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Transcript: Congressman Peter Meyer "Face the Nation"

Meijer: Democratic Support for Trump-Backed Opposition Could Backfire

Below is a transcript of an interview with GOP Rep. Peter Meijer of Michigan on "Face the Nation" which aired on Sunday, August 7, 2022.

Margaret Brennan: Michigan Congressman Peter Meyer is among his 10 who voted to impeach former President Trump following attacks on Capitol He is one of the Republicans in the House of Representatives. Last Tuesday, he lost a primary to a pro-Trump challenger. Rep. Meijer is with us this morning from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Good morning, Senator. The primary was won by an election denier named John Gibbs, who is endorsed by former President Trump. Why do you think Michigan Republicans supported him?

REP. PETER MEIJER: Good morning, Margaret. And like you said, I lost the primary. I take responsibility for that. But former President Trump wasn't the only one in the campaign, as the Democratic Congressional Election Commission spent about $500,000 to boost him in the first spending of the 2022 midterm elections. Important to note. So there was a scenario where not only did the former president turn against me, but in a rare case of bipartisan unity, Nancy Pelosi and the House Democratic Election Committee also banded together to try to get me out of the vote. . Now, this highlights the cynicism and hypocrisy of our politics today. And frankly, you'll never know what the ultimate impact was, but the fact that our ruling establishment is left-wing and the far-right has their arms tied firmly means that our politics in 2022 will change.

Margaret Brennan ``Yes, you are talking about the campaign of the Democratic Congressional Committee. spent $325,000 to boost Mr. Gibbs, which was about the same as Mr. Gibbs spent on his entire campaign. But do you think the ad really made a difference? I mean, the Democrats aren't voting in this primary. It's the Republican Party. Michigan Republicans.

Rep.: Well, you know, of course, I think there's an agency problem here. , was not intended to be played on MSN, BC, it was not done where Democratic voters might see it, it upset key Republican voters and my key challenge I added that my defeat was about 3%, losing less than 4,000 out of over 100,000 votes. And having a pro-Trump challenger in a party where President Trump still holds over 75% approval is clearly competing with very strong headwinds. The message is to focus on the essence of what I have accomplished in the office.I am proud that our office is on track to set the record for the most bills signed by freshmen. And that's one of the fundamental challenges we have as a country, and frankly, it's frustrating for Michigan families. 

MARGARET BRENNAN: But that means --

REP. It focuses above all on rhetoric and personality.

Margaret Brennan: Do you think the Democrats get what they paid for here? Right. So they're betting that it's easier to beat them. Mr. Gibbs than you. Will your district go Democratic?

REP. MEIJER: Keep in mind that this is the constituency where President Biden won by about nine points in his 2020. So I think there was certainly some cynical calculation with Democratic intervention, but it's a risky strategy. It's a dangerous strategy. That strategy is hard to understand because it's in the ditch where President Biden is endorsing it - it's easy to see that strategy backfire in spectacular ways... the political consensus. We should not accept the idea that if we can keep the problem alive and exacerbating it, if we can gain a small advantage in the process, it somehow equates to victory. Frankly, I think it's a dark, ironic view of our politics that he was rejected by 48% of voters here in the primary. They objected to the irony of focusing on someone working to get results.

Margaret Brennan: Republican colleague Liz Cheney is about to run her August 16 primary in her state. Her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, released the video.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney (SOT): "In our country's 246-year history, no one has been a greater threat to our country than Donald Trump. Tried to steal an election.Violence to stay in power after voters rejected him.He's a coward.A real man won't lie to his supporters.Most Republicans do it

MARGARET BRENNAN: Is Mr Cheney correct? That's because Republicans are more likely to vote for a candidate who has the endorsement of the former president, 57% of Republicans told her CBS News. A former president, a Republican leader, or the greatest threat to our republic.

Rep. MEIJER: Certainly, President Trump wants to keep this number. He wants that degree of influence, and I mentioned earlier the common cause between the extremes of the right and the ruling class of the left. Nancy Pelosi, I think she wakes up every day and crosses her fingers that Donald Trump is running for office in 2024, that he will announce well before the midterm elections. Colleagues don't want it. They want it to be President Trump's referendum, and I think former President Trump wants it too.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, we'll look at that primary. Members of Parliament, thank you for joining us today. we will be back soon.

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