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>> MICHIGAN’S KNOCK DOWN,
DRAG-OUT SENATE RACE IS
CONTENTIOUS, TIGHT AND ALL OVER
THE AIRWAVES.
THIS MORNING, CONVERSATIONS WITH
BOTH CANDIDATES, JOHN JAMES AND
GARY PETERS.
PLUS, A MILLION MICHIGANDERS
HAVE ALREADY VOTED TWO WEEKS
BEFORE ELECTION DAY.
WE’LL BREAK DOWN WHAT IT MEANS. TODAY IS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18TH,
TODAY IS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18TH,
2020 AND THIS IS A SPECIAL HOUR
LONG EDITION OF FLASH POINT.
>> DEVIN: WE’RE GOING TO START
THIS MORNING WITH THE REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER FROM MICHIGAN’S SEAT
IN THE U.S. SENATE AND THAT’S
JOHN JAMES.
BACK WITH US AGAIN ON FLASH
POINT.
JOHN JAMES, GOOD TO HAVE YOU
BACK WITH US, THANKS FOR THE
TIME.
>> HEY, GREAT TO BE BACK.
LOOKING FORWARD TO A GREAT
CONVERSATION.
>> DEVIN: I WANT TO START THOUGH
WITH THE CONVERSATION THAT WE
DON’T GET AND I KNOW THAT FOR
MEDIA PEOPLE LIKE ME, THIS IS
MAYBE MORE IMPORTANT AND MORE OF
AN INTEREST THAN IT IS FOR
OTHERS.
I FIND IT ASTONISHING THAT HERE
WE ARE THIS CLOSE TO THE
ELECTION AND WE’VE GOT NO
FACE-TO-FACE DEBATES BETWEEN YOU
AND GARY PETERS AND I WANTED YOU
TO DO IT AS A PART OF FLASH
POINT.
HE’S OFFERED DEBATES YOU HAVEN’T
WANTED AND YOU’VE OFFERED DEBATES HE DOESN’T WANT.
DEBATES HE DOESN’T WANT.
WHY CAN’T WE HAVE A DEBATE?
>> SENATOR PETERS IS COPPING
OUT.
I THINK IT’S TOTALLY
DISRESPECTFUL TO YOU AND TO THE PEOPLE OF STATE OF MICHIGAN THAT
PEOPLE OF STATE OF MICHIGAN THAT
HE’S REFUSING TO DEBATE THAT
HE’S SPENDING MILLIONS LYING
ABOUT. HIGHEST RATED STATIONS, WDIV
HIGHEST RATED STATIONS, WDIV
WHAT’S THE MOST EYEBALLS AND
VIEWERS, AND SENATOR PETERS IS
HIDING.
IT’S THE STATION THAT EVERYBODY
IS DEBATING ON, AND THE GOVERNOR
AND THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
I CHALLENGED SENATOR PETERS FOR
FOUR DEBATES, ONE ON FOX, ONE
CNN, DETROIT AND GRAND RAPIDS
AND HE CAME BACK WITH PUBLIC
ACCESS TELEVISION, THAT’S THE
GREAT THE WAY WE DID IT LAST
TIME AND THESE ARE DIFFERENT
TIMES THAN TWO YEARS AGO AND
PEOPLE DESERVE TO SEE THE
LEADERS WHO THEY’RE GOING TO BE
VOTING FOR AND I THINK THAT
HIDING BEHIND ANYTHING WHEN ALL
EYE WANT TO DO, ALL I WANTED TO
DO WAS ALLOW THE MOST NUMBER OF
MICHIGANDERS TO SEE THIS.
>> DEVIN: I APPRECIATE.
I APPRECIATE THE FONDNESS FOR
CHANNEL 4 OF COURSE, BUT AS THE
CHALLENGER, SHOULDN’T YOU TAKE
WHAT YOU CAN GET? THE PUBLIC TELEVISION DEBATES
THE PUBLIC TELEVISION DEBATES
PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN PICKED
UP STATEWIDE BY A LOT OF OTHER
FOLKS, PERHAPS US INCLUDED, I
WOULD EXPECT.
SHOULDN’T YOU, AS THE
CHALLENGER, SHOULDN’T YOU TAKE WHAT YOU CAN GET?
WHAT YOU CAN GET?
