Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Monday criticized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.) for his approach to the growing number of Democrats calling on President Biden step down as the party’s supposed candidate for president.
McCarthy, in an interview with Fox News’ “Outnumbered,” compared Jeffries to a “thermometer,” which reads the temperature, rather than a “thermostat,” which adjusts it.
“Hakeem hates making decisions. He will never make a quick decision. He’s doing exactly what he normally does: nothing,” McCarthy told Fox News’ Kayleigh McEnany when asked what he predicts the top House Democrat will do at this point.
“There are two types of leaders: you are either a thermometer or a thermostat,” McCarthy continued. “A thermostat can tell you the temperature and change it. Hakeem is a thermometer. He sits back and lets the caucus decide where to go, and that’s why you’re seeing this, in the House, a lot of members are speaking out against Biden, and in the Senate, you really don’t have many.”
“It’s not strong leadership, and he’s going to let the caucus get in front of him rather than step forward,” McCarthy added.
McCarthy enjoyed what was described by some as a positive working relationship with Jeffries last year, when they were the top Republicans and top Democrats, respectively, in the House. Jeffries, however, did not save McCarthy from a GOP-led coup that ultimately led to McCarthy’s ouster.
Several months later, Jeffries made a different decision when House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faced a similar impeachment threat for challenging extremist members of his party to work with Democrats to pass aid to Ukraine.
The Hill reached out to Jeffries’ office for a response.
Jeffries faces a difficult decision as he weighs whether to remain in the White House in a show of Democratic unity or consider some of the electability concerns members of his caucus have expressed since President Biden’s difficult debate performance.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison fired back at McCarthy for his attack on Jeffries.
“Leader Jeffries has forgotten more about leadership than @SpeakerMcCarthy ever knew. McCarthy is literally the worst speaker of all time – it took this pathetic guy 15 tries to win the gavel and 9 months to lose it,” Harrison said.
“On McCarthy’s only significant vote during his term, the debt ceiling vote, it was @RepJeffries and the House Democrats who delivered the votes and saved his ass,” he said, referring to the deal McCarthy negotiated with the administration. Biden on government spending and lifting the debt ceiling.
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