes of 216 "for" and 210 "against", the House of Representatives of the United States of America removed its leader for the first time in history. Kevin McCarthy was fired at the initiative of a relatively small group of right-wing Republicans led by extreme right-winger Matt Gaetz of Florida who accused McCarthy of not doing enough to cut federal spending, broadcast by Radio Free Europe (RSE).
It was the latest episode of high drama in a year in which the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has brought Washington to the brink of bankruptcy and to the brink of a partial shutdown of government funding. Republicans hold a narrow majority in the House of Representatives, 221 to 212 Democrats. Eight Republicans voted along with Democrats to remove McCarthy from the leadership post.
In the debate in the House of Representatives, Gates and several of his allies criticized McCarthy for relying on the votes of the Democrats to pass the temporary funding of the Government, which avoided its blockade.
"We need a chairman who will fight for something -- anything -- other than to stay chairman," said Republican Bob Goode.
Democrats have taken the position that they will not help Republicans solve their problems. They generally believe that McCarthy cannot be trusted after he broke the spending agreement he reached with President Joe Biden and are angry about his decision to give the green light to an impeachment inquiry, RFE reports.
"Let them wallow in their hogwash of incompetence," MP Pramila Jayapal told reporters before the vote.
Gates was among dozens of Republicans who voted repeatedly against McCarthy's candidacy for the presidency in January. McCarthy eventually secured the post after 15 rounds of voting. To win the vote, McCarthy agreed to rules that made it easier to vote against him.
JH/RSE
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