House Minority Leader cruelly jokes about violence against Nancy Pelosi at GOP fundraiser
It’s difficult not to be concerned about the divisive state of American politics, but such concern needs to be escalated to screaming-siren, flashing lights-style intensity after an incident at a fundraising dinner in Tennessee involving House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) last night.
Speaking to a crowd of 1,400 wealthy Republican donors, McCarthy was discussing the GOP’s efforts to regain the majority in the House of Representatives in the 2022 midterm elections, a goal that redistricting after the 2020 census and the strenuous efforts of state-level Republican legislatures to suppress ballot access make all too plausible a possible result.
It was what Congressman McCarthy said next — with likely visions of regaining the Speaker of the House role dancing in his head — that truly exemplified the vicious state of brutal American politics today.
Speaking of the moment when he would once again be installed into the Speaker’s chair, McCarthy told the assembled crowd that he would have great difficulty restraining himself from striking the current occupant of that office, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi with the Speaker’s gavel.
“It will be hard not to hit her with it but I will bang it down,” McCarthy said, presumably in what passes for jovial humor in GOP circles.
While it may be perfectly on-brand for Republican politicians to spout so-called “jokes” about violence against women and political opponents, news of McCarthy’s comments — spread via the Twitter feeds of The Washington Post journalist Michael Scherer and other reporters at the event— soon riled social media, which then turned the spigot on a torrent of outrage at the House GOP leader.
Sponsored Links
This disgusting suggestion by @GOPLeader that he wants to physically assault the Speaker of the House is absolutely disqualifying. This menacing threat of political violence is a disgrace to his office & aligns him with violent extremists who plotted assassinations.
— Joseph Robertson (@poet_economist) August 1, 2021
& for all the people who think this sadistic kind of remark is acceptable in politics… ANY insinuation that those who disagree with you deserve violence is authoritarianism & the opposite of democracy. It is a betrayal of everything the republic is supposed to be.
— Joseph Robertson (@poet_economist) August 1, 2021
Sponsored Links
DESPICABLE: Listen to 1400 Republicans in Tennessee cheer Kevin McCarthy "joking" about hitting Nancy Pelosi: https://t.co/kB8W2p8ucc
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) August 1, 2021
Sponsored Links
It's not really a joke. He said this or something close to it. McDickface is a terrorist.
— Nam Ecaf Tab (@NamEcafTab) August 1, 2021
— debbie156-MeidasMighty (@debbie156) August 1, 2021
.@GOPLeader McCarthy, I have often commented that you are underwhelming. Based on your joke of violence against @SpeakerPelosi, I would also add that you are a pathetic coward. This may appeal to your anti American sick base, but most Americans will be properly disgusted by you https://t.co/fOqYDnZf7S
— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) August 1, 2021
https://twitter.com/SJPaca/status/1421812388710522883?s=20
Threatening to commit a crime is a crime, also in private enterprise McCarthy would be fired for threatening his boss…
— Jane Logan (@JaneLogan31) August 1, 2021
Kevin McCarthy voted against reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act this year. https://t.co/livvad0LJt
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) August 1, 2021
Maybe it's time Liz "went there" and asked "family values" Kevin McCarthy whether he….??https://t.co/rzmRyrjF3Z
— Emoluments Clause (@Emolclause) August 1, 2021
This is totally out of order and inappropriate. Now the @GOPLeader wants to “hit” a woman, @SpeakerPelosi with a gavel. Which is a wooden hammer than can inflict serious damage. These #Republicans are just a deplorable lot of monsters. #KevinMcCarthyIsAMoron https://t.co/I3O8Yj1c6o
— Sophia A. Nelson (@IAmSophiaNelson) August 1, 2021
You know he does. I’m sure there isn’t a conservative out there who didn’t chuckle at it.
— Schawn Schoch (@syintist) August 1, 2021
It's what they are.
"The Republican Party no longer adheres to such principles as the commitment to free and fair elections with multiple parties, the respectful treatment of political opponents and the avoidance of violent rhetoric"https://t.co/KKfd1tnj4i
— (Italian) Bamboo cryptologist (@TinResistAgain) August 1, 2021
With his deplorable comments, Kevin McCarthy just disqualified himself from ever holding the Speaker’s podium again, at least in the eyes of any moral American.
The American public cannot allow the GOP to regain a majority in the House of Representatives and put this man back in contention for a leadership position.
Follow Vinnie Longobardo on Twitter.
Original reporting by Joshua Zitser at Business Insider.
We want to hear what YOU have to say. Scroll down and let us know in our comment section!
that supports ONLY good Democratic candidates
Please consider supporting the fund. Thank you!
