Fox News host Sean Hannity fumed at the spectacle of House Republicans failing to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for speaker in three roll-call votes on Friday. (See the video below.)
In fact, Hannity said the conservative squabbling looks like a circus.
“House Republicans are now on the verge of becoming total clowns showing that they are not careful,” Hannity said. “But despite the cheers and glee from the Democrats and the crowd and the media, this is not a dire situation — not yet.”
The new GOP-controlled House, tasked with the usually perfunctory task of electing a speaker, is making history. It was the first time since 1923 that the House did not elect a new speaker on the first ballot, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Overwhelmed by a faction that includes Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) plus all Democrats, the votes fell short of the 218 McCarthy needed to win. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) received the votes, even though he nominated McCarthy.
Hannity, usually a GOP cheerleader, noted that “a small but apparently determined group of lawmakers is now blocking” McCarthy’s election.
Hannity acknowledged McCarthy’s case as “America’s first MAGA agenda, which you like.”
In an appeal to breakaway conservatives, the host said McCarthy would investigate President Joe Biden, oppose the “radical socialization agenda” and clamp down on immigration.
“I keep asking you over and over, what are you looking for?” added Hannity. “What will help you serve your constituents at home? I have been asking many of these members for weeks about this and I rarely get an answer. I usually get radio silence, lots of crickets.