Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) has lashed out at two of his GOP colleagues, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA), after the New York Times published a leaked recording of a call between the pair.
The conference call took place on January 10, 2021, days after the Capitol Insurrection. McCarthy airs his frustrations with some in the GOP, saying people like Gaetz were “putting people in jeopardy … And he doesn’t need to be doing this. We saw what people would do in the Capitol, you know, and these people came prepared with rope, with everything else.”
“These members calling out other members, that stuff’s got to stop. The tension is too high. The country is too crazy. I do not want to look back and think we caused something … I don’t want to play politics with any of that.”
Scalise also singled out Gaetz and his criticism of Liz Cheney (R-WY): “This is serious stuff. It has to stop,” he said. “It’s potentially illegal what he’s doing.”
The audio recordings were obtained for the upcoming book, This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden and the Battle for America’s Future, written by two New York Times reporters: Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns.
Recording of McCarthy talking about Gaetz pic.twitter.com/a2SmXgJCKt
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 26, 2022
After the audio was published, Gaetz posted a statement on Twitter blasting his colleagues as “weak men”.
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) April 26, 2022
“Rep McCarthy and Rep. Scalise held views about President Trump and me that they shared on sniveling calls with Liz Cheney, not us,” Gaetz said. “This is the behavior of weak men, not leaders.
“Folks know what I think because I tell them clearly, directly, as I did when I held the largest event in Wyoming political history (without a rodeo element) days after these recordings were taken.”
Gaetz continued, “Whilst I was protecting President Trump from impeachment, they were protecting Liz Cheney from criticism. They deemed it incendiary or illegal to call Cheney and Kinzinger ‘Anti-Trump,’ a label both proudly advertise today.
“On the bright side, you no longer have to be a lobbyist with a $5,000 check to know what McCarthy and Scalise really think. You just have to listen to their own words as they disparage Trump and the Republicans in Congress who fight for him.”
Related: About 30 people showed up for Matt Gaetz’s big reelection campaign kick off event
This is not the first time Gaetz has criticized McCarthy. He and others on the far-right of the GOP have accused McCarthy of being a RINO (Republican In Name Only). Perhaps with an eye on retaining his role as GOP leader, especially if Republicans takes control of the house later this year, McCarthy has since appeared less openly critical of Trump and the more MAGA-supporting parts of the party in recent months.
That said, Gaetz’s particularly bitchy attack on both McCarthy and Scalise, supposedly his Republican superiors, is unusual.
Many delighted at the in-fighting.
Wishing Gaetz, McCarthy and Scalise much success in taking each other out, and other members of the Sedition Caucus, too. pic.twitter.com/FTeQxikvtS
— Wendy the Warrior 🇺🇸🌻 (@WOgaard) April 27, 2022
Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise are on tape attacking Matt Gaetz and other House Republicans. Now Matt Gaetz is attacking Kevin McCarthy and Steve Scalise. But the Democrats are supposed to be the ones in disarray 😆
— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) April 27, 2022
Is this where we officially get to see them eat their own? 🤣
— Kacky (@kacky2007) April 26, 2022
This remake of “Mean Girls” is LIT!
— Cat Food Casserole (@CasseroleFood) April 27, 2022
Grab your popcorn, your favorite adult beverage, kick back and enjoy watching them as they attack their own! 🥊🥊
— Tooey (@SueRic2) April 26, 2022
And they’re off! It’s a mad race to the bottom!
— Xander Berkeley (@xanderberkeley) April 27, 2022
This is like watching and listening to a group of Middle School kids who love to tattletale on each other.
— linda drake (@lindadrakequack) April 27, 2022
Demoted to towel concierge in the “bear room”.
— jtolb65 (@jzmeister) April 27, 2022
Related: Liz Cheney makes homophobic dig at Matt Gaetz, once again proving they’re both awful
Others mocked Gaetz’s comment about his Wyoming rally.
The “without a rodeo element” is quite the qualifier.
— Susan Szil (@susanszil) April 27, 2022
Lol, “without a rodeo event.” Classic.
— Cari Golden (@caridiva) April 26, 2022
“Largest political event in Wyoming political history…”
…said the representative from Florida.
— MichaelKuhl (@MichaelKuhl) April 27, 2022
Dude, there was like 75 people at your event in Wyoming!! 😂 😂 😂
— KS 🇺🇸🇺🇦 (@kmeaks85) April 26, 2022
Mister P
Republicans have no sense of morality, ethics or decency. I’d be reluctant to invite one into my home.
ZzBomb
I’ve cut ties with my family members who voted for Trump. Best decision ever.
white-queer-african
@Mister P I cannot agree with you more. Can you imagine waking up in the morning next to the stench emanating from Matt Gaetz? And not a pleasurable stench.
greekboy
When is Gaytz going to be tried for being a pedophile?
scotty
right after gym jordan and paul gosar
Bosch
Never, because the GOP doesn’t actually oppose pedophilia.
bowlingbutch
don’t know how Republicans can look themselves in the mirror or stand tall after voting not to complete the impeachment of Trump even though he was obviously doing wrong. If it had been a Democrat they would have been screaming. If they had any ethics and balls they would do what is best for the country instead of protecting a racist person who is all about hate and cheating.
ZzBomb
This is why I’m still not worried about the Dem’s prospects in the mid-terms. The GQP is at odds with themselves and virulently fighting each other over largely bs and weird positions. Just a look at the GQP PA primary debates recently shows you what a sh*t show they are in. Furthermore, if SCOTUS strikes down Roe in June watch the left become galvanized to turn out the vote. And when the 1/6 hearings start going public over the summer, watch the independents sour on the GQP as well. Already McCarthy is behaving like a bumbling idiot when questioned over these phone calls and there still is more to come! Grab the popcorn.
ggontarek
Weak men? Does that include Gaetz? You are a weak man when you have relations with anyone underage.
SFMike
Sadly the sedition caucus will remain victorious as half the country blames Biden for high gas prices and only the radical right has 24/7 news coverage thanks to corporate news that only cares about their not having any kinds of tax increases of restrictions that democratically fair elections might bring if Russian style fascism isn’t instituted during the next two elections. The billionaire set wants Trumpian Christofascism to be victorious and so it will be.
[email protected]
What has happened to the investigation of of Gaetz f’ing underage girls?
Perhaps he could be sent to the same prison as the Morgan fellow who attacked a flight attendant because Morgan thought he was gay?
They can oth discover the delights of being a bottom.
scotty
they already know what it’s like being a submissive bottom. theyve been doing it all their lives. no theyre just pissed and angry they all got caught.
jt1990
As a Right winger, I am not a fan of Matt Gaetz. I would rather meet an alligator than run into this creepy fellow here in Florida. The face and the eyes remind me of a corpse, or even a reptilian. It bothers me to know he could be lurking somewhere near me in these Florida swamps. Or more likely, near a children’s playground.
BennyTheHill
jt1990: What the f–k’s wrong with you lately?
Matt Gaetz is far better than Nancy Piglosi or Maxie Waters, the race-baiter from Los Angeles.
BennyTheHill
You’re spending TOO MUCH time watching MSNBC & CNN.
jt1990
BennyTheHill compared to those two maybe so. And if I ever watch CNN it’s for laughs. But just because I vote Republican doesn’t mean I approve of ALL Republicans in office. I’m willing to admit the bad apples we have. Ever had a creepy uncle who the family and neighbors would whisper about? You never saw him do anything wrong, but he gives a bad vibe that makes you wonder if the rumors might be true. I don’t hate the guy honestly but he doesn’t give much credibility to the party.