Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., engaged in a heated exchange on CNN Wednesday over the results of the midterm elections.
The midterm elections dealt a major setback to President Donald Trump and the Republican Party as Democrats retook control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, while also winning several key gubernatorial races, including Texas, where Democrat Gina Hinojosa defeated Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.
Though Raskin celebrated the Democrats’ victories as a way to help the American people, Crenshaw argued that Senate Democrats had refused to pass widely supported legislation ahead of the elections. He pointed to the Stop Insider Trading Act as an example and said Trump would likely sign it if the bill reached his desk, prompting Raskin to criticize the administration.
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“You think he would?” Raskin remarked. “Let’s mark that down. Because their whole administration is about insider trading.”
“You’re missing the point,” Crenshaw replied.
“No, you’re missing the point. And you guys lost the election because you missed the point,” Raskin said.
Crenshaw accused Democrats of refusing to pass legislation in an effort to make Republicans look bad ahead of the election. Although Raskin and CNN host Dana Bash noted during the segment that Republicans controlled both chambers of Congress and the White House, Crenshaw repeatedly reminded Raskin that most legislation requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster in the Senate, more than Republicans held before the election.
Raskin, however, accused Crenshaw and Senate Republicans of covering for Trump.
“You guys didn’t want to pass anything, you just wanted to support Donald Trump’s corruption!” Raskin exclaimed.
“What does that even mean? Stop talking!” Crenshaw said.
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“Well, it means something to the American people! Look at the election results!” Raskin said.
“Are you capable of doing anything but talking just in talking points? Do you actually have facts? I’m reading bills. I’m doing actual policy discussions. You’re just yelling. Are you confused?” Crenshaw said.
Crenshaw continued to mock Raskin for claiming the Democratic Party could tackle affordability, pointing out that Democrats still had not secured 60 votes in the Senate after the midterm elections.
“Tell me, how you’re gonna do affordability? How are you gonna do that?” Crenshaw said.
“Well, we’re going to start by getting rid of your illegal tariffs. That’s the first thing which have driven up prices. Then we’re going to try to end your illegal war —” Raskin said.
“Again, civics lesson: you can’t pass laws. You don’t have 60 votes in the Senate. So, how do I need to remind you of that?” Crenshaw said.
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The two continued to argue until Bash intervened, saying she appreciated hearing a debate about policy issues.
“As heated as this has gotten, I have to say it is actually nice to hear the debate of issues and ideas, because we don’t hear that enough,” Bash said.
White House spokesman Matthew Middleton told Fox News Digital, “Under President Trump’s leadership, this administration has signed the largest working-class tax cuts in history, cut the cost of prescription drugs, added more than one million private-sector jobs, and locked in nearly 20 trade deals.”
“Moving forward, the President will work with anyone willing to advance solutions that strengthen our economy and put more money back in the pockets of American workers,” he added. “We hope Democrats will put the American people first and join us in that effort.”
“Raskin loves seeing himself on camera,” Republican commentator Matt Gorman told Fox News Digital. “He’s a hypocrite of the first order and this exchange exposed it.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the offices of Crenshaw and Raskin for comment but did not immediately receive responses.