>> SEE, HERE IS THE THING.
THIS ISN’T ABOUT ME, IT’S ABOUT
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF
MICHIGAN.
IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT I SHOULD GET, IT’S ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE
GET, IT’S ABOUT WHAT THE PEOPLE
OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, ON
WDIV WHICH WE ACCEPTED ON WXYZ, WHICH WE ACCEPTED AND WOOD,
WHICH WE ACCEPTED AND WOOD,
WHICH WE ACCEPTED.
HE’S A CAREER POLITICIAN
BENEFITTING ON THE BACKS OF
TAXPAYERS.
REQUEST HE WERE PROUD OF HIS RECORD, WHY WOULDN’T HE WANT
RECORD, WHY WOULDN’T HE WANT
THEM TO SEE IT.
IF HE’S TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT
ME AND NOT LYING WHY WOULDN’T HE
WANT THE MOST PEOPLE OF NUMBER
TO SEE IT. HE’S FRANKLY AFRAID OF HIS
HE’S FRANKLY AFRAID OF HIS
RECORD AND AFRAID OF ME AND IF
HE SAYS HE’LL STAND UP FOR THE
STATE OF MICHIGAN AND NOT STAND
NEXT TO ME AND QUESTION HIM
ABOUT WHAT HE’S TRYING TO HIDE. >> DEVIN: I’M GOING TO ASK HIM
>> DEVIN: I’M GOING TO ASK HIM
ABOUT THE DEBATES LATER ON.
LET’S MOVE INTO ISSUES IF WE
COULD AND OBVIOUSLY THE HEALTH
CARE DEBATE HAS SHAPED A LOT
ABOUT THIS CONTEST BETWEEN THE
TWO OF YOU. >> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> DEVIN: AND I THINK, YOU HAVE
TALKED ABOUT AND RUN SO MANY ADS
TALKING ABOUT WANT TO GO PROTECT
PEOPLE WHO HAVE PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS AND YET, YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THE REPEAL OF THE
SUPPORTED THE REPEAL OF THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BETTER KNOWN
TO MANY AS OBAMACARE AND I THINK
A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE COME TO
UNDERSTAND.
>> REPEAL AND WHAT, DEVIN,
REPEAL AND WHAT?
>> WELL, THAT’S WHAT I’M GOING
TO ASK YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> DEVIN: WHAT WILL YOU REPLACE
IT WITH, REPUBLICANS HAVE 10
YEARS TO SHOW US A NEW HEALTH
CARE PLAN TO REPLACE IT WITH.
THE PRESIDENT HAS PROMISED ONE TIME AND TIME AGAIN, IT DOESN’T
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, IT DOESN’T
COME AND I DON’T SEE A FULL
HEALTH CARE PLAN ON YOUR
WEBSITE.
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO REPLACE IT
WITH. >> SO, HERE IS THE THING.
>> SO, HERE IS THE THING.
I’M NOT -- I’M NOT A POLITICIAN.
I’M COMING TO THIS AS SOMEBODY
WHO HAS REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE. I SAID AND THIS IS THE TWO-YEAR
I SAID AND THIS IS THE TWO-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY, DEVIN, WHEN I STOOD
UP ON THE DEBATE STAGE WITH
SENATOR STABENOW THAT SHE WAS LYING ABOUT ME.
LYING ABOUT ME.
SENATOR, YOU’RE FIBBING AGAIN.
AND PREEXISTING CONDITIONS, WE
MUST HAVE A MARKET BASED
CENTERED APPROACH TO DO THAT AND
DEMOCRATS IGNORED THAT BECAUSE
IT GETS IN THE WAY OF THEIR NARRATIVE.
I BELIEVE CREATING A SYSTEM THAT
WE MAKE THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
ACTUALLY AFFORDABLE, BUT ALLOWING COMPETITION THROUGH
ALLOWING COMPETITION THROUGH
TAX, TORT AND REGULATORY REFORM,
EXPANDING RISK POOLS ACROSS
STATE LINES, ALLOWING
ASSOCIATIONS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN
HAVE MORE CHOICE.
