CNBC host slammed for ‘softball’ Kevin McCarthy interview: ‘Feels like I’m watching Fox News’
When Donald Trump was president, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy had no problem with the size of the United States' federal deficit. But now that Democrat Joe Biden is president, McCarthy has rediscovered fiscal conservatism. During an appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box" this week, McCarthy vowed to stop Democrats from spending too much on infrastructure — although he was unclear about how he plans to do it.
McCarthy told "Squawk Box" host Joe Kernen, "It'll be over my dead body, because I'm going to do everything in our power to stop it."
"They'll probably even get more. The far left is much stronger. You watch Cori Bush, you watch what AOC does. They hold this Democratic Party hostage to their socialist beliefs and they have won time and again," says @GOPLeader on Democratic bills.pic.twitter.com/YKR7YLykTP— Squawk Box (@Squawk Box) 1629894713
The House minority leader slammed centrist House Democrats for not fighting more aggressively against the amount of infrastructure spending, claiming that they are caving in to the "socialists" in their party.
McCarthy told Kernen, "I think the far left is going to win more…. It is the witching hour….. because the far left is much stronger. You watch Cori Bush, you watch what AOC does. They hold this Democratic Party hostage to their socialist beliefs, and they have won time and again."
Some Twitter users have not only been critical of McCarthy's comments, but also, have criticized Kernen for giving him a "softball" interview and a platform for reciting Trumpian talking points. Here are their comments:
If I wanted to watch Fox News that\u2019s what I\u2019d do\u2026Come on CNBC\u2026it\u2019s time to release JK!— Chuck Gore (@Chuck Gore) 1629895387
Please can anyone recommend another market/ financial tv program at this same time with tv hosts not pedaling for Trumpism?— woman with hat (@woman with hat) 1629895108
\u201cThey only want to hear what's pleasing to them\u201d Thatsn not true at all. We all want to hear tough questions, and all we get from a Kernen interview is ass-kissing softballs.— Michael Dupuis (@Michael Dupuis) 1629896010
The only thing McCarthy ever passed was the notorious #GOPTaxScam, which acted $1.5 trillion to the debt by giving tax breaks to billionaires during a robust recovery. It was one of the most irresponsible pieces of legislation ever passed.— P.D. White (@P.D. White) 1629905197
Yeah, of course Joe \u201csoftball\u201d Kernen does the interview. What a waste of screen time.— Michael Dupuis (@Michael Dupuis) 1629895870
Donald Trump /REPUBLICAN Senators Built a National Debt So Big (Even Before the Pandemic) That It\u2019ll Weigh Down the Economy for Yearshttps://www.propublica.org/article/national-debt-trump\u00a0\u2026— Just Jayne (@Just Jayne) 1629920343
I can\u2019t watch your show anymore. Feels like I\u2019m watching Fox News!— NSimpson (@NSimpson) 1629895721
Really disappointed with you guys for having Kevin McCarthy on today. Propagandist, conspiracy theorist concerning \u201cthe left\u201c, partisan hack. Shame on you guys for having him on and goading him to spew his garbage. Your guy was acting not neutral but like he agreed with him.— M\u0251\u027eis\u0251 \ud83c\udf0d (@M\u0251\u027eis\u0251 \ud83c\udf0d) 1629895017
