Newt had great success in the mid nineties with the "Contract with America", a simple and short list of things the Republicans were obligated to do in exchange for having been given control of congress.
Now comes minority leader McCarthy in the House, offering us the "Commitment to America".
Clearly he is trying to get some of that "contract" magic, but interestingly, without using the word "contract". Originality is overrated. He could just call it the "Second Contract with America" and everyone would understand, and if that original agenda still has any historical good reverb, well he could MAXIMIZE that with "Second Contract" language.
The problem? The word "contract". It is TOO MUCH OF A COMMITMENT for our modern Republican Party. While it isn't actually a legal contract, using that word carries the weight of something that they can be held accountable for, something they are truly obligated to do. That is WHY Newt USED the word, to let the voters know the elected Republicans would be ACCOUNTABLE for doing these things on the list.
And that is precisely why McCarthy is NOT using the word.
He wants the voters to BELIEVE they are committed to accomplishing the agenda items on the list, but he's squeamish about the strength of the word and its implied obligation.
So he used a more emotional word. "Commitment". It's like a description of a feeling. With this word, they can still claim to be committed to achieving these things, but... if its taking them awhile, or they miss out on opportunities to do them, or they seem like they forgot what they said, they can conveniently reiterate that they are COMMITTED.
It's rather like the "commitment ceremony" couples perform when they don't want to get MARRIED. I'm committed to you, darling... until I don't feel it anymore, and then, oh well, move along, nothing to see here.
Newt's "Contract with America" was explained clearly. If we fail to accomplish these things on our list, vote us out, he said. McCarthy doesn't go near that line. And he doesn't use "promise" either, which has the same strength of obligation.
Once again, McCarthy reveals he is not the guy to lead the Republican contingent in the House. I wonder how much they paid marketing consultants to choose the word "commitment".
Jim Jordan for speaker.