SENATOR PETERS IS ON A GOLD-PLATED TAXPAYER FUNDED PLAN
GOLD-PLATED TAXPAYER FUNDED PLAN
THAT WE DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO,
BUT HE GETS TO BENEFIT, IT HAS
DIFFERENT LIMITATIONS,
DEDUCTIBLES ARE SUCH THAT PEOPLE ARE RATIONING THEIR CARE AND
ARE RATIONING THEIR CARE AND
PUTTING THEMSELVES AT HIGHER
RISK DRIVING INSURANCE COSTS UP
AND I WOULD SUPPORT HAVING A
LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT, A
LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENT THAT
PROTECT THE PEOPLE WITH
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
SENATOR PETERS HAS BEEN IN
WORKOUT WASHINGTON FOR 12 YEARS AND PART OF A UNIFIED CONGRESS
AND PART OF A UNIFIED CONGRESS
AND A DEMOCRAT WHITE HOUSE--
>> JOHN, WE HAVE A--
>> AND PEOPLE NEED TO--
>> WE HAVE A HEALTH CARE LAW
RIGHT NOW THAT PROTECTS PEOPLE
WITH PREEXISTING CONDITIONS AND THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION IN
THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION IN
CHARGE AT THE MOMENT IS TRYING
TO--
MENTS I’M NOT THE REPUBLICAN
ADMINISTRATION.
>> DEVIN: I UNDERSTAND.
>> I’VE ALWAYS SAID--
>> ARE YOU ARGUING RIGHT NOW YOU
DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE REPEALED?
>> I’M NOT ARGUMENT.
I’M SAYING EMPHATICALLY THAT WE
MUST NOT REPEAL COVERAGE AND PROTECTIONS FOR OUR SENIORS AND
PROTECTIONS FOR OUR SENIORS AND
PEOPLE WITH PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS, BUT THEY WILL
CONTINUE TO LIE ABOUT MY
POSITION ON IT BECAUSE THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT’S VERY PERSONAL
TO ME.
I HAVE PEOPLE IN MY FAMILY WITH
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS. I WILL ALWAYS PROTECT THEM.
I WILL ALWAYS PROTECT THEM.
PEOPLE WHO I EMPLOY WHO HAVE
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
AND I’M PAYING 85% OF THEIR
HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS THROUGH OUR
BUSINESS TO MAKE SURE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THIS HEALTH
CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN THIS HEALTH
CARE, EVEN THROUGH A PANDEMIC.
SENATOR PETERS IS MOST CONCERNED
ABOUT STAYING ON HIS EXCLUSIVE ACA EXEMPTED PLAN, IT’S EXEMPTED
ACA EXEMPTED PLAN, IT’S EXEMPTED
AND HE HID THAT FROM MEDIA HE
KNEW IT WASN’T SETTING THE RIGHT
EXAMPLE AND GETTING OVER ON THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.
I THINK THAT’S WRONG. I BELIEVE FAIR IS FAIR AND I
I BELIEVE FAIR IS FAIR AND I
BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE
CHOICES AND THEY NEED TO MAKE
THEIR OWN CHOICES AND NOT THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INSURANCE
COMPANIES.
>> DEVIN: IN FACT THE LAST TIME YOU WERE ON THIS PROGRAM, I
YOU WERE ON THIS PROGRAM, I
ASKED ABOUT WHAT KIND OF A
HEALTH CARE MODEL THERE SHOULD
BE AND YOU SAID YOU SAW THAT IT
SHOULD BE SORT OF LIKE THE WAY
THAT PEOPLE HAVE A HOUSE OR THAT
THEY HAVE A CAR, THAT’S STUCK WITH ME BECAUSE THAT WOULD
WITH ME BECAUSE THAT WOULD
SUGGEST THAT NOT EVERYBODY
SHOULD--
IS ENTITLED TO THE SAME KIND OF
HEALTH CARE.
IS THAT CORRECT?
AM I READING THAT RIGHT? >> WHAT I MEANT BY THAT, AND
>> WHAT I MEANT BY THAT, AND
THANK YOU FOR ASKING FOR
CLARIFICATION, DEVIN.
I APPRECIATE THAT.
WHAT I MEANT FROM THAT THE
CONCEPT OF BEING ABLE TO MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES.
YOUR OWN CHOICES.
YOU MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES ABOUT
WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR CAR.
YOU MAKE YOUR OWN CHOICES HOW
YOU DECORATE YOUR HOUSE OR
APARTMENT.
