Moderate Republican implores Dems to help McCarthy

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) called on Democrats to back Speaker Kevin McCarthy if Rep. Matt Gaetz follows through on his pledge to file a motion to vacate against McCarthy this week.

“Substitute out Kevin McCarthy's name for Hakeem Jeffries or anyone else. If the situation were reversed and the Squad tried to do the same to Hakeem Jeffries, should he be speaker at some point, I can tell you what I would do on the first and 100th vote: I would vote to table it, because I don’t think that sends the right message,” Fitzpatrick said during an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”

The moderate Republican said he does believe McCarthy will survive the challenge by conservative hardliners.

“I think what we need to do is encourage bipartisanship and encourage two-party solutions to be brought to the floor. That's what we need. And to do the opposite would be rewarding this Hatfield vs. McCoy brand of politics that’s destroying our nation,” Fitzpatrick said.

“Ninety percent-plus of the American public does not want us to be voting on a motion to vacate every day for the rest of the term,” he added.