House Democrat coughs through live interview

One House Democrat had to cough his way through an appearance on live television Wednesday night.

"Ever have an itch in your throat make you cough uncontrollably?" Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) tweeted. 

Connolly, speaking to a local news station, struggled to answer questions about the "fiscal cliff" and the chance for both parties to reach an agreement on tax rates and spending cuts before Christmas — but not because he didn't have answers to the questions.

He was given a glass of water, but there was just no soothing that tickle in his throat for most of the four-minute interview.

Ever have an itch in your throat make you cough uncontrollably? Yeah, just happened to me live on @wusa9. Still managed to talk #fiscalcliff

— Gerry Connolly (@GerryConnolly) December 6, 2012

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