Kevin McCarthy’s dark path just got even darker

| 7:00 pm EST February 24, 2023
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Given the uproar surrounding Kevin McCarthy’s release of security tapes to Tucker Carlson, you might think he could come up with a better explanation than “I promised.” He should promise to jump off a cliff and follow through with that. What an idiot. He doesn’t even care about the ramifications of releasing this sensitive footage to liar and conspiracy theorist Tucker Carlson. No, he doesn’t care because, as CNN reported, he’s already fundraising from it. At what point will it become clear to Republican voters that Republicans don’t care about them? They care about power, prestige, and money, not necessarily in that order, and they will do virtually anything to achieve those goals. So, who exactly did McCarthy promise? Matt Gaetz.

According to CNN, the release of the footage was on a long list of demands presented by Gaetz the night before the speakership vote. McCarthy could have easily put together a committee to review the footage, but that might be too much like doing the right thing. McCarthy doesn’t want to govern; he wants controversy, and what better way to do that than to give sensitive footage to one of the most controversial people alive, Tucker Carlson? Republicans were up in arms about the House Select Committee. This was their opportunity to expose that committee as the sham they claimed them to be, but they passed on that. Wonder why? Could it be that the committee was not a sham at all and was determined to show the American people the truth? How dare they? Instead of trying to show another side, McCarthy chose this route, showing that his and other Republican complaints were no more than that-empty complaints.

If you look a bit deeper, you will find that this is all about Kevin McCarthy and nothing more. He caved to the demands of his fellow MAGA Republicans because he wanted the speakership so badly. Tucker Carlson has bitterly criticized McCarthy, and giving him this exclusive was the way, at least McCarthy hoped, to change Carlson’s opinion. Who cares about Tucker Carlson and what he thinks? Certainly, no one who elected their representatives to office. Moderate Republicans can also take or leave Carlson, as they want to move away from the Trump-induced insanity in their party. Only Kevin McCarthy thought this a good idea. If it blows up in his face, the blame will also be his alone, so he took a huge risk just to satisfy a handful of foolish people.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke out on the issue via letter, telling his colleagues that McCarthy “needlessly exposed” the Capitol Complex and called the move a “grave security risk to members of Congress and everyone who works on Capitol Hill.” Schumer truthfully wrote that McCarthy’s decision “laid bare that this sham is simply about pandering to MAGA election deniers, not the truth.” That, my friends, is the truth. There is no benefit for anyone for this footage to be given to Tucker Carlson, and we can sincerely hope that it comes back to bite McCarthy in the ass.

Dear Palmer Report readers, we all understand the difficult era we're heading into. Major media outlets are caving to Trump already. Even the internet itself and publishing platforms may be at risk. But Palmer Report is nonetheless going to lead the fight. We're funding our 2025 operating expenses now, so we can keep publishing no matter what happens. I'm asking you to contribute if you can, because the stakes are just so high. You can donate here.