Republican Claims Kevin McCarthy Mocked Him For Praying Over Decision, So He Voted To Oust Him As Speaker

Representative Tim Burchett claims former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy mocked him for praying over his decision on how to vote on the motion to vacate the speakership.

As a result, Burchett (R-TN) got the answer he was seeking in prayer, and became one of just eight Republicans voting to oust McCarthy.

“I was going down two paths,” Burchett explained to reporters. “I said one was keeping my friendship with Kevin McCarthy. And two was my conscience.”

“I said I would be praying about it. And I do, I ask God for wisdom,” he added

Burchett claims he and McCarthy spoke on the phone and the imperiled Speaker said “something condescending about my religious beliefs” and that it was “the first thing out of his mouth.”

Here are the 8 Republicans that choose to oust Speaker McCarthy..

Matt Gaetz, Eli Crane, Nancy Mace, Tim Burchett, Andy Biggs, Matt Rosendale, Ken Buck and Bob Good.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM? pic.twitter.com/NBCAdgoLHP

— Chuck Callesto (@ChuckCallesto) October 4, 2023

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Rep. Burchett Claims He Voted To Oust McCarthy Because He ‘Belittled’ His Faith

Burchett did not shy away from his accusation during an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, who seemed shocked that McCarthy would mock the congressman’s faith.

Burchett spoke of possible replacements after voting to oust McCarthy, noting that fellow Representatives Tom Cole (R-OK), Tom Emmer (R-MN), and Steve Scalise (R-LA) are all “excellent choices” to fill the void at Speaker.

“They’re honorable men, to me at least, and they’ve never openly mocked me, anyway,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), one of the eight Republicans who voted to remove Kevin McCarthy as Speaker, tells Jake Tapper that McCarthy mocked him after he said he was praying on a decision, and that’s what sealed his decision to vote against McCarthy. pic.twitter.com/FyGqb9HUI4

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) October 3, 2023

“I’m sorry, but I just find this so shocking,” Tapper reacted. “What exactly did he say to mock your faith, sir?”

Burchett refused to flesh out details but reiterated he had been open about praying about the decision on whether to oust McCarthy.

“I pray for my wife, I pray for my daughter, I pray for my enemies, I pray for the speaker, I pray for this president. When things come up, I pray for his son,” he told Tapper. “As a Christian, that’s what I’m supposed to do.”

“But when someone mocks me like that and mocks my religion, honestly, the bible is pretty clear about God being mocked, so that’s what sealed it right there for me,” he concluded. “I said, this is not the quality or the character of person that I want as speaker of the United States.”

Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN) joins @TheLeadCNN to speak with CNN’s @JakeTapper after the historic vote that ousted Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker. pic.twitter.com/RUoaGJlTGu

— CNN (@CNN) October 3, 2023

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Hates To Lose McCarthy As A Friend, But Says the Country Is More Important

Burchett also posted a video explaining the reasons he felt it was necessary to oust McCarthy as Speaker.

He pointed out that McCarthy is his friend, but he had to make a decision between that friendship and his conscience.

“At some point, we’ve just got to say enough is enough, folks,” he declared. “I hate losing Kevin as a friend, but I worry about losing our country, in all sincerity. We are rapidly approaching that point.”

Rep. Tim Burchett on supporting a Motion to Vacate Speaker McCarthy: “At some point we’ve just got to say enough is enough, folks. I hate losing Kevin as a friend, but I worry about losing our country. And we are rapidly approaching that point.” pic.twitter.com/nhjSq5ZJJO

— TheBlaze (@theblaze) October 3, 2023

In that video, Burchett mentions the exploding national deficit, continued spending, and a lack of urgency to address real issues in making his decision.

He doesn’t make any reference to McCarthy mocking his faith.

While Burchett’s vote wasn’t the game-breaker (the final vote was 216-210), if true, it seems unwise that McCarthy’s defense of staying aboard was mocking somebody’s faith.