Mike Rogers Discusses His Campaign for Senate

Former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and Michigan’s Republican U.S. Senate candidate, Mike Rogers, spoke to Breitbart News on Saturday about his campaign’s appeal to long-time Democratic voters. He is preparing to challenge Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the upcoming election, raising concerns over El-Sayed’s alleged ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and his stance on national security issues.

Rogers emphasized, “This is about the way you think. It’s not about the way you pray.” He stated, “I wore the uniform of the United States. My family, my son wore the uniform in the United States, so you can pray any way you want, and we’re proud of that.”

He brought up a 2012 letter that El-Sayed signed in support of Mohamed Morsi, noting, “The letter he wrote backing Morsi when he took over the Egyptian presidency showed his support for the Muslim Brotherhood and called for purging the police and press. It wasn’t just a casual thing.”

Rogers also highlighted El-Sayed’s earlier involvement with the Muslim Student Association at the University of Michigan, which he claims has links to the Muslim Brotherhood. He pointed out that the Muslim Brotherhood celebrated El-Sayed’s primary victory, “They came out on their website and praised it.”

Moreover, Rogers expressed concern over El-Sayed’s past support from individuals linked to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. “People who have openly supported Hamas financially support his campaign,” he said.

Rogers also mentioned the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), stating it is significantly tied to El-Sayed. “This group has funneled about $400,000 into his campaign and is openly supportive of the Muslim Brotherhood,” he claimed.

On the subject of terrorism and foreign policy, including an attack inspired by Hezbollah on a synagogue in Michigan, Rogers remarked, “This is the guy that cannot condemn a Hezbollah-inspired terrorist attack where they tried to kill schoolchildren. If you can’t see that’s a bad idea for America, you don’t belong in the Senate.”

He criticized El-Sayed for not condemning Iran and putting it on the same level as Israel, a key U.S. ally in the Middle East. “He wouldn’t even condemn the Iranian Republican Guard,” Rogers added.

Addressing El-Sayed’s qualifications for the Senate, Rogers questioned his ability to secure a security clearance. “He says he wants to go on Foreign Relations, but this guy couldn’t even get a clearance,” he claimed.

Rogers challenged El-Sayed’s medical credentials, stating that despite attending Columbia Medical School, he never completed his residency or board certification, making him not a practicing physician. “He’s not a doctor as we would think of it,” Rogers stated.

Additionally, he accused El-Sayed of potentially misrepresenting his Egyptian citizenship and cited criticisms from a former staff member who labeled him a liar.

Rogers characterized El-Sayed’s alignment with Muslim Brotherhood ideology as dangerous when mixed with Democratic socialist views. “It makes a very dangerous concoction,” he asserted.

He highlighted that even within the Democratic Party, some figures, such as former Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Lon Johnson, have openly critiqued El-Sayed. Johnson and his wife wrote that they cannot endorse him.

Rogers also mentioned criticism from notable Democrats like CNN commentator Van Jones, who described El-Sayed’s policies as “insane,” and a senator from New Jersey who called him a fringe candidate.

Rogers pointed out that some local Democratic officials in Michigan have chosen to endorse him instead of El-Sayed, mentioning a Saginaw County sheriff who publically backed his campaign.

Discussing his outreach efforts, Rogers said they are making progress in African American communities, noting, “We’re doing very well in Detroit, Pontiac, and Flint.” While he doesn’t aim to win these cities outright, he believes they can make a significant impact.

He expressed frustration with national media’s lack of coverage regarding his support from Democratic voters. “If we get 40 to 50,000 Democrats saying they might vote for me, that’s significant,” he explained.

With Election Day on November 3 drawing near, Rogers elaborated on his campaign strategies, including a statewide bus tour and door-to-door canvassing efforts. “We started our bus tour a few days ago, and we’re just getting started,” he said, emphasizing their dedication.

Rogers highlighted their extensive canvassing, which began last year, aiming to engage with voters meaningfully. “Seven million doors, this has been a long time in the making,” he noted.

He also shared hopes of attracting Jewish Democrats, estimating that many voters from that group typically support Democratic candidates. “We think we can get about half of that vote,” he said.

Rogers estimated an additional 10,000 to 20,000 African American votes could swing his way, noting the tight margins in Michigan elections, “This race will come down to 30 to 40,000 votes for a win.”

In contrast to El-Sayed’s college campus appearances, which he saw as staged, Rogers emphasized their grassroots approach. “We are out where people live and work, and we’re having these conversations,” he concluded.

As the interview wrapped up, he called on supporters to engage in the final push before the election. “This really isn’t about left or right anymore,” Rogers stated. “It’s about the heart and soul of America. Your involvement could make a real difference.”