Janice R. Andrews
The long-running conflict between Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., took a sharp turn on the Republican National Convention floor in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. Deep-seated conflicts inside the Republican Party were brought to light by the confrontation, which was characterized by acrimonious exchanges and public taunting.
The conference was in full flow when Gaetz went over to McCarthy, who was chatting with someone else. Gaetz asked, “What night are you speaking? ” while politely tapping McCarthy on the shoulder many times. Are you going to talk tonight?” Those around Gaetz were visibly irritated by this unexpected interaction, with one person making an attempt to shoo Gaetz away. “Hey, if you took that stage, you would get booed off of it,” said Gaetz, unfazed. You would have to leave the stage to boos.”
Witnesses reacted quickly to the conflict; one man on the convention floor overheard ordering Gaetz to “shut up, Gaetz.” Be not an asshole.” The episode exposed the divide between McCarthy and Gaetz and became a talking issue very fast.
Later, McCarthy was questioned by Tom Llamas of NBC News about the event, going into detail about their tense relationship’s background and motivations. With no holds barred, McCarthy declared, “I think it shows exactly who Matt Gaetz is.” McCarthy responded with confidence when asked if he thought he would be jeered off the stage: “Not at all.”
McCarthy said, “He had an ethics complaint four years ago that he paid an underage girl, and she has come to ethics,” in reference to Gaetz’s actions. He also said that Gaetz was trying to use his influence to get McCarthy to drop the ethics probe, which McCarthy declined to do since it was unlawful. “If I had to lose my job over all the hump, the law — he tried to utilize it,” said McCarthy.
Gaetz, who has continuously denied any wrongdoing, was the subject of a misconduct investigation, which the House Ethics Committee revealed last month. Regarding the most recent altercation, a request for comment from Gaetz’s office was not immediately answered.
When asked if he thought the Republican Party supported him or Gaetz more, McCarthy said he hoped there would be less people in the party who shared Gaetz’s views. “Well, I would hope there wouldn’t be another Matt Gaetz in the Republican Party,” he said. “Look, everyone has different people in their party,” he continued. Sadly, Matt just so happens to be here. Ultimately, I believe that he ought not to be living on the streets.”
The altercation during the Republican National Convention highlights the widening gaps among the GOP as it negotiates internal disputes and the larger political environment. In addition to bringing attention to personal rivalries, the public spat between Gaetz and McCarthy also exposes deeper ideological and tactical divides within the party. All eyes will be on the upcoming events in this developing political drama as the convention goes on.
