# Is Kevin McCarthy really that stupid? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [December 18, 2021, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256 "2021-12-18T04:23:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/1 "2021-12-18T04:23:36Z")
Recently he said “I took President Biden at his word; I took him at his word when he said he was going to get Covid under control. Unfortunately, more Americans have died this year than last year under Covid.” Does he think that Biden has a magic wand? He can’t just make covid go away. What he can do is facilitate the creation of tool and measures to help bring it to and end. Which it seems like he has done. WE have to make use of those tools. We all have to do our part. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/2 "2021-12-18T04:26:03Z")
He’s neither stupid nor crazy. He is, however, cynical as hell. He has a good understanding of the level of intelligence of his audience, and of their willingness to believe what they are told by those they have decided to follow. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/3 "2021-12-18T05:11:01Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > He has a good understanding of the level of intelligence of his audience, and of their willingness to believe what they are told by those they have decided to follow. Exactly. Kevin McCarthy isn’t really that stupid. But he thinks his followers are really that stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/4 "2021-12-18T05:33:37Z")
Do you think he is mistaken? I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/5 "2021-12-18T16:02:05Z")
> [@StraightTalk](#): > > What he can do is facilitate the creation of tool and measures to help bring it to and end. Which it seems like he has done. WE have to make use of those tools. We all have to do our part. What do you mean by “bring it to [an] end”? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/6 "2021-12-18T16:08:19Z")
He doesn’t _think_ his followers are that stupid. He _knows_ his followers are that stupid. The Republican playbook is to sabotage Democratic presidents and blame them for the results of their sabotage. And because their supporters all walk on their knuckles, the strategy works. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/7 "2021-12-18T16:33:39Z")
That’s how Republicans roll. The utter ineptness of the previous administration’s response and outright denial of the magnitude of the problem and the refusal to encourage safety measures- no, the willing denigration of safety measures that led to where we are doesn’t matter a bit. Liberate Michigan! Liberate them from masks, that’s right. 🖕 Just say it’s Bidens fault. As mentioned, McCarthy has an idea how stupid his voters are. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/8 "2021-12-18T17:06:15Z")
My FIL would like to ask McCarthy this question. If Biden is doing it wrong, tell us how to do it right? ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/9 "2021-12-18T18:13:52Z")
I wonder if Kevin mentioned that many of those who’ve died in the past year are Trumpers who’ve refused to get vaccinated. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/10 "2021-12-18T18:15:40Z")
“Put us back in power and we’ll tell you.” Translation: “We have no idea.” This has been a GOP staple at least as far back as Nixon’s 1968 “plan” to end the Vietnam war. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/11 "2021-12-18T19:51:02Z")
Everything McCarthy has been saying or doing since becoming the Minority Leader has the sole purpose of making it so a majority of the caucus members feel they “owe him” their own election or reelection and the eventual recovering of the majority, and that includes the total pandering to the militantly-ignorant faction as being “what it takes”. The man has no pride or dignity if what’s at stake is “make me the next Speaker”. ---
**Author:** ![StraightTalk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straighttalk/32/9982_2.png) [@StraightTalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StraightTalk)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2021, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/12 "2021-12-18T20:48:46Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > > [@StraightTalk](#): > > > > What he can do is facilitate the creation of tool and measures to help bring it to and end. Which it seems like he has done. WE have to make use of those tools. We all have to do our part. > > What do you mean by “bring it to [an] end”? Ideally, Covid is eradicated. Realistically, Covid is reduced to a nusiance. Deaths from Covid aren’t so high. Hospitals aren’t overwhelmed. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/13 "2021-12-19T19:29:54Z")
> [@eschrodinger](#): > > What do you mean by “bring it to [an] end”? I don’t support a goal of eradicating Covid because that’s likely unrealistic. It’s difficult to completely eradicate a disease and we’re barely capable of doing it for anything. I think if people have that mindset they will likely be discouraged and eventually apathetic about the issue which is very dangerous. I think we should be focused on ending the **pandemic**. There are countless diseases out there but just one causing a pandemic. If the pandemic was ended and Covid is just another nasty disease you hope to not get but just treat it if you do, then I’d call that a major victory. And I think that’s very achievable. ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/14 "2021-12-19T19:37:24Z")
Yes. I agree. I think it’s dangerous to still be talking about ending covid, or even just talking about “bringing this to an end” in a vague way, because it does give people like McCarthy ammunition. No one should be saying Biden has done, or will do what’s needed to end this. The claim needs to be a lot more specific. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/15 "2021-12-19T20:15:54Z")
> [@StraightTalk](#): > > Recently he said “I took President Biden at his word; I took him at his word when he said he was going to get Covid under control. Unfortunately, **more Americans have died this year than last year under Covid**.” Isn’t the bolded statement also factually incorrect? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/16 "2021-12-19T22:25:50Z")
No. 341,199 deaths as of 12/31/20 and 802,969 today. McCarthy knows that blaming one’s opponent for what is making people unhappy is always a sound strategy. Is it a hypocritical one? Of course. The only core Republican principles are hypocrisy and bigotry. The only real question, sadly, is how the OP can be surprised about this. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/17 "2021-12-19T22:43:49Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > No. 341,199 deaths as of 12/31/20 and 802,969 today. Wow, that’s a bet I’d have lost for sure. No doubt the GOP is preparing all sorts of ads about how COVID has gotten worse under Biden. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > McCarthy knows that blaming one’s opponent for what is making people unhappy is always a sound strategy. And conversely, taking credit for what makes people happy – like GOP house members bragging about infrastructure bill benefits that they voted against. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/18 "2021-12-19T23:09:02Z")
> [@Akaj](#): > > Wow, that’s a bet I’d have lost for sure. No doubt the GOP is preparing all sorts of ads about how COVID has gotten worse under Biden. - You mean the COVID so many deny exists? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/19 "2021-12-19T23:13:45Z")
Do I hear the crawfish moo of hypocrisy? ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2021, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256/20 "2021-12-19T23:22:43Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > > [@Akaj](#): > > > > Wow, that’s a bet I’d have lost for sure. No doubt the GOP is preparing all sorts of ads about how COVID has gotten worse under Biden. - > > You mean the COVID so many deny exists? We both know it’s entirely possible for Republicans to both deny the existence or magnitude of COVID _and at the very same time_ blame Biden for its ongoing destruction without for a moment considering the cognitive dissonance or inherent contradictions of holding both positions simultaneously. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-kevin-mccarthy-really-that-stupid/956256.md?page=2)