If there’s one thing you can say about Tucker Carlson, it’s that he doesn’t seem to mind going after people who he considers to be on his side. He has a lengthy history of criticizing Republicans with whom he disagrees, whether or not they consent to appear on his show.
And Carlson did it again recently when he mocked Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) by dubbing him “eye-patch McCain.”
SNL actor Pete Davidson made a joke in 2018 that many people didn’t find humorous. He compared Texas Republican Dan Crenshaw, who was running for Congress at the time, to a “hitman in a porno film.”
Crenshaw sports an eyepatch because he lost his right eye to an IED in Afghanistan in 2012. “I’m sorry, “I know he lost an eye in war or whatever,” Davidson continued, drawing laughter from the audience.
Following Davidson’s statements, FOX News host Tucker Carlson lambasted SNL, for which the comic eventually apologized in a public grovel session. Carlson is now using similar terminology to criticize the Texas lawmaker, more than three years later.
During his show on Monday night, Carlson attacked Crenshaw over his support for delivering U.S. aid to Ukraine.
“The more I think about it, it takes a lot of gall for ‘eyepatch McCain’ to attack moms who are worried about baby formula as ‘pro-Russia,’” Carlson said, referencing the late John McCain, the long-time Republican senator, Vietnam War POW, 2008 Republican presidential nominee, and Donald Trump foe.
TUCKER: Dan Crenshaw is “Eyepatch McCain”pic.twitter.com/hh979Zm29J
— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) May 17, 2022
Carlson has previously stated that he is “root[ing] for Russia” and has been dismissive of Congress’s $40 billion aid package for Ukraine. In a separate FOX program, Crenshaw told host Trey Gowdy that some GOP opposition to the bill appears “nearly pro-Russia,” and has criticized those who are against the bill.
This is the conversation between him and Marjorie Taylor Greene that seemed to start it all:
Yeah, because investing in the destruction of our adversary’s military, without losing a single American troop, strikes me as a good idea. You should feel the same,” Crenshaw wrote.
Greene chimed in, saying Crenshaw is funding a “proxy war with Russia.”
“So you think we are funding a proxy war with Russia? You speak as if Ukrainian lives should be thrown away, as if they have no value. Just used and thrown away,” Greene wrote. “For your proxy war? How does that help Americans? How does any of this help?”
“Still going after that slot on Russia Today huh?” Crenshaw fired back.
The exchange shows the small but impactful divide in the Republican Party, where a minority of lawmakers have stood in opposition to multiple bills targeting Russia and supporting Ukraine.
Crenshaw and Greene have had beef in the past, so it’s not surprising they’d clash again. Carlson seemed to take note of his commentary, though, as well as later comments made on Fox News with Trey Gowdy in which Crenshaw dismissed concerns about the baby formula shortage in relation to the Ukraine spending bill.
As per The Daily Wire:
“Do you know how much baby formula $40 billion can buy? None,” Crenshaw told Fox News guest host and former Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy.
Crenshaw was questioned about Tucker Carlson and his alleged role in the Buffalo shooting. He backed the Fox News anchor in response, but also expressed his personal views against him.
“Like, I hate Tucker Carlson. I despise him. But he didn’t cause this, right?” Crenshaw told The Hill. “Like, I think he’s a gross human being. Doesn’t mean that his rhetoric caused it. This was caused by a legitimately crazy person.”
Far-right U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is not the only republican who have argued that Congress should instead focus on trying to solve the baby formula shortage. Also, some Republicans, including former President Donald Trump.
In an emailed statement, Crenshaw said he’s not backing down.
“You hurl juvenile insults when you know you’ve lost the debate,” the Houston Republican said of Carlson’s remarks. “I stand by every word I said in my interview with Trey Gowdy.”
Sources: Dailywire, Thehill, Snopes