Kevin McCarthy isn't House speaker material

Kevin McCarthy.
(Image credit: Illustrated | Getty Images, iStock)

It's hazardous to make political predictions, but here's one anyway: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) might very well lead the House GOP to a majority in next year's elections — but I'm skeptical he'll end up as speaker of the House.

McCarthy just isn't doing a very good job of riding the tiger that is the House Republican Conference. In recent weeks, members like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), and now Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) have generated a steady stream of provocations that make the caucus look like a collection of rogue, bigoted cranks. That's led to some notable in-fighting: This week Greene and fellow Republican Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) feuded openly on Twitter — with Mace using a poop emoji to insult Greene. American politics in 2021 resembles a third-grade playground fight, and McCarthy is the beleaguered teacher who can't quite rein in the kids. That doesn't exactly scream "leadership."

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Joel Mathis, The Week US

Joel Mathis is a freelance writer who has spent nine years as a syndicated columnist, co-writing the RedBlueAmerica column as the liberal half of a point-counterpoint duo. His work also regularly appears in National Geographic, The Kansas City Star and Heatmap News. His awards include best online commentary at the Online News Association and (twice) at the City and Regional Magazine Association.