WHAT I’M SAYING IS THE CHOICES ABOUT WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR
ABOUT WHAT YOU DO WITH YOUR
MEDICAL DECISIONS SHOULD BE UP
TO YOU AND NOT UP TO THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT OR INSURANCE
COMPANIES.
THAT CONCEPT THAT YOU SHOULD CONTROL IT, WHERE SENATOR PETERS
CONTROL IT, WHERE SENATOR PETERS
IS A SAYING THAT MEDICARE FOR
ALL WE’RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE
IT IN THE FUTURE AND THAT’S
DOCUMENTED, THAT THAT’S THE
WRONG WAY TO GO. WE NEED TO KEEP THE PARTS OF
WE NEED TO KEEP THE PARTS OF
OBAMACARE THAT WORK AND FIX THE
PARTS THAT AREN’T.
AND DEMOCRATS ARE RUNNING ON THE
BROKENNESS RATHER THAN FOCUSING ON FIXING THE PARTS THAT ARE
ON FIXING THE PARTS THAT ARE
BROKEN BECAUSE HEALTH CARE IS
UNAFFORDABLE FOR TOO MANY
AMERICANS AND I BELIEVE THAT BY
INCREASING COMPETITION, INCREASING CHOICE, INCREASING
INCREASING CHOICE, INCREASING
QUALITY OF CARE, LOWERING COSTS
I THINK WE CAN DO THAT WITH SOME
OF THE WAY I’VE PROPOSED.
BROADENING RISK POOLS ACROSS STATE LINES AND REGULATORY TORT
STATE LINES AND REGULATORY TORT
AND TAX REFORM, ALLOWING
ASSOCIATIONS SO PEOPLE CAN MAKE
THEIR OWN CHOICE THOSE ARE
THINGS THAT MUST PROTECT
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS. AGAIN THIS IS THE TWO-YEAR
AGAIN THIS IS THE TWO-YEAR
ANNIVERSARY WHEN I STOOD ON THE
DEBATE STAGE AND SENATOR PETERS
IS IGNORING THAT.
>> DEVIN: THE LAST CYCLE AROUND,
I THINK YOU’VE COME OFF YOUR POSITION IN OBAMACARE I THINK
POSITION IN OBAMACARE I THINK
YOU DESCRIBED IT AS A NIGHTMARE.
I DON’T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH
TIME ON HEALTH CARE.
>> I WOULD SAY IF YOU’RE PAYING
RIGHT NOW. IF YOU’RE PAYING $40,000 FOR
IF YOU’RE PAYING $40,000 FOR
YOUR HEALTH CARE AND YOU CAN’T
AFFORD YOUR HEALTH CARE, YEAH,
I’D SAY IT’S A NIGHTMARE.
IF YOU’RE IN A SITUATION WHERE
YOU’RE HAVING TO CHOOSE BETWEEN
PAYING YOUR MEDICAL BILLS OR PAYING FOR FOOD OR RENT, I’D SAY
PAYING FOR FOOD OR RENT, I’D SAY
IT’S A NIGHTMARE.
SENATOR PETERS IS MORE CONCERNED
WITH WINNING IN AN ELECTION THAN
DOING THE RIGHT THINGS BY HIS
CONSTITUENTS. IF HE WERE, HE’S BEEN IN A
IF HE WERE, HE’S BEEN IN A
POSITION TO FIX IT FOR SIX YEARS
AND HASN’T, IN WASHINGTON 12
YEARS AND HASN’T.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND SOMEBODY
WHO UNDERSTANDS LIFE IN THE REAL
WORLD.
>> DEVIN: AND LET’S MOVE ON.
I’M GOING TO LET YOU BOTH THAT
DOESN’T HAPPEN IN POLITICAL
RACES, THE POLITICAL ADS SORT OF
EXIST IN MANY WAYS IN A VACUUM.
I WANT TO LET YOU BOTH RESPOND
TO AN AD THAT’S BEING RUN
AGAINST YOU BY THE OTHER SIDE.
HERE IS AN AD THAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD ALL
ACROSS MICHIGAN.
>> NO MATTER WHAT JOHN JAMES
SAYS.
>> HIS PLANS ARE CLEAR TO ME.
>> AND ME.
>> BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE
PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.
>> CANCER.
>> DIABETES, KIDNEY DISEASE.
>> AND JOHN JAMES SUPPORTED A
PLAN ALLOWING INSURANCE
COMPANIES TO DISCRIMINATE
AGAINST PEOPLE WITH PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS LIKE US.
>> I KNOW JOHN JAMES WANTS TO
DENY IT.
>> BUT HE CAN’T HIDE HIS RECORD
FROM US.
>> ON HEALTH CARE, JOHN JAMES IS
WRONG FOR MICHIGAN.
>> SNP IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
CONTENT OF THIS AD.
>> DEVIN: I THINK YOU’VE JUST
DRILLED DOWN EXPLAINING WHY YOU
THINK ALL OF THAT IS FAIRLY
INACCURATE, BUT I IMAGINE YOU’VE
SEEN THIS AD PLENTY AND WHAT DO
YOU THINK EVERY TIME IT RUNS?
>> I HONESTLY, I HAVEN’T--
I ACTUALLY TURNED THE TV OFF, I
THINK THE TOXICITY YOU’RE
SEEING.
[LAUGHTER]
>> I HAVE A FAMILY AND I’M MORE
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO
KEEP MY PEOPLE EMPLOYED AND KEEP
MY FAMILY WHOLE THROUGH THIS
PROCESS.
WE DON’T NEED MORE TRAUMA, WE
NEED MORE LEADERSHIP ANYWAY
DIRECTLY TO YOUR QUESTION. THANK YOU FOR IT, ACTUALLY, BUT
THANK YOU FOR IT, ACTUALLY, BUT
LIKE I SAID, IT’S PURE UNADULL
UNADULLTERA
UNADULLTERATED LIES.
>> GETTING THOSE PEOPLE, WHEN
THEY’RE BASELESS.
I HAVE HUNDREDS IN THE CITY OF
DETROIT WE HAD TO DEEP ON HEALTH
CARE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
MY RECORD ON HEALTH CARE IS
PAYING 85% OF HEALTH CARE COSTS
FOR MY PEOPLE.
MY RECORD ON HEALTH CARE IS
HAVING A SON WHO HAS PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS WHEN I WAS ATTACKED
IN ANOTHER AD FOR NOT PROTECTING
CHILDREN WITH PREEXISTING
CONDITIONS.
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW
THE TRUTH TO GET IN THE WAY OF
THEIR NARRATIVE AND I WOULD
INVITE YOUR VIEWERS TO THINK
CRITICALLY, ASK YOURSELF WHY
WOULD SOMEBODY WHO HAS DEDICATED
HIS LIFE TO SERVICE AND
SACRIFICE, GIVEN OVER A MILLION
DOLLARS TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE
SICK, WHY WOULD HE ALL OF A
SUDDEN AFTER YEARS OF SAYING THE
SAME THING AND ACTUALLY CALLING
A SENATOR OUT IN A DEBATE, A
SENATOR WHO WOULD ACTUALLY
DEBATE ME, HAD THE COURAGE TO,
WHY WOULD I NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN
BEGIN TO HURT PEOPLE OR IS THE
CAREER POLITICIAN WHO IS
DETACHED FROM REALITY ON HIS
GOLD-PLATED HEALTH CARE SAYING
ANYTHING POSSIBLE TO GET
REELECTED.
I THINK THAT MICHIGANDERS ARE
SMART ENOUGH TO LOOK THROUGH THE
B-S.
>> DEVIN: LET’S LOOK WHERE THE
HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE DECIDED.
SHOULD YOU BECOME A MEMBER OF
THE U.S. SENATE YOU WOULD HAVE A
LOT TO SAY ABOUT MEMBERS OF THE
SUPREME COURT.
I’M REALLY CURIOUS, IT USED TO
TAKE A VOTE OF 60 SENATORS TO
PASS THE NOMINATION OF A SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE.
BOTH PARTIES HAVE HAD A ROLE IN
BREAKING THAT DOWN TO NOW IT’S A
SIMPLE MAJORITY AND WE END UP
WITH THE KIND OF FIGHT THAT
YOU’VE SEEN OVER BRETT KAVANAUGH
AND NOW OVER AMY CONEY BARRETT.
