Kinzinger Calls McCarthy a ‘Living Example’ of Trying To ‘Hug a Skunk’ in Response to Greene’s Remarks

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) is reacting to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) prediction that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) does not have enough support to become speaker if Republicans regain control of the chamber.

In a tweet on Friday, Kinzinger wrote, “I hate to LOL this but I must, is a living example of what happens when you try to hug a skunk.”

He also shared a story of Greene on comments about McCarthy.

During an interview on the “Firebrand with Matt Gaetz” podcast, Greene said, “We know that 👤Kevin McCarthy has a problem in our conference. He doesn’t have the full support to be speaker.”

“He doesn’t have the votes that are there, because there’s many of us that are very unhappy about the failure to hold Republicans accountable, while conservatives like me, Paul Gosar, and many others just constantly take the abuse by the Democrats. The American people aren’t going to have it,” she continued.

The Georgia Congresswoman blasted McCarthy for what she felt was not a strong enough defense of her when Democrats moved to strip her of her committee assignments.

Greene was stripped of committee assignments earlier this year by the House over past controversial comments and alleged support of violence against Democrats. That vote came after House Republicans decided not to punish Greene.

Earlier this month, the House voted largely along party lines to censure Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and strip him of his committee assignments after he tweeted a controversial anime video, as IJR reported.

During a press conference earlier this month, McCarthy said Greene and Gosar would be given committee assignments if Republicans regain control of the House in the 2022 midterm elections. He added, “They may have better committee assignments.”

Kinzinger, who announced earlier this year that he would not seek reelection in 2022, has been critical of McCarthy’s leadership.