Crenshaw: "Terrorists" was just a "turn of phrase" to describe my colleagues, or something

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) walks back his comments that Never-Kevin Republicans were "terrorists":

"Things get heated and things get said … To the extent that I have colleagues that were offended by it, I sincerely apologize to them … It's clearly a turn of phrase." pic.twitter.com/yKGHYeQ0Aq

— The Recount (@therecount) January 8, 2023

“Things get heated and things get said,” Crenshaw explained. “Obviously, to the people who took offense by that, it’s pretty obvious that it’s meant as a turn of phrase.”

“A metaphor,” Tapper suggested.

“It in the context of intransient negotiations,” Crenshaw continued.

“I’ve got thick skin. I’m called awful, vile things by the very same wing of the party that I was fighting at that moment. So I was a little taken aback by the sensitivity of it. But to the extent that I have colleagues that were offended by it, I sincerely apologize to them. I don’t want them to think I actually believe they’re terrorists. It’s certainly a turn of phrase that you use in an intransient negotiation.”

[Let’s hope this is a very good object lesson in choosing one’s words carefully in public. Crenshaw will likely spend the next few weeks wiping the egg off his face in the halls of the House. — Ed]