Mike Huckabee: Speaker battle shows some politicians don't want change in DC, are subject to donors

Former Arkansas GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee says that the ongoing battle regarding the next House speaker demonstrates how some politicians are subject to the donor class and don't want change in Washington, D.C. 

"In many ways, it is a power play," Huckabee said on the "John Solomon Reports" podcast. "Some of it is not ideological, but there is an ideological tinge to it. There are people who want to make sure that Washington does not significantly change. And by change, I'm not talking about from the left to right, the Democrats, Republicans, liberals and conservatives. They don't want the donor class to lose the power that the donor class has."

Earlier this month, Rep. Kevin McCarthy R-Calif., was ousted by eight Republicans. Many of them initially opposed McCarthy's speakership, and cited recent budget negotiations as the reason for ousting him.

As of now, the House does not currently have a speaker. Rep. Jim Jordan R-Ohio, has lost two rounds of voting. He decided Thursday not to move forward with his bid and instead threw support behind a proposal to elevate Rep. Patrick McHenry R-N.C., from his post as speaker pro tempore to unelected speaker with the powers of the office for a period of time.

"There are many members of Congress that are there because of the donor class," Huckabee explained. "They have remained there because of the donor class. They're in power and they have positions because of the donor class. The last thing they can afford is for there to be a downgrading or even a demise of the donor class."

When asked if those opposing a Jordan speakership are doing so because they are afraid Jordan would actually cut government spending, Huckabee said he wouldn't be too surprised if that were the reason. 

"There's no doubt that that's a part of it," he said. "If it's all about that, I don't know. But I do think that there are people who fear that there could be a level of transparency that we simply don't have and haven't had, in probably forever, where the citizens can know exactly when they watched the votes who voted for what and how did that money actually get used? It's a messy process."