‘Interesting Verbal Gymnastics’: CNN Anchor Throws Down With GOP Congressman Arguing Democrats Took Down McCarthy

CNN anchor Brianna Keilar threw down Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) on Wednesday on whether or not Democrats or Republicans ousted Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) earlier in the month.

Keiler brought Scott on to discuss Rep. Jim Jordan’s (R-OH) failed bids to become speaker, noting that Scott “lost the conference nomination to Jordan last week but is now firmly behind Jim Jordan.”

“Thanks so much for being with us. Should he keep going? Should Jim Jordan continue, as his aides say he will?” Keilar asked to begin the interview.

“Oh, yes. I think he’s going to continue. And if you remember what happened last time, I think it took Speaker McCarthy somewhere around 14 rounds. Brianna, we shouldn’t be in this position. I mean, 208 Democrats voted with eight Republicans to put us here,” Scott replied.

“But let me ask you, sir, he was never, McCarthy was never in a hole this deep,” Keilar noted.

“But Speaker McCarthy was elected and he was the Speaker of the House. He was the largest Republican fundraiser ever for us House Republicans. I mean, the Democrats knew what they were doing when they put up 208 votes to take him out of out of the speakership. And that’s what created the current situation that we’re in,” Scott replied, again blaming the Democrats for McCarthy’s ouster.

“They didn’t take him out of the speakership. I mean, you guys are the majority, right?” Keilar followed up.

“Ninety-six percent of the votes came from Democrats. So, Brianna, I mean, I mean, just factually speaking, there were only eight Republicans and there were 208 Democrats. I mean, 208 Democrats,” Scott shot back.

“But, sir, who’s in the majority?” Keilar demanded.

“Well, the Democrats were the majority of that vote,” Scott replied.

“Who’s in the majority in the House of Representatives?” Keilar pressed.

“The Republicans are in the majority. But the Democrats provided the majority of the votes to take Kevin McCarthy out of the speakership,” Scott replied, unmoved.

“Republicans provided the key votes. They’re in the majority. They can provide enough votes, obviously, to put a Republican speaker,” Keiler retorted.

The two continued sparring over the point as Keilar eventually said, “It’s some interesting verbal gymnastics. I will give you that. But I want to talk about the future here.”

Scott shot back, “I’m just talking about the facts.”

“I’m talking about how it works,” Keilar replied.

“I’m not sure what I’m missing here with you, because 208 Democrats voted with eight Republicans to take the largest Republican fundraiser out of the speakership,” Scott insisted.

“Here’s why, sir, because it was a Republican who filed the motion to vacate,” Keilar replied.

“It was a Republican that had very, very personal differences with Kevin McCarthy,” Scott shot back in reference to Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

After a long pause from both sides, Keilar then moved on to discuss Jim Jordan.

Watch the full clip above via CNN.