House “True Believer Caucus” Meets with Speaker, Gets a Surprise
Our NSA source has produced an interesting transcript of a meeting Tuesday between House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the House’s “True Believer Caucus.” Satire alert.
Satire alert.
The large conference room on the House’s west side basement, HC-5, had ample room for it’s newest bipartisan caucus - House members who proudly display their bonafides as ideologically or philosophically uncompromising and consistent. Most are members of the House Freedom Caucus, on the right, and others part of the 90-member House Progressive Caucus, meeting late on a Tuesday afternoon after returning to the Capitol from their far-flung districts.
There was no staff in the room.
Members are amiably chatting when a sudden rap of a gavel is heard on the conference table in front of the room. Members quickly reached for a Molson-Coors or Pepsi (conservatives) while US Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) passes out Bud Light beers with Dylan Mulvaney’s face on them. “Plenty of these to go around!” Lieu extols, beer in each hand, looking for takers. “These are popular in my district!”
“I call this meeting of the True Believer Caucus to order!” barked US Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), one of its chairs, narrowly missing his Bud Light. US Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), the other co-chair, joined him at the table, Pepsi Zero in hand. The members turn around to watch House Speaker Kevin McCarthy burst into the room, followed by two staff, his big smile filling the half-empty room.
“Welcome, Mr. Speaker, you’re right on time,” Bowman tells McCarthy, who stops to shake a few hands and share pleasantries with US Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX), who is unflailingly polite and respectful. US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sits and stares at McCarthy, clearly stewing about something.
McCarthy takes a seat on the front row, still smiling.
“First, Mr. Speaker, our bipartisan caucus has a ritual where we honor the late author, Dr. Eric Hoffer, that great American who termed the phrase, ‘True Believer.’ His book of that title is what draws those of us who strongly believe in our political visions. We find that we often vote together in opposition to half-assed compromises and anything that undermines are divergent but passionate agendas,” Bowman continues.
“The quality of ideas seems to play a minor role in mass movement leadership. What counts is the arrogant gesture, the complete disregard of the opinion of others, the singlehanded defiance of the world.”
― Eric Hoffer, The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements
“I now call on my distinguished co-chair, Representatives Norman, to share our tribute to the late Mr. Hoffer,” Bowman nods to his colleague, who nods back.
“Mr. Co-chair, thank you very much,” Norman drawls, exposing his South Carolina roots. “Mr. Hoffer’ s book is entitled ‘The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements’. It may have been written 72 years ago, but it describes the remarkably identical natures of both the House Progressive Caucus, on the left, and the House Freedom Caucus, on the right.
“Hoffer focused on the personalities of so-called ‘mass movements,’ which each of us represents. While we resist the notion that we are ‘fanatics,’ we do consider ourselves fault-finding intellectuals who use rationalism to rebuke the establishment and its norms of behavior. Stuff like that dirty word, ‘compromise,’” Norman uses air quotes and drawls out the word, bringing boos from both sides of the aisle.
“Now, we disagree on policy but are not above combining forces on matters we both find distasteful. We sacrifice ourselves to greater causes, including calls for change,” Norman concludes, turning to Bowman. “Mr. Chair, I yield the floor.”
“Mr. Speaker,” Bowman extols, turning towards McCarthy, who is no longer smiling, “I know you’re hear to persuade us to vote for this so-called debt ceiling deal you and the White House concocted. Out of respect for you and your position, the floor is yours.”
McCarthy quickly rises, nodding at Bowman and Norman. “Thank you, co-chairs, I appreciate the invitation on short notice, but I have to correct you on one thing.” McCarthy says, turning first to the group, then to Bowman.
“I am not here to persuade you to support the deal.”
The room grows silent as McCarthy pauses for effect, surveying the room for the level of surprise among the two dozen attendees. “I expect you to oppose the deal, verbally and aggressively.
“I’ll explain why,” McCarthy quickly continues, having unleashed his surprise. “First, how many of you have ever agreed to a ‘compromise?’” A few members sheepishly raise their hands.
“The game of history is usually played by the best and the worst over the heads of the majority in the middle.”
