McCarthy calls Jeffries a ‘thermometer’ amid debate over Biden

Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Monday criticized House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) for his approach to the growing number of Democrats calling for President Biden to step aside as the party’s presumptive nominee for president.

McCarthy, in an interview on Fox News’s “Outnumbered,” compared Jeffries to a “thermometer,” which reads the temperature, rather than a “thermostat,” which sets it.

“Hakeem hates to make a decision. He’ll never make a fast decision. He’s doing exactly what he normally does: nothing,” McCarthy told Fox News’s Kayleigh McEnany, when asked what he predicts the top Democrat in the House will do at this moment.

“There’s two types of leaders: You’re either a thermometer or thermostat,” McCarthy continued. “A thermostat can tell you the temperature and change it. Hakeem’s a thermometer. He sits and lets the caucus decide where to go, and that’s why you’re seeing it, in the House, a lot of members come out against Biden, and in the Senate, you really don’t have much.”

“Not strong leadership, and he’ll let the caucus get in front of him instead of stepping in front,” McCarthy added.

McCarthy enjoyed what was described by some as a positive working relationship with Jeffries last year, when they were the top Republican and top Democrat, respectively, in the House. Jeffries, however, did not save McCarthy from a GOP-led coup, which ultimately led to McCarthy’s ouster.

Several months later, Jeffries made a different decision, when Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faced a similar ouster threat for defying extreme members of his party to work with Democrats to pass Ukraine aid.

The Hill has reached out to Jeffries’s office for a response.

Jeffries faces a difficult decision as he weighs whether to stick with the White House in a show of Democratic unity or to consider some of the electability concerns members of his caucus have expressed since President Biden’s difficult debate performance.

Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison fired back at McCarthy for his attack on Jeffries.

“Leader Jeffries has forgotten more about leadership than @SpeakerMcCarthy has ever known. 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.  

“In McCarthy’s only meaningful vote of his speakership, the debt ceiling vote, it was @RepJeffries and the House Dems that delivered the votes and saved his ass,” he said, referring to the deal McCarthy negotiated with the Biden administration on government spending and lifting the debt ceiling.

Tags 2024 presidential election Hakeem Jeffries Joe Biden Kevin McCarthy Speaker

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed..

 

Main Area Top ↴

Testing Homepage Widget

 

Main Area Middle ↴

Article Bin Elections 2024

Canada will reduce immigration targets as Trudeau acknowledges his policy failed
Israeli strike on Gaza shelter kills 17 as Blinken says cease-fire talks will resume
Middle East latest: Blinken in Doha to discuss Gaza cease-fire with Qatari officials
A car bomb explodes outside a police station in western Mexico, wounding 3 officers
Mozambique’s ruling party candidate declared winner of presidential election as rigging claims swirl
Putin ends BRICS summit that sought to expand Russia’s global clout but was shadowed by Ukraine
Turkey strikes Kurdish militant targets in Syria and Iraq for a second day
Massive displacement from Israel-Hezbollah war transforms Beirut’s famed commercial street
Canada’s Trudeau vows lead his Liberal Party into the next election
Russian lawmakers ratify pact with North Korea as US confirms that Pyongyang sent troops to Russia
Train carrying 55 people derails on Norway’s north coast, killing at least 1 person and injuring 4
Trash carried by a North Korean balloon again falls on the presidential compound in Seoul
Britain’s leaders likely to face slavery reparations questions at a summit of former colonies
The Paris conference for Lebanon raises $1 billion in pledges for humanitarian and military support
Venice extends its day-tripper tax through next year to combat overtourism
More AP International

Image 2024 Elections

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, stands on stage with Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, after speaking during the Republican National Convention, Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump, left, stands on stage with Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and Republican vice presidential candidate Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, after speaking during the Republican National Convention, Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Most Popular

Load more

Video

See all Video