News anchor confronts GOP lawmaker's hypocrisy in ludicrous take-down

Senator Rick Scott (R-Fla.) struggled to explain his sudden support for the removal of the Senate filibuster — despite Scott opposing similar nuclear options when Democrats were in the Senate majority.

Scott’s collapse began when he complained of Senate Democrats blocking votes on bills favored by President Donald Trump.

“They use this 60-vote threshold filibuster, which I think we ought to get rid of,” Scott told CNN anchor Kaitlin Collins.

“Just a moment,” interrupted Collins. “Since you mentioned the filibuster and you said you should get rid of it, when Republicans were in the minority you described it repeatedly as vital and necessary to protect minority party’s rights. … Why do you have a different position now that Republicans are in the majority?”

“Well, let's do the filibuster. But it means you talk. I mean, we're not making people talk,” said Scott. “The filibuster was set up – so I'm fine with if we were going to do the filibuster, where people have to talk. The filibuster … was … used to say, we're going to have a conversation. And then at some point, once we're done, we vote. I'm, I'm fine with that. But we don't make people talk. So, if we're not going to make people talk —”

“But Republicans are in charge,” reminded Collins.

“Well, I mean, look, I'm from Florida. This is what I — this is what I believe in. I talk to the people in my state. They agree with me. I've been clear on what I believe,” insisted Scott.

But Scott was equally unclear when asked to explain his shifting position on gerrymandering depending on which party is benefitting from it.

“All this stuff where the redistricting, where Democrats are great, it's all great if it goes on in Virginia, where there's no Republican seats hardly left. But if someplace else they attack it, I mean, I think we ought to say, ‘look, what we don't — what we don't want, we don't want anybody disenfranchised.’ We want everybody to vote,” said Scott.

“Well, I mean, the legislature in Florida passed a plan to create four more Republican leaning seats. Do you think that's fair, or do you think it's disenfranchising people?” asked Collins.

“Kaitlan, I haven't seen the details of it. Um, I mean, we have we have an obligation, um, to have fair districts, you know, whatever they end up doing, it will go through the courts. Uh, and I believe what will happen in Florida is that it will be fair,” said Scott, tipping into a stammer.

“So, you, you're in favor of the new map in Florida?”

“I haven't, I haven't, I haven't seen the details.”

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