McCarthy's Benghazi Gaff Has Republicans Scrambling

Democrats are pretty excited right now about Congressman Kevin McCarthy’s recent comments on the Benghazi select committee. His comments on the nature of the House select committee seemed to be a slip-up, upsetting republicans and confirming recent criticism of McCarthy that he is inexperienced and unqualified to be Speaker of the House. McCarthy's rise to the top has been surprisingly rapid, he would be the least experienced speaker of the House in over 100 years.

McCarthy went on Fox News to speak with Sean Hannity who was pressing him to cite an achievement by House Republicans. McCarthy basically said that the Benghazi select committee has succeeded in lowering Hillary Clinton’s poll numbers by indicting her credibility.

“Everyone thought that Hillary was unbeatable, right? But we put together a Benghazi special committee. A select committee. What are her numbers today? Her numbers are dropping. Why? Because she's untrustable. But no one would have known any of that had happened, had we not fought."

The interview went viral and has gotten coverage from both sides of the aisle.

Democrats are arguing that this was an admission that there was some kind of political motivation behind the select committee which they have been saying the whole time. Republicans, however, are trying to pick up the pieces and cover their tracks.

Jason Chaffetz, a Republican and Oversight and Government Reform Chairman told CNN, “I don’t think it disqualifies him but I think it’s an absolute terrible statement. I think he should apologize.”

Jeb Bush said, “That’s the problem with Washington right now. They’re grasping to find something to say that they’ve done something positive. Well first of all that’s not positive and second of all that’s not the intent.”

Hillary Clinton is scheduled to head to Capitol Hill later this month to testify before lawmakers on Benghazi. This criticism of the Benghazi select committee is likely to help her case. Her aids have jumped on the opportunity to use this criticism of McCarthy to bolster her.

Press secretary for Hillary Clinton, Brian Fallon, released a statement saying, “This committee, masquerading to look into the deaths of four brave Americans we lost in Benghazi, is actually a taxpayer funded sham.”

In response to the comments, Hillary Clinton said, “I have to tell you, I find them deeply distressing. This was always meant to be a partisan, political, exercise.” It’s clear that McCarthy’s comments have fueled criticism of the committee in a way that will undermine the Republicans.