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Fox News host Sean Hannity got into a screaming match with Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert over her refusal to back GOP Rep. Kevin McCarthy for speaker of the House.
During a tense interview on Wednesday night, Hannity and Boebert began discussing the House adjourning until Thursday, when they will attempt to choose a speaker on a seventh ballot. McCarthy has failed to receive 218 votes because 20 House Republicans, including Boebert, have refused to support him.
Below is a transcript of the tense exchange:
HANNITY: “Alright, time now tonight for the ‘Hannity Hot Seat,’ and tonight we’re joined by a Republican who opposed Kevin McCarthy’s bid for Speaker on every single ballot, that is Colorado congresswoman Lauren Boebert. She says negotiations with McCarthy have been ongoing since the summer, but that her demands are not being taken seriously. Meanwhile, Kevin McCarthy’s camp is now reportedly trying to determine which of the 20 votes against him are because of a policy disagreement versus a personal vendetta. Here now with reaction is Congresswoman Boebert. Congresswoman, let me — Townhall quoted you today saying, ‘President…’ — you said complimentary things about President Trump — ‘…needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that, ‘Sir, you do not have the votes, it’s time to withdraw.’’ Let me turn the tables, Congresswoman. Kevin McCarthy has 202, 203 votes. Your side has 20. So, if I’ll use your words and your methodology and your math, isn’t it time for you to pack it in and your side to pack it in considering he has over 200 and you have 20?”
BOEBERT: “Sean, I understand the frustration, I promise you, but — “
HANNITY: “I’m not frustrated. You didn’t answer my question.”
BOEBERT: “And we’re hearing — we’re hearing from many people who are still voting with Kevin McCarthy —“
HANNITY: “You’re not answering my question.”
BOEBERT: “ — who are very supportive of what we’re doing and they’re cheering us on. So there are more for us than against us. They’re waiting for Kevin to cave. You know, the American people are certainly frustrated by — “
HANNITY: “I’m frustrated that you’re not answering a direct question. You said to President Trump, you said earlier today that President Trump needs to tell Kevin McCarthy — “
BOEBERT: “Kevin McCarthy doesn’t have the votes. We need come up with a consensus candidate to elect as speaker of the House.”
HANNITY: “Can I finish? Can I finish? ‘You don’t have the votes and it’s time to withdraw.’ He has 203. Your side has 20. Why is it time for him to withdraw and not you when he has so many votes?”
BOEBERT: “Well, Sean, He needs 218. He doesn’t have 218. We’ve been trying to — “
HANNITY: “Neither do you.”
BOEBERT: “We have tried to work it out in private, as you said, for months. But Kevin McCarthy didn’t want to listen to us until his disappointing midterms. We all want a unified party, but this isn’t chaos, it’s a functioning constitutional republic. When everything is said and done, House Republicans will be stronger and better prepared to lead than we ever have before. I believe this is what our Founding Fathers intended and this is showing that our votes are working. Our votes aren’t just cast to anoint Hakeem.”
WATCH:
WATCH: Sean Hannity and Lauren Boebert spar over the vote for House speakerpic.twitter.com/5pyujTmWF0
— Patriot Alerts (@alerts___) January 5, 2023
HANNITY: “Okay. Congresswoman, I ask you not to filibuster. Yesterday you voted and Jim Jordan was your choice. Today it was Byron Donald who’s your choice. Tomorrow I don’t know who you will vote for. The bottom line is, you still only have 20 votes. Let me ask you this. Kevin McCarthy — “
BOEBERT: “I think we’re proving that we’re open to a menu of options. Many different people can be Speaker, it’s not just one man.”
HANNITY: “You’re proving that 20 people don’t want Kevin McCarthy at this time. But my question to you is this — “
BOEBERT: “We are proving that there are many options.”
HANNITY: “My question to you is, did you support Kevin McCarthy’s commitments to America? And do you not believe he will follow through on his written promises?”
