House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who promised America First voters that he would not back a ‘blank check’ for the war effort in Ukraine, voiced support for the Biden administration’s policies in the region and insisted “we” must win.
McCarthy’s comments came last week as he spoke to reporters at a meeting with the President of Taiwan. They resurfaced when MSNBC’s Chuck Todd played them during an interview with House Foreign Affairs Chairman Mike McCaul (R-TX).
Todd characterized the comments as a “shift” in the “perception of where [McCarthy] is on the issue of Ukraine.”
“I think what’s happening in Ukraine is an atrocity, and I think Ukraine – not just Ukraine, the world has to win there,” McCarthy said before referencing his ‘blank check’ comments.
“What Russia has done is wrong. And a phrase that I used, the ‘blank check,’ I use that for anything. Well, I look at every dollar of taxpayers that we would use,” he insisted. “But the one thing I know that, in Ukraine, we have to win, because it also would save Taiwan at the same time.”
Anyone who voted for Republicans in the midterms on the assumption that they’d bring some sort of “non-interventionist” policy shift in Ukraine was either deluding themselves or got scammed pic.twitter.com/8Kce9wUix4
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) April 10, 2023
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Did McCarthy Flip on His Ukraine Stance Before the Election?
MSNBC’s Chuck Todd questioned McCaul about the comments and wondered if McCarthy (R-CA) had “reassured” Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that House Republicans “are not going to stand in the way of more aid to Ukraine.”
McCaul replied that McCarthy’s new comments on the Ukraine war effort are always how he’s felt on the matter.
“He’s always believed this, felt this way,” the Texas representative said.
“What’s happening in Ukraine will determine what happens in Taiwan and the Pacific,” he added, echoing the Speaker’s sentiments.
Notice McCaul says McCarthy “always” had this position on Ukraine, despite the furious media outburst over his meaningless “blank check” comment last year, and despite the concomitant wish-casting by some GOP-aligned pundits that his comment indicated opposition to Ukraine policy
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) April 10, 2023
It hasn’t always been what McCarthy believed. At least, not according to his own words.
In fact, The Political Insider warned readers in January, in the midst of the struggle for Republicans to name a Speaker to the House, that McCarthy’s comments about ‘no blank check’ to Ukraine were a ruse and evidence that he “may not be worthy” of getting the role.
McCarthy announced prior to the midterm elections that when the GOP takes control of the House, Ukraine would no longer be the benefactor of a “blank check” from the United States government.
“I think people are gonna be sitting in a recession and they’re not going to write a blank check to Ukraine,” McCarthy said. “They just won’t do it. … It’s not a free blank check.”
Sources tell CNN Republican Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has been working behind the scenes to smooth over his comment about no “blank check” to Ukraine @MZanona reports pic.twitter.com/jrVDtdHQhq
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) October 26, 2022
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‘Full-Scale Support’ For Biden’s Ukraine War
Republican lawmakers at the time backpedaled and McCarthy didn’t step in to say, ‘No, I said what I meant.’ In fact, reports surfaced that he had been trying to “smooth over” the comment.
The Political Insider declared this was evidence McCarthy “was talking out of both sides of his mouth” and perhaps unfit for the Speakership.
Journalist Glenn Greenwald on Monday blasted McCarthy over his recalibrated stance, which he describes as pledging his “full-scale support for Biden’s war policies in Ukraine.”
“Prior to the 2022 midterms, McCarthy saw polling data showing Americans were increasingly reluctant to fund the proxy war in Ukraine, so sent signals he agreed, saying he opposes a ‘blank check,'” Greenwald tweeted. “Now he’s basically saying: Oh that? That meant nothing.”
GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pledges his full-scale support for Biden’s war policies in Ukraine, says “we” must win there. Some more sweet bipartisanship:pic.twitter.com/GOH9gS2Iqo
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) April 10, 2023
Public opinion suggests the American people are growing weary of financing Ukraine’s war effort.
A recent poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows just 37% are in favor of sending taxpayer dollars to Ukraine, while 38% are opposed. Another 23% say they are neither in favor or opposed.