I’M CURIOUS, IF IF YOU WERE A
PART OF THE PARTY IN CHARGE AND
CONTROL OF THE SENATE WOULD YOU
COMMIT TO GOING BACK TO THE 60
VOTE FILIBUSTER AVAILABLE SORT
OF WAY OF NOMINATING A SUPREME
COURT JUSTICE OR DO YOU THINK IT
OUGHT TO STAY WITH THIS VERY
NARROW MARGIN, WHICH JUST LEAVES
IT UP TO THE PARTY IN CHARGE AND
NEEDS NO EFFORT ACROSS THE
AISLE?
>> DEVIN, IT’S SO REFRESHING FOR
ME TO HEAR YOU SAY WHAT SO MANY
PEOPLE ARE THINKING, THAT BOTH
PARTIES HAVE FAILED.
THIS TWO-PARTY SYSTEM IS BROKEN
AND POLITICIANS CONTINUE TO SAY
ANYTHING THAT’S MOST CONVENIENT
IN THE MOMENT TO HELP THEIR
REELECTION CHANCES.
YES, BOTH PARTIES HAVE FAILED.
I WOULD SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE UNITED STATES AND I SWORE
AN OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION AND
THE CONSTITUTION IS QUITE CLEAR.
WE NEED TO ABIDE BY THE
CONSTITUTION AND NOT BY
POLITICAL CONVENIENCE.
I WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED TO GO
BACK TO A NONPARTISAN WAY OF
LOOKING AT THE SUPREME COURT
JUSTICES AND I’VE SAID ALL
ALONG, MY ONLY LITMUS TEST IS
LITERACY, MY ONLY LITMUS TEST IS
SOMEONE WHO RESPECTS THE
SEPARATION OF POWERS IN OUR
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND ACA SHOULDN’T BE DECIDED AT
THE JUDICIAL LEVEL, IT SHOULD BE
THE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL AND THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
NEED PEOPLE FOCUSED ON GETTING
THINGS BACK HOME AND I WOULD PUT
TEXTUALISTS AND THAT’S MY JOB TO
REPRESENT MY STATE NOT UNELECTED
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE TO 0 PROCESS
WHERE RUTH BADER GINSBURG GOT 96
VOTES, 96 VOTES.
>> DEVIN: HARD TO IMAGINE.
>> BECAUSE SHE WAS HIGHLY
COMPETENT.
RIGHT, HARD TO IMAGINE THESE
TOXIC DAYS.
RUTH BADER GINSBURG SHE WAS
HIGHLY QUALIFIED, EXTREMELY
CONFIDENT AND I BELIEVE THAT
SENATOR PETERS, WHO OPPOSED
ALONG PARTY LINES OPPOSED AMY
CONEY BARRETT, JUDGE AMY CONEY
BARRETT PRIOR TO EVEN HER
NOMINATION, I THINK THAT’S PART
OF THE PROBLEM.
WE NEED TO EVALUATE EVERYONE ON
THEIR MERIT AND I BELIEVE
PROTECTING AND PRESERVING THE
CONSTITUTION, NOT YOUR POLITICAL
REELECTION CHANCES IS WHAT WE
NEED.
>> DEVIN: SHOULD MERRICK GARLAND
HAVE BEEN ON HIS MERITS AND NOT
NOT--
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> DEVIN: I’M CURIOUS WHAT YOU
DESCRIBED YOURSELF AS PRO-LIFE,
GARY PETERS HAS GOTTEN AN AWFUL
LOT OF ATTENTION OVER THIS LAST
WEEK FOR BECOMING THE FIRST
SENATOR TO TALK ABOUT HIS OWN
EXPERIENCE WITH A THIRD
TRIMESTER ABORTION, I’M CURIOUS
WHETHER HIS STORY MAKES YOU
RETHINK YOUR POSITION ON THIRD
TRIMESTER ABORTION WHICH HAVE
BECOME SO HOTLY AND EMOTIONALLY
DEBATED IN WASHINGTON AND ACROSS
THE COUNTRY?
>> WELL, I’M JUST GOING TO BE
FRANK.
THERE’S SOME THINGS THAT ARE
ABOVE POLITICS AND FOR SENATOR
PETERS TO DISCUSS THAT POSITION
TOOK A LOT OF COURAGE, AND MY
HEART GOES OUT TO HE AND HIS
EX-WIFE AND FAMILY FOR THE
HEARTBREAKING EXPERIENCE AND
WOULDN’T WISH THAT ON ANYBODY.
