While no one is asking McCarthy or Scalise to step down from their positions – they were, after all, unanimously elected to serve another term in leadership – tensions are undoubtedly mounting within the conference.
“There is a little bit of anger, but a lot of disappointment,” said a GOP member in an interview. “And what you saw on display with Steve and Kevin was, eh, let’s just continue with the narrative on the right and they didn’t notice the moment. This is problematic. “
“When you are a leader, you have to look around the corner,” added the legislator.
The poll, anonymous for the time being, offers a preview of the settlement of accounts that will come from the Republican Party, which was unified and energized after the reconquest of a network of 10 seats in the Chamber in November. But since then, Trump’s brazen efforts to subvert the election have fiercely divided the Republican Party, which could put its efforts to win back the majority – and McCarthy’s dream of claiming the speaker’s hammer – at risk.
“We are on a bad path. Each member of Congress must understand what we say is important – what we say and how we say it is important, ”said Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Wing.), Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, in an interview on Friday.
Some lawmakers are even questioning whether this could undermine McCarthy’s long-term position in the party. The California Republican has built his political brand around his close ties to Trump over the past four years – a political calculation that has put him in sync with the Republican Party, which remains mostly pro-Trump.
Still, McCarthy appeared to do some damage control on Friday, issuing a statement recognizing Joe Biden as the first elected president and saying that he had sought out Biden in the hope of easing inflamed rhetoric and working to unite the country.
The comments represent McCarthy’s first outward sign offering Biden an olive branch – and turning the page on Trump.
“Our country is not just divided. We are deeply hurt, ”McCarthy said in his statement. “The task ahead for the next Congress and the next Biden government couldn’t be more important. But to deliver a better America for all, supporters of all stripes must first unite as Americans and show our country that a peaceful transition of power has taken place. “
Some ordinary members are also attacking each other. Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) Said he was “embarrassed” by some of his colleagues.
And Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), a Navy SEAL who was wounded in Afghanistan, told the Houston Chronicle: “All the members who asked everyone to come and fight and make their last stand, all these members were dispersed like cowards while the Capitol Police had to fight. “
McCarthy and Scalise – who survived an assassination attempt at a Republican baseball game in 2017 – were quick to strongly condemn the outbursts of violence on Wednesday, although they avoided criticizing Trump. And while rioters invaded the Capitol, McCarthy said on ABC News that he had “begged” Trump to address the nation instead of simply posting a tweet.
Scalise, however, acknowledged on Friday night on Fox News that Trump’s words “didn’t help and did cause a lot of real division”. He also said that the president’s initial response “should have been an unmistakable call, just complete and unmistakable of what was happening at the time when people were invading the Capitol.”
But some Republican Party members wanted their top leaders to go further in distancing themselves from the Trump party, which Republicans across the spectrum see as being responsible for sending protesters to the Capitol armed with anger and misunderstandings about the electoral certification process. Congress. Even some members of the hard-line Freedom Caucus said that Trump was to blame for the mob attack.
“Fundamentally, I disagree with the White House and most of my Republican colleagues … is that the Constitution is clear: we count voters and we must say it,” said Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas), a member of House Freedom Caucus, who objected to the objection to the results of the elections in Congress.
“I think Republicans needed to be more responsible when explaining this reality, rather than presenting a reality that was simply not true.”
Some lawmakers were also upset that McCarthy and Scalise – along with more than 120 House Republicans, easily the majority at the conference – still supported the objection to voters in several states after the disturbances occurred.
“I disagreed with going ahead and contesting a second state,” said newcomer Rep. Nancy Mace (RS.C.), who has been physically threatened since she spoke out against contesting the election results. “I just wish we had a moment and said that this is neither the time nor the place.”
Even before the outbreak of violence, a Republican lawmaker said he was “disgusted” at the way McCarthy handled Trump’s false allegations of electoral fraud, including advising some of the freshmen about which states had the biggest objection cases.
Kinzinger, a Trump vocal critic who asked that Trump be immediately removed from office, did not criticize any Republican Party leader by name. But he said in a tweet: “The leaders who led this must resign so that adults and truth tellers can #RestoreOurGOP.“
Other Republicans, however, place the blame directly on Trump. And some GOP members came to McCarthy’s defense, arguing that, behind the scenes, he really helped control some of Trump’s worst impulses over the years.
“I think McCarthy was Trump’s only moderating factor throughout his term,” said a Republican member. “I don’t think it’s known how much Kevin talks to Trump, and I think Trump listened to Kevin more or as much as anyone else.”
McCarthy’s and Scalise’s approach put them at odds with Cheney, the House’s third Republican, who is seen as someone who might try to rise to the top one day.
She has repeatedly positioned herself against Trump’s controversial decisions, much to the outrage of Trump loyalists. Some of them even discussed recruiting someone to challenge them to chair the conference.
But now she seems not only to be forgiven by some of her critics for becoming a counterpoint to Trump, but she is also seeing her rise as Freedom Caucus members parted ways with Trump – and even each other. A Freedom Caucus member even chased Cheney on Wednesday to thank her, a Republican Party source said.
“People will look at this moment when they look at who will lead the party,” said a Republican lawmaker. “[Cheney’s] political capital increased significantly. She had the courage of her convictions. “
McCarthy also took a very different path from the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Who actively discouraged Republican senators from joining the anti-certification effort, describing his vote to stamp Biden’s victory as “the most important I already cast. “
McCarthy’s allies, however, said he was trying to remain publicly neutral to maintain conference unity. He did not announce his position before the certification vote, encouraged members not to attack each other for their positions, allowed members to discuss the issue during a two-hour conference meeting and worked to ensure that Republicans on both sides the debate would have time to speak.
But any goodwill McCarthy created among Republican lawmakers who opposed the objection effort seems to have dissipated after pro-Trump protesters ransacked the Capitol.
“McCarthy damaged his brand,” commented another member of the Republican Party, adding: “Scalise was expected.”