Editor's Note: Steve Schmidt is one of the founding members of the Lincoln Project. He is a communications and public affairs strategist who has worked on several Republican campaigns, including John McCain's 2008 bid for the White House, and he is now a regular political contributor to MSNBC.
On Tuesday, Schmidt delivered a stinging rebuke of House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy over a series of seven tweets. MaxNewsToday has assembled this thread and reprinted it as one easy-to-read op-ed for our ongoing segment, Schmidt Storm. It has been edited for grammar and clarity. Kevin, what a disappointment you are. You are amongst the most cynical American leaders of the last 100 years. You are an author of our national humiliation and shame. I was surprised to read about your concession to reality with a confession of weakness. Imagine being the Minority Leader of the House, who claims credit for unexpectedly picking up so many seats, suddenly having to declare Corporate America is still with you. That’s you, and what a sign of weakness. Let's have a contest. Find five companies somewhere in America to express confidence in your leadership. Just five. Companies aren’t writing checks to you anymore, because you are a risk. What companies are going to write checks to Rick Scott at the National Republican Senatorial Committee? You went all in on Trump. You instructed freshman members to take an “Easy Vote.” You told them to poison faith and belief in the legitimacy of our democracy in the name of Trump. You told them it was okay to stoke conspiracy theories and tell the “Big Lie.” You spread the lie. You attacked our democracy. You are profoundly unfit to serve in high office. You made the choice to sell your soul, old friend. You made the choice to betray the truth and our country. You are an architect of insurrection and an agent of autocracy. Your political career is over. GO HOME to Bakersfield and ponder your disgrace. There is no redemption for you in Washington D.C. There is only accountability there. You rose as the leader of HOUSE REPUBLICANS to strike down millions of Black votes for no legitimate reason. You did this for Trump and in furtherance of his fever dreams. You led an effort to install a new JIM CROW. You have forfeited all claims to moral authority, as you desecrated your oath and incited insanity.
Your ignominy is eternal.