Republican support for America having a role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict had dropped from 35% the previous year to 17%.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell responded by saying that while he’s “sorry public opinion is sliding,” the war effort in Ukraine and America’s continued support is “enormously important.”
How important? “The single most important event going on in the world right now,” says McConnell.
Now, McCarthy is echoing those sentiments by saying, “We have to win.”
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Does he sound closer to McConnell in his thinking or the staunch anti-war, America First conservative he sold you on while trying to earn the Speaker’s gavel?
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McCarthy is on the right track.
This war could last a hundred years,
Maybe House Speaker Kevin McCarthy should pick up an assault weapon and go to Ukraine?
We are not giving them any more Blank cheques! Fro now on we only give them Blankety-Blank cheques.
Like most people here I clearly recall very many misgivings regarding Kevin McC when he was being so bullishly devious in his determination to become “Speaker” – I honestly did not believe a single word he uttered. McC is just another Crow wearing a McCaws’ plumage for its own advantage – in other words a reincarnation of the tricky McConnell who gave such damaging support to Nancy Pelosi & her co-conspirators over so many years.
WHEN WILL the “Republican Party” GET RID OF ALL RINO’s ? !! President Trump has a real chance of LOSING the 2024 Election if these people without honour continue to be tolerated in HIS Party !
Wake up America – right now this is just another BANANA REPUBLIC – like the ones further south we all like to deride and poke fun at, saying “That could NEVER happen here in America.” The NEWS is that it IS happening here – right now and has been since 2020 !
The way Biden and all his cronies are going ( including ALL RINO’s ) there will not be enough left worth saving by 2024 – & by LEFT I mean “remaining” – the political LEFT has almost WON already – the Kalifornikation is well under way ! Blinkers OFF folks !
Nil Carborundum Illegitemi ! ( If you don’t know what this means – Google DOES ! )
God created vermin. God created prancing mewling congressmen. Satan created their uniting as one.
I didn’t believe McCarthy when he said “no blank check,” and am not surprised.Regardless Ukraine is toast and unless there is a miracle the Russians will be on the Dnieper in a few weeks and pushing towards the Polish border. If we intervene directly we get nuked. That’s very clear to me and anyone who has followed the deteriorating situation. The fools who rule us have turned what is essentially a bar brawl between two Slavic tribes into WW3 and the very real possibility of a nuclear catastrophe. Fortunately, for me and my family I moved to Panama long ago and our chances of survival are considerably better than in the US. I suggest you join us.
I wish you well in your chosen sanctuary PanamaPat – unfortunately this planet has what we call a Climatic System – basically the workings of this “weather system” ensures that any massive radioactive fallout gets shared eventually amongst ALL land and sea masses – so don’t forget the Iodine tablets ( ;) ) ( But you may get an extra year or two before the counters start clicking……) There’s no way around MAD ( Mutually Assured Destruction ) unless you develop a deep underground civilization, but even then it will eventually reach you. I just hope the communists also like the idea of having grandkids survive them.
Deep State Uni-Party Strikes Again!
Thank you Kevin. You are not a short sided simpleton as many others. God bless you., ?
“… short sided simpleton ..???”
I believe what McCarthy meant when he stated ” No More Blank Checks ” is that unlike the previous house, any funds being sent to Ukraine will be analyzed as for what they need it for, how much they plan to spend on each thing, as well as a list of just what we are buying. Then have people there to account and audit each thing bought with the money coming from the S taxpayers, anything not spent above rheir estimate should be returned ! id also say that for every 2 dollars sent by the US, Ukraine must put 1 dollar of their own in.
You are FAR more trusting than I – Faroutfreak, and if you honestly believe Ukraine could even think about putting up their own dollars, then Dream on sunshine and Have a Nice Day ;)
Ukraine doesn’t have a dollar!
They gave them all long ago to Hunter and the big guy and all the other corrupt US-EU politicians with their hands out.
Western Ukraine had agriculture which depended on Russian fertiliser and stolen Russian oil and gas. Now it has nothing and never will have anything.