Video of McCarthy Belitting Democrats Was Played For House Dems Before Vote on Speaker’s Fate

Video of Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) blaming Democrats for the government’s near-shutdown was reportedly played at Tuesday’s Democratic Caucus meeting as House members prepared to determine the Speaker’s fate.

CNN’s Jake Tapper played an interview McCarthy gave to CBS’ Face The Nation, in which McCarthy said Democrats “tried to do everything they can not to let” the spending bill pass.

“So, here’s the thing,” Tapper said. “Democrats saved his bacon on Saturday! Democrats kept the government open on Saturday!”

Chief political correspondent Dana Bash agreed.

“So, my understanding is that that clip, perhaps others, was played at the beginning of the closed-door Democratic caucus meeting this morning, making the point that you just made, saying, ‘Really? Is this the guy that we want to help bail out? This guy who — and this is just one example of why Democrats are absolutely furious with Kevin McCarthy.” Bash continued:

It’s not just run-of-the-mill partisanship. It’s the fact that he went on television after they saved his bacon and helped, because Republicans weren’t going to keep the government…open. Democrats did. And the fact that he went on and said that was — and that I’m told set the tone for the conversation in this closed-door meeting this morning. And you saw Democrats starting with the leader hakeem Jeffries come out saying the feeling is they’re on their own. If Republicans want to save Kevin Mccarthy, he’s going to have to find the votes inside the Republican conference. I should note that is one example. It’s the most recent example. It is certainly not the whole story.

“No, there’s a long list,” Tapper agreed.

House members were set to vote on whether to vacate the Speaker’s seat on Tuesday afternoon.

Watch the clip above via CNN.