Shortly after the House of Representatives managed to pass a 45-day spending bill that will prevent a shutdown of the federal government, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) was ready to give Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) the boot by calling for a motion to vacate the speakership.
Gaetz has been threatening to remove McCarthy all week if he and his extreme right-wing GOP allies didn’t get everything they wanted in the spending bill, CNN reported.
With the clock ticking down toward a government shutdown, Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz approached a Democratic lawmaker on the House floor this week with a surprising pitch.
Gaetz, who has been threatening Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s speakership almost daily, explained that his rebellion is motivated by a desire to find new leadership that keeps their word, tells the truth, and adheres to regular order – a message that this Democrat described to CNN as “utterly reasonable.”
Gaetz then floated veteran Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma and House GOP Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota as two alternative examples he had in mind, and then attempted to gauge whether this member would be open to supporting an effort to oust McCarthy. The Democrat told CNN there’s been internal discussions about a wide range of potential asks – from power-sharing agreements to policy ideas.
But while Gaetz had every intention of calling a dismissal vote minutes after the spending package passed late Saturday, he was quickly ignored and then completely shut down on the House floor, according to Jake Sherman of Punchbowl News.
“WOW…. BICE motioned to adjourn the House Shortly before the gavel dropped, GAETZ tried to get the attention of WOMACK who was in the chair. GAVEL DROPPED before Gaetz could be recognized.”
That set off a wave of internet mockery aimed squarely at the confrontational Gaetz.
I motion the entire country not to recognize Matt Gaetz for anything ever again.
— WH Aide 🌊 (@tr_politicaide) September 30, 2023
There is a direct correlation between Matt Gaetz losing and America winning.
— The Ghost of J.D. Clampett (@icecream4ffers) September 30, 2023
— RC (@RCinNC1) September 30, 2023
We recognized Gaetz as a pedo
— Uhh-Merica (@uhh_merica) September 30, 2023
If nobody ever recognizes Gaetz again the world will be a better place.
— Christer Westin (@junius1768) September 30, 2023
Poor Matt. Maybe he find some underage girls to help ease his humiliation.