SENATOR PETERS AND I AGREE ON
ONE THING WITH REGARD TO
ABORTION, WE MUST ALWAYS PROTECT
THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER, BUT I
WILL SAY ANOTHER WHERE WE KIND
OF HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES.
NEITHER SENATOR PETERS NOR I ARE
WOMEN.
WE ARE NEVER EVER GOING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE
A WOMAN MAKING THAT TOUGH
DECISION.
BUT I AM A CHRISTIAN.
I AM A SINFUL MAN, BUT I DO MY
VERY, VERY BEST TO BRING GLORY
TO GOD TO PROTECT LIFE AND TO
HELP USE MY BLESSINGS TO BE A
BLESSING TO OTHERS SO THEY MAY
LIVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY, SHOW
JESUS’S TEACHINGS THROUGH LIE
ACTIONS THOUGH I DO MAKE MANY
MISTAKES.
BUT SENATOR PETERS AND HIS
ALIVES ARE TRYING TO MAKE ME
INTO AN EXTREMIST WHEN REALLY
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY USED TO SAY
ABORTION SHOULD BE SAFE, LEGAL
AND RARE.
NOW THEY’RE SAYING TO ALL
AMERICANS, THAT ABORTION SHOULD
BE TAXPAYER-FUNDED UP TO 40
WEEKS ON DEMAND FOR ANY REASON
AND I THINK THAT’S MOVING TOWARD
THE MORE EXTREME POSITION.
I BELIEVE THAT IF POLITICIANS
SPENT MORE TIME FOCUSED ON
EMPOWERING WOMEN RATHER THAN THE
EXTREMES THEN IT WOULD BE A
BETTER WORLD FOR EVERYONE.
EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN, MORE
ADOPTION OPTIONS,
OVER-THE-COUNTER BIRTH CONTROL,
BETTER EDUCATION, BETTER HEALTH
CARE FOR WOMEN THESE ARE THE
TYPES OF THINGS THAT I WILL
COMMIT TO WORKING ON THAT
SENATOR PETERS IS FIXATED ON THE
PROBLEM OR THE ISSUE.
AND I WANT TO BE FIXATED ON THE
SOLUTION.
>> DEVIN: BUT WOULD YOU--
>> EMPOWER WOMEN.
>> DEVIN: BOIL IT DOWN TO--
WOULD YOU PREFER TO SEE ROE
VERSUS WADE OVERTURNED?
>> I BELIEVE THAT IN THAT VERY
TOUGH SITUATION WE NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT I WILL ALWAYS VOTE TO
SUPPORT AND PROTECT LIFE AND I
WANT TO SPEND MY TIME AND MY
RESOURCES FOCUSED ON EMPOWERING
WOMEN THROUGH HEALTH CARE AND
BETTER CHOICES AND OPTIONS THAN
JUST LIFE AND DEATH.
>> DEVIN: I’M NOT SURE THAT
ANSWERS MY--
DO YOU WANT TO SEE ROE VERSUS
WADE OVERTURNED.
>> I BELIEVE THAT AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, THAT’S A DECISION THAT
WOULD BE BEST MADE BY THE STATES
AND WHEN YOU TAKE A LOOK AT
STATE OF MICHIGAN, WITH A
DEMOCRAT FEMALE GOVERNOR, A
DEMOCRAT FEMALE ATTORNEY
GENERAL, I BELIEVE THAT THESE
ARE DECISIONS THAT SHOULD BE
MADE CLOSEST TO HOME, NOT AT THE
FEDERAL LEVEL.
I DON’T WANT THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT DICTATING HOW WE
SHOULD LIVE OUR LIVES.
>> DEVIN: THAT’S ALL THE TIME WE
HAVE LEFT.
AND I HAVE OTHER TOPICS I WANTED
TO GET TO AND I HOLD OUT HOPE
FOR A DEBATE, BUT THANKS FOR
BEING ON THIS PART OF FLASH
POINT.
>> THANK YOU, MY FRIEND.
TAKE CARE.
>> DEVIN: YOU BET.
THAT’S JOHN JAMES.