McCarthy rebukes Cawthorn over his claims that lawmakers have invited him to orgies and use drugs
CBSOct 19, 2021
The Facts
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) announced on Wed. that Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) walked back his claims that political leaders in Washington D.C. consumed cocaine in front of him and invited him to orgies, after being called into a meeting over the allegations.
McCarthy stated that he was "very disappointed" in Cawthorn and said that the remarks - made during a podcast on Sun. - were untrue or exaggerations.
The Spin
Left narrative
This is outrageous, preposterous and dangerous. Ironically, Cawthorn said he had looked up to some of the people involved - considering this and his political affiliation it's clear he was referring to Republican senators.
Right narrative
Cawthorn went too far. Although the minority leader also called out Cawthorn's recent negative comments about Zelenskyy, he has stopped short of withdrawing support for Cawthorn's re-election bid.
Narrative C
Cawthorn has consistently been peddling a new brand of Trumpism. On one hand he vows to respect his office. On the other hand, he's used inflammatory far-right rhetoric. Cawthorn's savvy, sometimes Q'anon-adjacent statements are dangerous yet he might drive the very future of the GOP.
