This post has been updated.
Rep. Jason Caffetz (R-UT), chairman of the House Oversight Committee, is preparing to launch a bid for house speaker against House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), according to a Politico report.
Chaffetz recently heavily criticized McCarthy, the current favorite in the speaker election, for comments the majority leader made about the Benghazi committee. McCarthy boasted in an interview with Fox News on Tuesday that the House Select Committee on Benghazi has been successful in hurting Hillary Clinton politically.
On Wednesday, Chaffetz said on CNN that McCarthy’s comments were “inappropriate” and “inaccurate” and called on the majority leader to apologize.
“I don’t think it necessarily disqualifies him, but I think it’s an absolute [sic] terrible statement. I don’t think it’s a fair characterization,” Chaffetz said when asked on CNN if McCarthy’s statement should disqualify him from being speaker.
Chaffetz criticized McCarthy’s statements again on Thursday.
“Those statements are just absolutely inappropriate. They should be withdrawn. Mr. McCarthy should apologize. I think it was absolutely wrong,” he said on MSNBC.
Following McCarthy’s Tuesday statement, numerous congressional Republicans have criticized his comments and distanced themselves from the idea that the Benghazi committee was established for political purposes.
Let’s see; converted from Democrat to Republican, converted from Judaism to Mormonism.
Sounds like a grifter to me.
Definitely qualified to lead the GOTP.
Well, he’s a born speaker alright. As he showed during his farce of a “hearing” with Cecile Richards, he speaks even when he should STFU.
Kevin “Can’t speak English” McCarthy vs. Jason “Can’t do math” Chaffetz. An inspiring choice.
My guess is, after the past 48 hours, LOTS of people in the GOP have very real concerns about McCarthy as a Speaker. I think the tell here was when Chaffestz came out not once, but twice, to condemn McCarthy yesterday.
Let the games begin!
The people demand a Thunderdome GOP speakers race!
Well not people - maybe just me but still!