‘He’s Not A Victim’: AOC Blasts McCarthy, Claims He Expected Democrats To Vote ‘For Free’

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tore into ousted House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday, responding to his attempt to blame Democrats for the fact that he had lost his position.

Ocasio-Cortez claimed in a thread posted to X that McCarthy had expected enough Democrats to vote for him to save his speakership — and argued that he should not have expected anyone in her party to offer their votes up “for free.”

McCarthy, following his ouster, claimed that former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had promised to support him in the event that a motion to vacate came up — and said the fact that she had not done so amounted to “a political decision by the Democrats” to not vote in his favor for the preservation of “the institution.”

“Does anyone believe for one minute that McCarthy would help elect a Dem speaker ‘for the institution?'” Ocasio-Cortez asked, adding, “McCarthy’s hubris is a theme. He loudly stated he wouldn’t negotiate w/Dems, called virtually none, trashed those who helped w/CR, and then expected Dem votes for free?”

1. Does anyone believe for one minute that McCarthy would help elect a Dem speaker “for the institution”?

2. McCarthy’s hubris is a theme. He loudly stated he wouldn’t negotiate w/Dems, called virtually none, trashed those who helped w/CR, and then expected Dem votes for free? https://t.co/49V0pNTf3N

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 4, 2023

Ocasio-Cortez continued to attack McCarthy in the posts that followed, saying that the now-former speaker had already broken promises he made to Democrats and should not have expected anything less than their full support behind those who wanted him gone.

“If McCarthy cared so much for the institution, he wouldn’t have opened a baseless impeachment w/o a House vote (as he promised &broke),” she complained — in spite of the fact that Democrats had done the same to former President Donald Trump. “If he cared for the institution, he wouldn’t have voted to overturn election results. He would’ve honored his debt limit deal w/ the President.”

One would think after years of striving, McCarthy would have studied lessons left by predecessors Boehner and Ryan, who also fell at their destructive wing.

It was McCarthy’s choice to empower them further. He protected them & punished those who bucked Trump. He’s not a victim.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 4, 2023

“One would think after years of striving, McCarthy would have studied lessons left by predecessors Boehner and Ryan, who also fell at their destructive wing. It was McCarthy’s choice to empower them further,” she concluded. “He protected them & punished those who bucked Trump. He’s not a victim.”

The race to replace McCarthy has already begun, with Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) declaring their candidacies.