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With new film, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger slams Kevin McCarthy as Trump’s ‘chief enabler’ after Jan. 6

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With new film, former Rep. Adam Kinzinger slams Kevin McCarthy as Trump's 'chief enabler' after Jan. 6
TORONTO —

As a cinephile who has witnessed the political landscape shift like the scenes in a Hollywood blockbuster, I can confidently say that “The Last Republican” documentary sheds an enlightening and poignant light on the intricacies of power plays within the GOP. The narrative is compelling, painting a vivid picture of the complex dynamics between former Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Kevin McCarthy, and the larger-than-life figure of Donald Trump.

In a fresh documentary about his last stint in Congress, ex-Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger from Illinois – who had earlier voted for then-President Trump’s impeachment following the January 6, 2021 insurrection and later served on the bipartisan committee probing the attack – claims that there is one individual behind Trump regaining power within the GOP. However, it isn’t Trump himself.

In simpler terms, “Representative Adam Kinzinger states in ‘The Last Republican,’ which will be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday, that Donald Trump was insignificant. There were no attendees when he departed from [Joint Base] Andrews, according to him. However, this all changed when Kevin McCarthy visited Mar-a-Lago.

One of the many references made in the movie is a jab at the former House speaker, and it specifically points to McCarthy’s meeting with the ex-president at his Florida club in January 2021.

Originally an ally and friend of McCarthy’s, Kinzinger now accuses the ex-congressman from Bakersfield of facilitating the comeback of the “discredited” Trump in politics. (He labels as nonsense the idea that the Mar-a-Lago meeting was just a coincidence.)

Later in the movie, Kinzinger admits, “To be truthful, I’m more frustrated with Kevin McCarthy than with Donald Trump.

Under the guidance of director Steve Pink, who is known for “Hot Tub Time Machine”, the movie titled “The Last Republican” offers an insightful look at the Jan. 6 committee hearings, portraying the repercussions that Congressman Adam Kinzinger and his family endured due to their opposition against the Republican Party’s MAGA faction.

As a passionate cinephile, I can’t help but share an intriguing tidbit about one of my favorite documentaries that premiered at TIFF. In a pre-release interview, Pink revealed some fascinating insights. Among those relationships he mentioned were friendships with like-minded conservative lawmakers, such as McCarthy, who extended a unique gesture by offering to officiate Kinzinger’s wedding.

According to Pink, Adam made numerous sacrifices – in his professional life, some personal relationships with family members, and even within his social circle. This commentary was made in relation to a phone call where McCarthy, speaking to Republican House members, abruptly dismissed Kinzinger’s question regarding the tense atmosphere preceding January 6. Pink further explained that their rift, clearly evident, wasn’t only emotional – it’s unfortunate when a friendship ends like this – but also due to how their friendship came to an end.

During the same conversation, Kinzinger expounded upon his criticism of McCarthy, a former congressman who resigned following his removal as Speaker of the House in October 2023.

Following the occurrences on January 6th, Kinzinger stated that Republicans were at a crossroads, comparing it to a classic western showdown: “Should we proceed without Trump, or must we stay tied to him?

After Kevin stepped foot at Mar-a-Lago or when the image of him with Trump emerged, there was a palpable sense that he had made up his mind. Essentially, Kevin chose to revive Donald Trump’s political career because Donald had the financial resources and it was the quickest path for Kevin to become Speaker since he lacked the time to challenge the MAGA faction and secure the 218 votes necessary. In essence, if becoming Speaker was his sole objective, then this was the easiest choice for him. At that moment, the atmosphere in the conference noticeably shifted towards acceptance – ‘Well, I suppose we’re doing this again.’ It’s crucial to recognize that, while Donald Trump is portrayed as the villain here, Kevin McCarthy functions more like his facilitator in this narrative.

Kinzinger found McCarthy’s support for Trump on a personal level, not just due to their past relationship, but because he perceived it as prioritizing personal aspirations above the nation’s well-being.

He informed The Times that there’s no limit to what he’ll do for himself, implying he lacks moral principles. He struck a bargain with the devil, and as with all such deals, you receive something temporarily until the devil demands repayment. In this case, Kevin faced his repayment when he was ousted from office. Considering his ethical lapses, he enjoyed eight months as speaker and retains the title for life. I hope it was worth it to him. I doubt it was.

McCarthy could not be reached for comment.

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2024-09-07 14:07

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