― Eric Hoffer, The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements
“Oh, come on, no you haven’t! McCarthy blurts, almost smiling. You on my left, my fellow Republicans. Every one of you opposed my nomination as Speaker, 14 times for most of you. You on my right, Democrats, have voted no on everything we’ve brought to the Floor for votes. Every. Single. One.
“President Biden and I talked about this. We don’t expect you to support it. In fact, you are helping us pass the deal,” McCarthy says, pointing at both sides. “You’re opposition convinces a real majority that neither side is getting everything they want, and this is pretty reasonable, and beats a debt default.
“I don’t need all 222 Republicans. I don’t even need the dozen or so in this room. And I’m convinced there are enough responsible Democrats that we can pass this bill . . . wait for it. . . on a bipartisan basis. I’ll have to produce more votes than Hakeem (Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY House Democratic Leader), but I think we can do that. Your opposition helps us sell the idea that this is a truly bipartisan compromise, and that everybody wins.
“I don't need your support. I need your opposition.
“While I’m very happy with this deal, I was much happier with our original bill, which all my GOP friends here voted for. I would have loved to get $4.1 trillion in savings. We’ll have to settle for something less, but still the largest reduction in year-over-year spending in at least a decade. There are 81 specific spending rescissions without hurting defense or veterans. Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid - over half of all federal spending - were not touched.
“And don’t balk at the permitting reforms for energy projects. You, my Democratic friends, are not losing your climate projects. I gave on including the REINS Act, which would give Congress an up or down vote on major regulations. You even get to keep most - but not all - of your 87,000 IRS agents. Good luck selling that! Most of your new spending projects are still going to go forward.
“And guess what!” McCarthy exclaims. “Your precious debt limit is being suspended for two years! That’s not what I wanted, but the White House did, and in exchange for real reductions in the rate of spending, we allowed that go forward.
“A lot of these battles will continue. I’m committed to passing the REINS Act. I’m committed to more spending cuts as we work through the 12 major appropriations bills. And we will get them done, because if we don’t more spending rate reductions will come our way. Finally, we’re going to get back to regular order around here.
“So, no, I’m not here to sell you on anything. Go forth on Twitter and the House press gallery and criticize away because the deal isn’t perfect. It’s not. But welcome to Congress and the art of legislating.
“You bet we used the debt ceiling issue to move the ball in our direction, for a change. You, my Democratic friends, have done no less in the past, but now you’re on defense. The last 10 times we increased the debt limit, it came with conditions, either pressed by Republicans or Democrats. That’s the way it works around here.
“None of us are King or Queen. We are legislators, a couple of dozen here out of 535 voting Members. My party controls the House. Democrats control the Senate and the White House. Everybody has to give. This is about what will get the most votes that will keep our financial obligations and not cause a disastrous default on the debt, which has never been on the table,” McCarthy stresses, glowering at the Republicans in the room. “And no more of this 14th Amendment bullhockey,” McCarthy turns towards the Democrats. “You know that is unconstitutional.
“So, my distinguished co-chairs, that ends my ‘pitch.’ Thank you for granting me this platform. You all have a nice week, and I’ll look forward to your Tweets and floor speeches later this week. Meanwhile, I’ll work to get this deal done so we can move on. You all have the 99-page bill text and 72 hours before it comes to floor. I’m not jamming this down anyone’s throats.”
McCarthy marches out of the room, not looking back, as Bowman and Norman look on, then stops, turns, and to deliver a final thought, gazing at the Republicans.
“One last thing. If you want a better deal, win some elections. That’s what I intend to do.” McCarthy turns back and heads out of the room.
“We’ll, on that note,” Bowman says, “the chair will be glad to entertain comments, but I recommend we adjourn. I don’t think we need to persuade each other here, unless someone has a bright idea.”
“I move we adjourn,” Rep. Roy offers. “I got work to do.”
“Yeah, me too,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) entwines as he rises from his seat. “I’ve got a fundraiser and a Fox News hit.” Rep. Ocasio-Cortez storms out of the room, speechless, taking a final sip of her Bud Light and tossing in the trash as she exited.
“Without objection, we’re adjourned,” Bowman asserts, rapping his gavel for the last time, as members quickly depart the room for fundraising receptions.
Recommended reading: “McCarthy is Leading a Republican Revolution,” By Lawrence Kudlow, New York Sun.
It might be satire, but then again...