You're Wrong There!': Louie Gohmert Battles Fox News Anchor Over Who's to Blame for the Mess in Washington

Texas Congressman Louie Gohmert got into a tense back-and-forth Saturday with Fox New’s Arthel Neville over who is to blame for the partial government shutdown and the frightening possibility of a debt-ceiling breach.

The Republican Congressman insisted that President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies in the U.S. Senate are responsible for the current mess in the nation’s capital.

Late on New Year's Day, Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Texas, takes the stairs at the Capitol on his way to meet with other House Republicans, Jan. 1, 2013 (Credit: AP)

“The party’s brand was hurt with TARP,” said Gohmert, “was hurt with so many things, but especially two and a half years ago when we made an offer to cut some of the massive overspending, and the President and Harry Reid (D-NV) said, ‘Nope, it’s our way or the highway.’”

The Fox News anchor wasn’t satisfied with Rep. Gohmert’s analysis.

“You’re not saying that either, Congressman?” Neville said. “Let’s have some honest talk here.”

The Congressman repeated that it's the Democrats, especially Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who have been dishonest negotiators throughout the entire shutdown ordeal.

“Harry Reid saying that there’s a bunch of firebrands and radicals in the House?” he said. “That’s not the case. We are together, but the hijacking has been the U.S. Senate by left-wing radicals who want to keep spending grandchildren’s money.”

Neville tried to move the conversation forward.

“I appreciate your passion,” she said. “And of course we’re not suggesting -- everybody has great suggestions. We have to mix and match.”

“No, you’re wrong there, you’re wrong there!” the Congressman interrupted. “Tell me what the president has suggested. Tell me what Harry Reid has suggested. They have not made one good suggestion, not one, other than total capitulation.”

“Any way out of this, sir?” she asked.

“Yes!” Rep. Gohmert said. “Have them start compromising. We’ve compromised over and over. We got to the point where we said, ‘Okay, here’s the deal. Here’s our negotiators’ conferees. That’s what the law requires.’ Harry Reid would not even appoint conferees as the law requires.”

“They asked you to come back to the table with some clean suggestions,” the anchor responded.

“Clean is not clean,” Rep. Gohmert said. “It’s pretty nasty.”

Unfortunately, the Congressman wasn’t able to finish his thought because the network had to cut to a commercial break. Neville assured her audience that they did not cut him short to avoid debate:

(H/T: Mediaite)

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Featured image Getty Images. This post has been updated.

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