No, this wasn't Democrats' fault

The fall of Kevin McCarthy

(Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy)

As it became clear that Kevin McCarthy wasn’t going to survive Tuesday’s challenge to his speakership, Republicans went looking for people to blame.

“I understand where the liberals are,” said North Carolina Rep. Patrick McHenry, now the acting speaker, on the House floor. “I know you support the constitutional order except in a moment like this…You can’t be counted on in a moment like this.”

And McCarthy, in a rollicking press conference in which he settled a number of scores following his defenestration, said that Nancy Pelosi had promised to have his back if a motion to vacate came up — and then didn’t. “I think today was a political decision by the Democrats,” concluded the deposed Speaker.

So keen on vengeance (and blame) were Republicans that McHenry announced shortly after the speaker’s vote that he was taking away Pelosi’s long-held office space in the U.S. Capitol — a purely petty move aimed at striking back at the most high profile Democrat in the House. And, on Wednesday morning, Republicans did the same to longtime Democratic leader Steny Hoyer.

It’s natural — if a bit unseemly — to lash out in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. We all look for someone to blame who isn’t, well, us.

But, in this case, the blame is directed in the entirely wrong direction. This wasn’t Democrats’ fault. This was entirely on Republicans — and McCarthy in particular.

Consider how we got here.

The very reason that Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz was able to bring the motion to vacate that brought down McCarthy was because of the concessions McCarthy made to become speaker. He was so desperate to break the hard right’s opposition to his ascension that he was willing to say “yes” to anything — including to the thing that would lead to his demise.

Did McCarthy really think that Gaetz and his crew were pushing to allow a single member to bring the motion to vacate so they COULDN’T use it? There’s no way he’s that naive. Gaetz had this plan from the start — the issue was when, not if.

The simple fact is that McCarthy was doomed — as I have written — from the moment he became speaker. He gave away so much in that process that he laid the groundwork for what happened on Tuesday afternoon.

That is HIS fault. Because McCarthy — throughout his political career — only had one goal: Winning. And he was willing to do whatever it took to wind up on top. But, in the end, what he won was a hollow victory, one riddled with the seeds of his demise.

Could Democrats have chosen to save his speakership? Sure. I mean, on the numbers, had 10 Democrats voted for McCarthy, he would still be speaker.

But, why would they? McCarthy is an unapologetic partisan. He never sought Democratic advice or counsel during his speakership. He opened an impeachment investigation into President Joe Biden on scant (and I am being kind) evidence to appease the party’s right wing. He rejected an independent commission to study the January 6, 2021 insurrection. He scurried to Mar-a-Lago shortly after the riot at the U.S. Capitol for a photo op with Trump.

All of which is his prerogative! And all of which — I would guess — McCarthy would justify as a survival mechanism to keep his ambitions on track.

But, actions have consequences! It’s beyond ridiculous to say that after spending nine months trying to jam Democrats at every turn that Democrats somehow “owe” it to McCarthy to save him.

And the only argument that Republicans were making is that saving McCarthy was actually saving the institution of the House somehow.

As best as I can figure it, the Republican argument boiled down to this: If you think McCarthy is bad, just wait to see who replaces him!

(Sidebar: This argument reminds me of this scene in “Spinal Tap.”)

But, from the Democratic point of view, McCarthy was bad enough. He has done as much as anyone to keep Trump in a position of power in the party — and normalize his behavior. He had, repeatedly, sought to placate the fringe right within his party — acquiescing to their increasingly out-there requests. He had governed as a hard right Republican.

Which, again, is his right! But, you can’t expect Democrats to ride to your rescue when you need them after, effectively, spending the first 9 months of your speakership giving them the middle finger.

The blame then falls directly on McCarthy — no one else. In his desperate desire to be elected speaker, he was willing to say anything and do anything to get the votes. But, in so doing, he began the process that, on Tuesday, led to his demise. Period.