McCarthy Says ‘We’re In a Very Bad Place Right Now’ Thanks to ‘Crazy Members Led By Gaetz’

Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) did not mince words about the state of the House Republican conference on Friday, saying it’s in a tough spot at the moment.

For the third time this week, the House rejected the nomination of Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) for speaker on Friday after insisting on moving ahead with it the day before. Shortly after the vote, the conference removed him as the nominee.

Between the vote and Jordan’s ouster, CNN’s Manu Raju and NBC’s Garrett Haake caught up with McCarthy, who blamed Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and those who voted to remove him as speaker earlier this month. Seven other Republicans joined him.

Here’s the exchange:

RAJU: This went in the wrong direction for Jim Jordan. He clearly does not have the votes to be speaker. He lost votes, more Republican votes. Is it time for him to withdraw?

MCCARTHY: That’s a question for him. I think we’ll go to conference here shortly and see which direction we go in.

RAJU: But is this a problem for your party for him to continue on without a path to the speakership?

MCCARTHY: It’s a problem for the party that we’re in this place to begin with. And it’s four percent [of the Republican conference] – eight members here, crazy members led by Gaetz – that put us in a bad situation.

RAJU: But he’s still running!

HAAKE: At what point do you cut your losses

MCCARTHY: You know, that’s up to Jim. Jim needs to look at it and see where he wants to go.

RAJU: But you have an opinion! You have an opinion! Can’t you [inaudible].

MCCARTHY: Look, you guys work hard at your job. I understand. You work hard.

RAJU: Why won’t you say what you think?

[CROSSTALK]

MCCARTHY: We are in a very bad place right now, yes.

Shortly after the interaction, the GOP conference dropped Jordan.

Watch above via CNN.