On MSNBC‘s “All In with Chris Hayes“, Elie Mystal, a regular MSNBC guest and The Nation correspondent were critical of the Republican Party as they prepared to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., as Speaker of the House.
He argued that their internal struggle to secure the position showed that their focus was more on destruction than on governing. Mystal went on to describe the GOP as “locusts” who get enjoyment from other people’s suffering.
His words suggested that the Republican Party had a bleak outlook when it came to its priorities—Kinda rich coming from him.
“The Republicans don’t want to govern. Dysfunction is a victory condition for the Republican Party. It’s Democrats that want things. Republicans don’t want things. So the fact the government can’t function, the fact this rules package makes it almost impossible for the speaker to wield any real power, that’s okay with Republicans,” Mystal said.
“We’re in a situation where Democrats are basically like Bill Paxton [sic] in ‘Independence Day’ when he asked the aliens, ‘What do you want us to do?’ And the aliens say, ‘Die!’ Right? That’s what – They’re locusts and they feed on dysfunction and suffering,” he continued, confusing actor Paxton with Bill Pullman, who played the president in the sci-fi film.
Hayes did not contest Mystal‘s choice of words, but instead highlighted McCarthy‘s connections to lobbying organizations in K Street and their desire for certain outcomes. He suggested that these lobbyists had a vested interest in McCarthy‘s success.
“Kevin McCarthy – and this is the critique from that rogue caucus that is correct – he’s a creature of K Street. He’s wired downtown. That’s why he is where he is. Those folks want stuff and they want stuff passed,” Hayes responded.
Mystal said, “Yeah, but the people in control right now – the people that Kevin McCarthy has sold his soul to, to get this gavel, they don’t want things.”
“That I totally agree,” Hayes said.
“Republicans learning that Republicans aren’t willing to govern and have an inexhaustible reserve of grievance is pretty funny. I hope all you ‘Democrats should reach across the aisle’ folks are watching and realize how stupid you’ve all sounded for so long,” Mystal tweeted Wednesday.