Mere perception of compromising with Democrats to pass liberal legislation derails this strategy.
NC 5/28, News Corpse, “SURPRISE: McCarthy Lies About Debt Ceiling Deal in Desperate Attempt to Save His Shaky Speakership,” Daily Kos, 5/28/23, https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/28/2171921/-SQUEAKER-McCARTHY-Desperately-Lies-About-the-Debt-Ceiling-Deal-to-Save-His-Shaky-Speakership
The morning after it was announced that President Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy reached a deal to avoid a catastrophic debt default, McCarthy began almost immediately misrepresenting the terms of the deal.
McCarthy's speakership - which took a historic 15 votes to achieve - is on thin ice, and any perception by his caucus that he compromised with Biden and the Democrats - a mortal sin in GOP World - could result in his being voted out as Speaker by his own colleagues.
Consequently, McCarthy is spinning like a top as he makes the morning rounds on the Sunday talk shows. However, true to form, he is lying about what the debt ceiling deal entails in order to deceive his fellow Republicans and stave off a revolt that would cost him his job. An interview of Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries by Margaret Brennan on CBS's Face the Nation revealed just how desperate McCarthy is.