Voice of America
10 May 2021, 03:35 GMT+10
WASHINGTON - Top House Republican Kevin McCarthy on Sunday publicly endorsed Rep. Elise Stefanik for the post of No. 3 leader, cementing party support of the Donald Trump loyalist over Rep. Liz Cheney, an outspoken critic of the former president for promoting discredited claims that the 2020 election was stolen.
House Republicans could vote as early as Wednesday to remove Cheney, the highest-ranking woman in the Republican leadership and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, and replace her with Stefanik, whose ascension has received Trump's backing.
Asked in an interview on Fox News Channel's "Sunday Morning Futures" whether he supported Stefanik, R-N.Y., for the job of Republican Conference chair, McCarthy responded: "Yes, I do."
"We want to be united in moving forward, and I think that is what will take place," he said in response to a question about whether he had the votes to oust Cheney, R-Wyo.
McCarthy said the leadership post must focus on a message "day in and day out" on what he said were the problems of the Biden administration.
Cheney has taken on Republicans, including McCarthy, R-Calif., saying on Twitter that those who indulge Trump's false claims of a stolen presidential election are "spreading THE BIG LIE, turning their back on the rule of law, and poisoning our democratic system." In an opinion essay Wednesday in The Washington Post, she denounced the "dangerous and anti-democratic Trump cult of personality," and warned her fellow Republicans against embracing or ignoring his statements "for fundraising and political purposes."
She also said McCarthy had "changed his story" after initially saying Trump "bears responsibility" for the January 6 attack on the Capitol. McCarthy initially criticized Trump's actions, and in a private call during the insurrection, had reportedly urged the then-president to call off the rioters. The GOP leader now says he does not believe Trump provoked the riot.
McCarthy said that efforts by Republicans to remove Cheney are not based on her views of Trump or her vote to impeach Trump over the January 6 riot. He said she was distracting from Republicans' bid to win back the House in 2022 and successfully oppose President Joe Biden's agenda, goals that McCarthy believes will need Trump's support.
McCarthy complained last week that he had "lost confidence" in Cheney and "had it with her" over her continuing remarks about Trump, according to a leaked recording of his exchange on "Fox and Friends."
Cheney has a more conservative voting record in the House than Stefanik, a onetime Trump critic who evolved into an ardent ally. She previously opposed Trump's tax cuts.
"You have this real battle right now in the party, this idea of let's just put our differences aside and be unified," said Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who also voted to impeach Trump. "They're going to get rid of Liz Cheney because they'd much rather pretend that the conspiracy is either real or not confront it than to actually confront it and maybe have to take the temporary licks to save this party and in the long term this country," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
The second-ranking House Republican leader, Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, has announced his support for Stefanik.
Get a daily dose of International Technology news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to International Technology.
More InformationSHENZHEN, China: As global chip competition intensifies, Huawei Technologies is exploring new markets in the Middle East and Southeast...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
Vishakhapatnam (Kerala) [India], July 14 (ANI): The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated...
Egypt-China cooperation helps elevate both nations and offers a stronger voice for the Global South, said Egypt expert Salah El-Din...
by Yu Xiaohua, Zhu Xibing BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Some 20 kilometers southwest of Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, among the skyscrapers,...
By Saurabh Joshi Gadchiroli (Maharashtra) [India], July 12 (ANI): The Gadchiroli Police have set up 71 libraries across the district...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], July 14 (ANI): The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has suspended the licence of Pune's iconic Goodluck...
(Photo credit: Chet Peterman / Special to The Post / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater...
South Salmara Mankachar (Assam) [India], July 14 (ANI): In a major anti-narcotics operation, police in Assam's South Salmara Mankachar...
New Delhi [India], July 14 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday flagged the issue of people abusing their fundamental right of freedom...
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], July 14 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that neither he nor his office was...