BOEBERT: “His Commitment to America is not as strong as I would like it to be. We have been working on the rules to change the structure of how Washington, D.C. is run and operated. Sean, you know more than anybody how broken this town is. This is something that we have an opportunity to rebuild, to restructure, and it takes — “
HANNITY: “He gave you what you asked for. And one of the things I’ve been asking people, I’m asking you tonight: Who is your final choice for Speaker? And if you can’t get more than let’s say 30 votes, will you follow your own advice that you’re asking Donald Trump and withdraw?”
BOEBERT: “There are certainly names that are being floated around. Hey, maybe I should nominate President Donald j. Trump tomorrow. But, Sean, I did watch your show last night — “
HANNITY: “Is this a game show? Like, we’re going to pick Jim Jordan one day, Donalds the other day, Trump the next day?”
BOEBERT: “No, no, no, listen, I want to set the motion straight on this motion to vacate, because he did not give us this motion to vacate. I am showing there is a whole consensus of other candidates to be nominated. But this motion to vacate, Sean, you need to understand that Kevin McCarthy did not give us my hard red line.”
HANNITY: “He fought for it.”
BOEBERT: “And this is a century-old — no, he did not.”
HANNITY: “I know that he made the promise.”
BOEBERT: “This is a centuries-old rule that was written by Thomas Jefferson, and every Speaker since 1837 —“
HANNITY: “I know he made the promise because —“
BOEBERT: “With five members, Sean. With five members. Not one member offered the motion to vacate. He’s following Nancy Pelosi’s precedence.”
HANNITY: “You haven’t answered my question. So, if you have — yesterday you supported Jordan, today you’re supporting Donalds — “
BOEBERT: “You cannot demand more responsibility and then want less accountability, Sean. That’s not the way this works. We need a check and a balance on the third in line for the presidency. Look, Sean, I want — “
HANNITY: “Who is your final — let’s have a final answer. Who do you want to be speaker of the House?”
BOEBERT: “I’m willing to have conversations with the Republican Conference to come up with a consensus candidate. We are offering people, right now — it doesn’t have to be a member of the Freedom Caucus, it doesn’t even have to be a solid conservative — “
HANNITY: “By the way, more than half of the Freedom Caucus supports McCarthy. So you don’t have — you don’t even have a name and we’re now going into day three?”
BOEBERT: “Because there are people who are afraid. When are you threatened by committee chairmen to not be placed, by steering members to not be placed on a committee — “
HANNITY: “Oh my gosh. Let me ask a final question. If your final candidate —
BOEBERT: “And when you have people making threats like that, it’s difficult to make that decision. But we’re going to get there. I’m fine doing this. We’re in day two, it’s okay. The government isn’t spending money, sending it to Ukraine, so the American taxpayers are certainly winning.”
HANNITY: “‘ — he doesn’t have 218, so you need to ask him to withdraw. If by Friday you and your group of 20 don’t have a name with 30 votes, is it time for you to withdraw. And if not, why do you support a double standard? Last question.”
BOEBERT: “Kevin McCarthy does not have 218 votes. Kevin McCarthy will not be Speaker.”
HANNITY: “And you have 20.”
BOEBERT: “I — Kevin McCarthy does not have 218. Listen, when we get this right — “
HANNITY: “I asked you a very specific question. If by Friday you don’t have 30 — “
BOEBERT: “I will not, Sean. I will not withdraw. Our asks were not petty of Kevin McCarthy, they were not self-serving. We simply were asking for commitments on what the American people want to see. They want to see a vote on term limits, a vote on the Texas border plan to secure the southern border. And for crying out loud, Sean, we asked for a vote on a budget that actually balances. Imagine, imagine a Congress that stops spending money that we don’t have. We will get this right and we will get the right Speaker, Sean.”
HANNITY: “But you’re telling Kevin McCarthy and the 203 people that support him to withdraw because they don’t have 218. That is what you’re saying?”
BOEBERT: “I’m not going to support Kevin McCarthy, Sean. I’m not going to support Kevin McCarthy.”
