McCarthy On Why King Is Only Now Being Punished: ‘Have I Been Leader For Years?’

UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 21: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., conducts a news conference after a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the Capitol, September 21, 2016. (Photo By Tom Williams/C... UNITED STATES - SEPTEMBER 21: House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., conducts a news conference after a meeting of the House Republican Conference in the Capitol, September 21, 2016. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) bristled under questioning about why the Republican caucus is only just now taking steps to punish Rep. Steve King (R-IA) for his comments on white supremacy.

“Have I been leader for years?” he retorted, according to the New York Times.

He continued that he has only been the “in a position to take action” as the head of the House Republicans for “a short amount of time.”

King has now been stripped of his committee roles and indirectly condemned by the passage of a resolution in the House decrying white supremacy. He has a years-long track record of offensive statements and hobnobbing with far-right fringe groups.

Latest News

Notable Replies

  1. Because history just started in January of this year in Kevin’s mind. Like the Busheviks who forgot any of the horrible things Bush did in office and the way the trumpanzees will disavow any knowledge of trump’s actions when he is gone. Has he been leader for years? No but he has known about Steve KKKing’s remarks for years and said not a word.

  2. Enjoy your time under the bus Ryan. Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving fella.

  3. Avatar for ajoguy ajoguy says:

    “Have I Been Leader For Years?”

    Always the first to take responsibility for moral leadership!

    Corrupt, hypocritical failures of human and moral decency.

  4. Oooooooooh, nice backstabbing on rAyn, Kev.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

20 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for dr_coyote Avatar for dwward Avatar for ajoguy Avatar for sysprog Avatar for eggrollian Avatar for poorcitizen Avatar for Lacuna-Synecdoche Avatar for left_in_washington_state Avatar for sanni Avatar for keninmn Avatar for riverstreet Avatar for fasteddiemc Avatar for kingofbacon Avatar for jonney_5 Avatar for dommyluc Avatar for morrigan_2575 Avatar for jacksonhts Avatar for lizzymom Avatar for greysea Avatar for middleway Avatar for raelerin Avatar for haddockbranzini Avatar for angrychickadee

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: