House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is facing fierce criticism after he joked over the weekend that it would be hard for him not to hit Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) with a gavel if the GOP wins control of the lower chamber in next year’s midterm elections.
At a dinner on Saturday evening, members of Tennessee’s Republican congressional delegation gave McCarthy an oversized gavel with the words “Fire Pelosi” on it.
“It will be hard not to hit her with it but I will bang it down,” McCarthy reportedly joked, according to Washington Post reporter Michael Scherer.
Several Republican leaders from Tennessee including Gov. Bill Lee and Sen. Marsha Blackburn were reportedly in attendance at the $250-a-plate dinner event.
A war of words between the two party leaders escalated last week when McCarthy joined other Republicans in vehemently protesting a mask mandate the Capitol physician reimposed and Pelosi supported.
“Make no mistake — The threat of bringing masks back is not a decision based on science, but a decision conjured up by liberal government officials who want to continue to live in a perpetual pandemic state,” McCarthy tweeted on Tuesday night.
“He’s such a moron,” Pelosi responded when asked about McCarthy.
McCarthy and other Trump allies in the House also expressed outrage when Pelosi weeks earlier rejected two pro-Trump GOP representatives from the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Check some of the resposes to McCarthy’s comments below:
So nice to see a sitting member of Congress threatening violence to women. As if he's ever going to get anywhere near being Speaker of the House.
Also "bang it down" is how a three-year-old talks.— Dr. Ohm 🇺🇲 (@HereToRebuild) August 1, 2021
That comment legally constitutes a terroristic threat & workplace harassment. He can absolutely have a restraining order put on him for it, which would make it impossible for him to go near the capitol building if she's there, unless he wants to squat in jail for violating a RO.
— Predikit (@predikit) August 1, 2021
Sounds like a threat to commit violence on an 80 year old woman.
— Jill I Dippman, BA 🏡😷💉💉 (@jillyid) August 1, 2021
Yes Kevin, joking about assault w a deadly weapon is HILARIOUS. Manly resonant bonus laughs for it being an itty bitty elderly woman
— Stephen Andrew (@SAndrewDKos) August 1, 2021
And this, alone, should disqualify him from that position even if his party gets the House.
Which they won't.
— Force Ghost (@FieldMontgomery) August 1, 2021
Hey can we not pass off violence as jokes? They came to literally kill her 6 months ago.
— 🦯 🦊 Allie 💛🐝 (@Allie_F) August 1, 2021
They expect that the election control levers Republican state legislatures have in place will hold up enough to squeak by minority wins in order to clinch control of Congress. Let’s not let that happen. 2022 is even more important than 2018 at this point.
— vibeulator (@vibeulator) August 1, 2021
Apparently threats of violence towards Nancy Pelosi are now a requirement if you wish to achieve power in the Republican Party.
We need to fight like hell to keep this man from the Speakership.
— TrumpsTaxes (@TrumpsTaxes) August 1, 2021
What’s his backup when he goes to jail for insurrection?
— Joseph Finn (@JosephFinn) August 1, 2021
Really? My Lord is there anybody in Washington DC that has just the basic morals & values this country used 2 stand 4. Comments like this should not even b allowed. What a hostile working environment. If I said something about physical violence towards a coworker I would b fired
— beverly bunting (@BeverlyBunting) August 1, 2021
Kevin, assault is a crime. Don't joke about it. @GOPLeader
— joan dworetzky (@JDworetzky) August 1, 2021
He has no business continuing in public office if he uttered these words & must provide a serious, no excuses apology to the American people, to his party, his voters & to his family. This is so debased, there are no words.
— Joseph Robertson (@poet_economist) August 1, 2021
Instead of that scenario, I'd love to see him sent packing after getting voted out.
— Jay 🌊🇺🇸🏳️🌈🗽 (@FerrazzanoJay) August 1, 2021
