This new political ad by the Republican Accountability Project reveals that although Joe McCarthy is long dead, the same cannot be said about McCarthyism – this time using Kevin McCarthy as its host.
"In the 1950s, McCarthyism was dividing this country," the ad's narrator begins. "Senator Joe McCarthy deceived America, pushing a lie that our government was being taken over by communist spies. He gaslit America to advance his own political career."
Cut to a photo of Kevin McCarthy, "the new McCarthy."
"McCarthyism is back," the narrator warns. "Just like Joe, Kevin McCarthy is gaslighting Americans. He protects white nationalists, anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists, while he white-washes January 6th – all to advance his political power. Americans must once again stand up and ask, 'Have you no sense of decency, sir?'"
The ad almost gets it right. But there's a big difference between the two McCarthys in that Joe was acting on his own, whereas in Kevin's case, he's just Trump's pitiful puppet. And we all know what eventually happens to all of Trump's puppets — they end up in the cornfield.