Amanda Carpenter on Cheney and the 1/6 Committee

TL;DR

Amanda Carpenter argues that Kevin McCarthy created a public-relations disaster by leaving Republicans without appointees on the January 6th committee while law enforcement officers delivered powerful testimony about the Capitol attack. She says he pulled all five of his members after Nancy Pelosi rejected Jim Jordan and Jim Banks, and that unanswered questions include a three-hour National Guard delay. Read on for her assessment of Cheney, Trump, and McCarthy’s strategy.

Transcript

welcome to the bulwark podcast i'm charlie sykes uh well this is the day that kevin mccarthy has wrought we have the january 6th committee beginning uh the hearings televised hearings and kevin mccarthy has no appointments no appointees on that committee and he's sort of off to the side up in the cheap sheet the cheap seats throw throwing throwing ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😊 Kevin McCarthy's absence from the January 6th committee hearings is a significant PR disaster for Republicans, as it gives the impression that they are not taking the attack on the Capitol seriously.
• 👮 The powerful testimonies from law enforcement officers highlight the violence of the Capitol attack and emphasize the need for accountability.
• 🖤 McCarthy's focus on deflecting blame and his lack of representation on the committee further exposes his lack of leadership and prioritization of Trump's support over the nation's interests.

Questions & Answers

Q: What does Amanda Carpenter say about Cheney and the January 6th committee?

Carpenter says Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger are exceptions within a Republican Party that is otherwise almost completely invested in avoiding the January 6th investigation. Their participation means they are present to hear the officers’ accounts while other congressional Republicans are absent.

Q: Why did Kevin McCarthy have no appointees on the January 6th committee?

Carpenter says McCarthy first helped destroy the idea of an evenly split bipartisan commission outside Congress. After Nancy Pelosi rejected Jim Jordan and Jim Banks but accepted his other three selections, McCarthy chose to pull all five members.

Q: Why does Carpenter call the hearings a public-relations disaster for Republicans?

Law enforcement officers were giving powerful testimony about the violence at the Capitol while most Republicans were absent from the committee. Carpenter says that contrast undermined the party’s claims to support law enforcement and allowed Democrats to present an effective case without Republican appointees responding from the committee.

Q: What security questions about January 6th still needed answers?

Carpenter identifies two specific questions: why Capitol Police did not have riot gear that day and why the National Guard was not deployed for three hours. She also notes that the Senate had already conducted an investigation into security lapses.

Q: How does Carpenter assess the Democrats’ handling of the hearings?

She says Democrats were doing a great job and that the officers’ testimony was effective. The hearing focused attention on the violence and the officers’ experiences while Republicans searched for ways to distract from it.

Q: How were Republicans trying to redirect attention from the committee hearing?

Carpenter says Republican leaders held a press conference seeking to blame security officials, Capitol Police officers, and Nancy Pelosi for failing to secure the Capitol. She also mentions a later event involving Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar as part of the effort to draw media attention elsewhere.

Q: Was Kevin McCarthy worried about backlash from Donald Trump?

Carpenter says managing blowback from Trump was McCarthy’s central concern. In her view, he could not think beyond the next 48 hours because he feared Trump might turn against congressional Republicans and damage their ability to retain the Trump base.

Q: What contrast did the hearing create between police officers and Republican politicians?

The hearing showed officers delivering compelling testimony while politicians such as Kevin McCarthy and Paul Gosar appeared elsewhere criticizing or distracting from the proceedings. Carpenter and Charlie Sykes describe that split screen as a damaging look for Republicans.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• McCarthy's absence from the January 6th committee hearings is detrimental to the Republican Party's image, as powerful testimonies from law enforcement officers highlight the violence of the Capitol attack.

• McCarthy's focus on deflecting blame rather than seeking answers exposes his lack of leadership and dismissive attitude towards the seriousness of the situation.

• Democrats are doing a great job in these hearings, effectively highlighting the need for accountability and answers regarding the security lapses of January 6th.