“Anytime we have an obstacle, let’s not quit,” Mr. McCarthy told reporters as he was pressed on how he intended to overcome the resistance from the far right.
There were a lot of Republicans who said they would never vote for me as speaker either,” he said, referring to his January fight for the speaker’s gavel that took 15 House votes to decide.
But it was that battle that was coming back to haunt Mr. McCarthy, who appeared unable to satisfy the same band of hard-right rebels who had demanded concessions from him — including promises to rein in federal spending — in exchange for their votes to make him speaker.
While Mr. McCarthy tried to appear unflappable, smilingly shaking hands and greeting tourists in the Capitol Rotunda, his allies were growing increasingly frustrated by the opposition, accusing some on the right of “moving the goal posts” in an effort to undermine Mr. McCarthy and topple him from his post.
Other lawmakers close to Mr. McCarthy said the stalemate was costing House Republicans valuable leverage in the upcoming funding showdown with the Senate and the White House.
Persons:
let’s, ” Mr, McCarthy, ”, Mr, Steve Womack
Organizations:
Republicans, Senate, White
Locations:
Arkansas