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Matt Gaetz wants C-SPAN cameras to STILL roll the drama in Congress after showing the breakdown and near-fighting during the chaotic speaker vote in its entirety.
- Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz wants to keep C-SPAN cameras rolling in the House chamber, calling static government cameras too ‘boomer-fied’
- During the speaker fight last week, they showed collapses and near fights by being able to pan the Chamber’s camera.
- Once House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was elected, C-SPAN again had to broadcast using a government feed, which is aimed primarily at the dais.
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz wants C-SPAN cameras to keep rolling on the House camera despite the cable channel showing meltdowns and near-fights during last week’s speaker drama.
Fox news channel reported on Tuesday that Gaetz said he would offer an amendment that would allow C-SPAN to have its own cameras in the House chamber, since government cameras locked in position to capture only the dais are, in the words of the Florida congressman, ‘ boomer-fied’. ‘
C-SPAN was allowed to bring its own cameras last week because no House rules had been adopted without a speaker being chosen.
That allowed the network to roam the room during high-stakes moments, like when Gaetz voted ‘present’, botching McCarthy’s bid for the presidency for the 14th time, and Rep. Mike Rogers had to stop him from physically attacking Gaetz.
C-SPAN cameras captured moments of high drama during last week’s speech fight, including now-Chairman Kevin McCarthy confronting Rep. Matt Gaetz after the Florida Republican helped sink McCarthy’s bid on the ballot. number 14.
Cameras also captured Rep. Mike Rogers having to avoid getting into a physical altercation with Rep. Matt Gaetz. Gaetz said Tuesday that government cameras are ‘boomer-fied’ as long as they stay in place.
“I got a lot of feedback from constituents about how interesting it was and that they were able to see in real time how our government works, what alliances are being built, what debates are going on, what lively moments drive the action,” Gaetz told Fox. And the view of the pool of Congress is dated and a little bit boomer,” he said, referring to baby boomers.
Gaetz’s call came the same day as C-SPAN co-executive director Susan Swain. wrote a letter to McCarthy asking to bring additional cameras to the chamber.
“We are not proposing to replace the existing home recording system or its outlet,” he wrote. Instead, we ask to install some additional cameras in the Chamber’s chamber. When mixed with existing House production, the footage from our cameras allows us to create a second journalistic product, just as we did last week.”
He also asked that even if the Republican speaker did not want C-SPAN to have their own cameras in the chamber for all House proceedings, McCarthy would consider allowing them in for “key legislative sessions.”
C-SPAN’s Jeremy Art tweeted what C-SPAN watchers would have seen had the cable channel not been allowed to bring its own cameras during the speaker drama last week.
Rep. Matt Gaetz’s call came the same day that C-SPAN co-executive director Susan Swain wrote a letter to McCarthy asking her to bring additional cameras to the chamber.
A copy of the letter was also sent to Majority Leader Steve Scalise and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat.
Previous similar questions from House speakers have fallen on deaf ears.
Gaetz, who was one of the 20 right-wing agitators who nearly cost McCarthy the presidency, also has allies on the progressive left.
Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan, former leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, wrote a “dear colleague” letter obtained by The Hill which he said he would introduce legislation allowing television cameras to actively tour the House chamber.
‘One feature of the new Congress that made this debate so compelling was the fact that cameras recording the US House of Representatives were free to broadcast the entire House during voting and debate, not just the rostrum, well, and the recognized members to speak,’ Pocan wrote. “I hope you will agree that opening our deliberations to the full view of the American people is good for democracy, and that you will join me in this effort.”
In a tweet on MondayIn a preview of the move, Pocan said C-SPAN’s coverage of the 15 speaker votes was “Oscar-worthy.”
As of Monday’s proceedings and votes, C-SPAN reverted to using the official government broadcast.