'It's Disgusting!': GOP Rep Blasts This Text Message That Went Out Amid Effort to Oust McCarthy

GOP Rep. Garret Graves of Louisiana called out Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) for fundraising off his efforts to oust Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) from the speakership.

Even though Republicans only have a slim majority in the lower chamber, Graves highlighted what conservatives have accomplished this year, which led him to wonder “what is going on.”

“What’s going on in this body? We have Freedom Works, Heritage, Chip Roy, and Jim Jordan say something is conservative,” but the few lawmakers who supported Gaetz’s effort now argue the opposite and are seen as being correct. 

“And all of a sudden, my phone keeps sending text messages,” Graves continued. “Text messages saying, ‘Hey, give me money.’ Oh, look at that. ‘Give me money, I filed a motion to vacate.’ Using official actions, official actions to raise money. It’s disgusting. It’s what’s disgusting about Washington.”

Rep. Garret Graves calls out Gaetz for fundraising off of his plan to oust Speaker McCarthy: pic.twitter.com/xmyh7VvZuU

— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) October 3, 2023

The Louisiana Republican wasn’t the only one to speak out about Gaetz’s fundraising. 

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who was on Fox News when voting was underway, said the fundraising stunt “makes me uncomfortable.” 

 “I think when you’re doing things, you need to be doing it because it’s the right thing to do,” the GOP presidential candidate argued. “It shouldn’t be done with an eye towards trying to generate lists or trying to generate fundraising.”

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DeSantis’ take on McCarthy’s ouster is spot on 🎯

- He ‘opposed McCarthy before it was cool’, says majority didn’t produce needed results

- Doesn’t like that there’s no plan, he likes to plan his moves, not flail about

- Doesn’t like theatrics or Gaetz fundraising off this pic.twitter.com/2IzrBalBtD

— Josh Power 🇺🇸 (@JoshPower80) October 4, 2023

Gaetz wasn't the only one to fundraise off the effort to oust McCarthy. 

Mace fundraising off of her McCarthy MTV vote, says it is about “keeping your word.” pic.twitter.com/gNzmFG5H3P

— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) October 3, 2023

Editor's Note: This post has been updated to make a correction. Graves is a representative from Louisiana, not Florida. Townhall regrets the error.