Fox News contributor Ari Fleischer threw in the towel on behalf of Republicans, declaring the GOP unable to govern after Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was removed as the top lawmaker in the House on Tuesday.
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) filed a motion to vacate the chair, thus triggering a vote on McCarthy’s fate. Eight Republicans joined 208 Democrats in voting to give the speaker the heave-ho. Meanwhile, 210 Republicans voted to keep the speaker in his post.
The drama led to condemnations of the GOP hardliners from conservatives including former President Donald Trump to Fox News host Greg Gutfeld.
Fleischer piled on during Tuesday’s Special Report on Fox News.
“Look at what’s happened today,” he said. “I wanna step back for some perspective. I was at the White House when Senator Trent Lott – then the Senate majority leader – had to resign under pressure. And he was replaced and life moved forward. The difference, though, was it was a much more unified Republican party at the time. The Republican Party today just can’t govern.”
Fleischer pointed to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s tenure, in which at times her party also had a slim majority.
“Nancy Pelosi with a five-vote majority – she was able to govern,” he said. “The Democrats have become the party of discipline and the Republicans have become the party that lacks discipline. And the reason for that is
He then ripped Gaetz for likely being unable to deliver the votes to implement what he wants done – and also for initiating the drama.
“So, there used to be a party called the Know-Nothings, and now I think Matt Gaetz is leading the party called do-nothings and that’s where Republicans are,” he concluded.
The chamber has until mid-November to pass spending legislation to avert a government shutdown, pending the approval of the Democratic-controlled Senate and White House.
Watch above via Fox News.