House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, frontrunner for the Speaker of the House position, announced today that he no longer wants to be considered for the spot. It was assumed all that was left for him was mere formalities. The Republican Party is shocked, and rightfully so. As Jake said, it was taken for granted McCarthy would be the next Speaker, and it appears he seemingly changed his mind over the course of several hours. This raises two major questions: why did McCarthy change his mind? And what's next for the GOP?Jake helps answer why McCarthy backed out, saying: "McCarthy has become the target of criticism from both sides of the aisle for his comments about the negative effect that the Benghazi Committee had on presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton's, polling numbers. McCarthy made it seem as if the committee was formed for that intention" (Jake Solari, 2congressesatwork). This is certainly part of the reason. The GOP does not need this kind of controversy surrounding the both the Benghazi investigation, because they plan on using it to attack Clinton's campaign, and the next Republican Speaker. They don't need that controversy surrounding their choice to mount an attack on the left.But there is another theory that is floating around about a letter sent by Republican Representative Walter Jones to Cathy McMorris Rodgers. "Jones called for any leadership candidate who has committed “misdeeds” since joining Congress to drop out of the running" (WaPo), writing, “I’m asking that any candidate for speaker of the House, majority leader, and majority whip, withdraw himself from the leadership election if there are any misdeeds committed since joining Congress that will embarrass himself, the Republican Conference, and the House of Representatives if they become public” (Jones letter). When asked by a reporter if the letter affected the decision, MaCarthy responded confidently "Nah, nah" (WaPo). This may be something or it may be nothing, but it certainly interesting when considering the letter was written on Tuesday October 6th and now on Thursday October 8th McCarthy is out of the race.What's next for the GOP? Right now, they don't know where to turn. Boehner is personally asking Paul Ryan to step up and be Speaker but Ryan has refused the position, releasing a statement that says "While I am grateful for the encouragement I’ve received, I will not be a candidate" (Ryan). Boehner and his people continue to insist that it "has to be" Ryan (LoGiurato, Business Insider). Other Republicans, like Governor Chris Christie, are expressing dissent within the party. Christie had strong words in a campaign video released today, "It may not be the most popular thing within my party to be criticizing the Republican Congress, but it needs to be done. It's a joke down there... I mean, nobody cares. What they need to realize is ... in the country, nobody cares who the speaker of the House is going to be" (Washington Examiner). Republicans continue to be "stunned" "in disarray," "in mayhem," (Dumain, Roll Call), "in disagreement," (Dick, Roll Call), "in chaos," and "shocked" (Lesniewski, Roll Call). At this point, The GOP doesn't know what their doing. Likely, we'll see the vote pushed back as the Republicans gather themselves and find a candidate they can get behind.
http://jones.house.gov/sites/jones.house.gov/files/10.6.15%20Letter%20to%20McMorris%20Rodgers.pdfhttp://www.businessinsider.com/john-boehner-paul-ryan-speaker-2015-10http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/10/08/house-majority-leader-kevin-mccarthy-drops-out-of-race-for-house-speaker/?postshare=8731444335481934
http://gretawire.foxnewsinsider.com/2015/10/08/congressman-paul-ryans-statement-about-majority-leader-kevin-mccarthy-speaker-etc/
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/article/2573682/?utm_content=bufferf0851&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
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