Even though about 200 Republicans were willing to vote for Kevin McCarthy to be House speaker without any concessions, none were as openly vitriolic against the 20 principled holdouts as Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX).
In a bitterly hostile interview, he called the conservative lawmakers “terrorists” and vowed that he wouldn’t apologize for his hateful rhetoric.
Here’s an excerpt of his tirade, as reported by Fox News Radio:
They are standing for notoriety. They’re standing for that extra news that because nobody ever cares about them and they’re frustrated by that, and they want that extra news that we know that we can’t give in to this because then they will always run the conference and they’ll just get another scalp and another scalp, whether it’s whether it’s Boehner or Paul Ryan or them McCarthy. Scalise would just be next and we all know it. We just can’t allow that to happen. That’s why those of us are saying like, look, you pushed us into this corner. So now we’re now we’re saying we won’t vote for anyone but McCarthy. That’s why we’re saying it, because we cannot let the terrorists win. That’s basically what’s happening. And I do have to go.
He was ultimately forced to make a half-hearted apology, but it was clearly not enough to satisfy those who wanted him to pay a political price for his divisive comments.
Hey @DanCrenshawTX , I for one am very disappointed, but not surprised that you called Republican holdouts in the House, "terrorists." Glad I decided not to play your event last year. https://t.co/FQHc71e7wA
— John Rich🇺🇸 (@johnrich) January 9, 2023
Who thinks Dan Crenshaw is the next RINO we need to Primary come next election?
— TEAM USA 🇺🇸 (@__TEAM_USA) January 10, 2023
Been punching walls, @DanCrenshawTX?
You mad, bro? #SpeakerVotes pic.twitter.com/HdzkXO3xhr— Just Keith / YouTube.com/AtTheMicWithKeith (@KeithMalinak) January 7, 2023
.@DanCrenshawTX how come you think it’s acceptable to get drunk on the floor of the house, punch walls on the floor of the House till your knuckles bleed, and then skip the rules package vote? If you are an Alcoholic with war time mental distress, then please resign and get help. https://t.co/JpBqVr1Hdh pic.twitter.com/9E5Ho1Co7r
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) January 10, 2023
Eyepatch McCain @DanCrenshawTX is sorry for calling his colleagues terrorists. He’s an idiot that doesn’t know any better. The host even has to finish his sentences for him. 🤡 pic.twitter.com/UzNxeXMThe
— 🇺🇸Will🇺🇸 (@notBilly) January 9, 2023
Although it remains to be seen whether his constituents will ultimately vote him out of office, he has been stripped of a coveted position as chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
HUGE CONSERVATIVE WIN!
The Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee will NOT be Dan Crenshaw as previously expected!
He FAILED in his bid.
— Lavern Spicer 🇺🇸 (@lavern_spicer) January 9, 2023
Here’s more from Just The News:
House Republicans rejected Texas GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw to chair the House Homeland Security Committee following his much-maligned labeling of dissident GOP lawmakers as “terrorists.”
Crenshaw was a vocal critic of House Republicans who opposed the leadership of now-House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and repeatedly derided them as “grifters” and “performance artists” last week while McCarthy struggled to win over their support. His vitriol reached a peak in a Wednesday interview with Fox News’ Guy Benson in which he referred to them as “terrorists.” He has since apologized.
Here’s a little more from his apparently coerced apology on CNN, of all places, on Sunday:
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