Last Updated on December 8, 2022
U.S. House Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) continued his frontline assault on Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23) on Thursday as he cited his doubt in McCarthy’s ability to lead the GOP if elected as the next U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Biggs was interviewed on The Absolute Truth with Emerald Robinson on Thursday.
“It was just three or four weeks ago that Kevin [McCarthy] was saying ‘Nobody’s going to get impeached. There’s nobody in the Biden Administration that should be investigated.'” Biggs said. “How can [people] forget that?!”
“Now all of a sudden because people are challenging him it’s like ‘oh yeah, we’re going to be the toughest ever,'” Biggs stated. “It’s not in his nature. I don’t think that this is something that he looks at and says ‘the [National Defense Authorization Act] NDAA, we’re going to go down and whip a ‘No’ on this.'”
“My question is why are you not whipping a no, why are you not having an emergency conference on this and saying we’re not voting for this NDAA. It’s a bad, bad bill.’ And why not also say, ‘Mr. McConnell, don’t do this to us. Don’t give us an omnibus bill and take away our leverage in the coming year.'” Biggs told Robinson.
“You’re not even seeing that now, and that’s because I just don’t think it’s in his DNA to fight like that on these tough issues,” Biggs added.
"I just don't think it's in his DNA to fight like that on these tough issues," @RepAndyBiggsAZ weighs in on Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's ability to lead if elected to Speaker of the House. pic.twitter.com/kSBdUPxnjV
— The Absolute Truth with @EmeraldRobinson (@AbsoluteWithE) December 8, 2022
“He was put in a tough situation I will give him that. He’s where he needs to be diplomatically, but I think the actions of those people who were getting those gold medals [were] kind of disrespectful. It was unfortunate,” Biggs said. “Now all of sudden he’s talking tough. I can’t believe people have short-term memory.”
Biggs announced on Tuesday his official run for U.S. Speaker of The House of Representatives in direct opposition to the establishment choice for the position, Kevin McCarthy (R-CA-23).
“I’m running for Speaker to break the establishment. Kevin McCarthy was created by, elevated by, and maintained by the establishment,” Biggs said.
The election for Speaker of the House will take place on January 3rd, 2023.
“We cannot have a Speaker that rejects the ‘motion to vacate the chair’ rule – a rule that allows members to remove the Speaker if they are not performing well,” Biggs said.
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) December 6, 2022
“Any leader should subject themselves to that accountability,” Biggs said. “McCarthy opposes this rules and that’s a problem.”
We cannot have a Speaker that rejects the "motion to vacate the chair" rule—a rule that allows members to remove the Speaker if they are not performing well.
Any leader should subject themselves to that accountability.
McCarthy opposes this rule and that's a problem. pic.twitter.com/beOfgo0jE6
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) December 6, 2022
Biggs won his reelection for U.S. House Arizona District 5 on November 8th.
“If you cannot trust the guy you’re making a deal with because he has said specifically ‘we’re not going to give you the motion to vacate.’ In other words, you can’t hold him accountable,” Biggs said.
“You have to be able to remove [McCarthy] as speaker if he doesn’t deliver on his promises. If he says, ‘that’s off the table, you can never replace me.’ He’s going to promise you the world, [but] he doesn’t have to deliver anything, what have you gained? No matter what he says Charlie, the reality is, he is a creature of the establishment,” Biggs said.
“People are thrilled that Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s reign of Leftist extremism is ending. The question is whether we will be treated to the status quo that will move us along the same path, though perhaps more slowly,” Biggs said on Tuesday.
“The Left wants to see a McCarthy Speakership, as outgoing Majority Whip Clyburn said. Establishment Republicans want to see a continuation of the Swamp, as Paul Ryan has endorsed McCarthy for speaker. And even phony conservative types claim that McCarthy is the only guy for them (see radio talker Mark Levin for example, who after blasting McCarthy for years has decided he is perfect for the job).”
“The purpose of the establishment is not to better the lives of Americans, the purpose is to gain and keep power. If anyone besides the establishment class experiences positive effects from the rule of the establishment, it is merely serendipitous,” Biggs stated.
“We actually have an opportunity to dislodge the establishment and reinvigorate the America First movement that was founded by former President Donald Trump,” he said.
Biggs did not pull any punches in his criticism of McCarthy.
“The lack of leadership by the Republican nominee for Speaker is evident in multiple ways,” he said.
“A spending package is being considered that will bloat our national debt and extend until next October. The biggest leverage the Republicans will have with President Joe Biden in the White House will be the budget. But McCarthy is about to give that away,” Biggs stated.
“And here we have an establishment candidate for speaker of the House, [McCarthy], who circulated a censure resolution of Trump and protected Liz Cheney when the majority of the Republicans wanted to remove her as their leader. It wasn’t until she personally embarrassed him that McCarthy supported her dismissal,” Biggs said.
“While the Biden Regime has ripped apart the policies that were so successful in economic growth, border security and prestige around the world, [McCarthy] has indolently allowed Pelosi and her minions to dismantle those policies.”
“It is inadequate to plead, beg, cajole, warn, or work with the establishment. We cannot let this all too rare opportunity to effectuate structural change pass us by because it is uncomfortable to challenge the Republican candidate who is a creature of the establishment status quo, or because the challenge is accompanied by some minimal risk,” he said.”
“Those who support such a change ought to join in our campaign by letting their elected representatives in Congress know that it’s time for a renewed America, not a time for protecting of the status quo,” Biggs stated.
