“The View” co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will be “held hostage” by the “far-right” once he becomes Speaker.
McCarthy garnered the nomination for Speaker of the House in a 188-31 vote Tuesday, but will need 218 Republican members to secure the position on Jan. 3. As the panel’s co-hosts dreaded the upcoming Republican majority in the House, Griffin warned McCarthy will allow far-right lawmakers to “control him” in order to receive the position.
“Kevin McCarthy’s problem is this, in order to actually be elected Speaker in January on the House floor, he needs 218 votes. This could end up being about 220 votes from Republicans, we can only afford to lose two, which means he’s going to be held hostage by the right most flank of his House, the [Republican Georgia Rep.] Marjorie Taylor Greenes, the [Republican Florida Rep.] Matt Gaetzs, they’re gonna be the ones that are really kind of controlling him is my expectation.”
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“That’s a recipe for disaster for the Republicans in 2024,” co-host Joy Behar added.
Griffin called for McCarthy to work with Democrats on the debt ceiling and government spending. She cast doubt on this given that he needs to earn the support of the 31 Republicans who opposed his nomination. (RELATED: ‘Twisting What I Said’: Sunny Hostin, Alyssa Farah Griffin Spar Over ‘Roaches Over Raid’)
Co-host Ana Navarro said McCarthy will grant the so-called “flank” of his party anything they want to keep his position of power. The host praised the current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for being the first woman to serve in the position and her “masterclass” skill of getting her agenda passed despite the far-left of her party’s opposition.
“He lost 31 votes in that Republican caucus, but he’s got to be elected by the whole House, and he’s going to require 218, which means that this flank to his right that he’s got can ask for anything and get anything. That’s part of the reason why he’s agreeing to all of this,” Navarro said.
McCarthy challenged Republican Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs in the House Republican Conference’s election. The House Freedom Caucus, who oppose McCarthy, backed Biggs to be the House leader. Gaetz and a handful of House Republicans came out against McCarthy’s potential leadership.
“There are definitely at least five people, actually a lot more than that, who would rather be waterboarded by Liz Cheney than vote for Kevin McCarthy for Speaker of the House,” Gaetz said on a radio show hosted by former White House advisor Steve Bannon.