CNN’s Dana Bash threw down with Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers (R-MI) over the president’s rhetoric about his opponent, Abdul El-Sayed.

Bash played video of President Donald Trump mocking El-Sayed’s name and calling him a “jihadist.”

“The President is effectively calling your opponent a terrorist. You’re a former special agent with the FBI, former intelligence chair in the House. Are you comfortable with that?” Bash asked.

“Listen, I’ve never called him a terrorist. I wore the uniform of the United States of America so people can pray any way they want. That is not the issue here,” Rogers said. “What has become the issue is his relationship and his family relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned in five Muslim countries.”

Rogers continued to talk about his opponent’s alleged extreme ideology as Bash tried multiple times to interrupt.

“Congressman, I want to go back to what the president said,” Bash managed.

BASH: I want to go back to what the president said, and that you disagree —

ROGERS: I don’t speak for the president. I don’t represent the president —

BASH: I know, but I want to say, do you wish that he doesn’t say that? He’s coming to Michigan.

ROGERS: I’m running my race right here in Michigan, Dana. I’m running my race in Michigan.

BASH: But do you wish that he wouldn’t call him a jihadist?

ROGERS: I know you guys want this to be about Trump. This is about Michiganders who are looking for hope and opportunity —

BASH: Right, the president isn’t —

ROGERS: Two-thirds of our fourth graders can’t read. And the fourth grade. That means you have a 70% chance of going to prison or going on welfare —

BASH: Right, the president is inserting himself in that race because pretty much every time he talks, he says something about Abdul El-Sayed.

Bash played video of El-Sayed’s interaction with a town hall participant who asked him about disavowing the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organization.

“So he said, ‘Yes, sure,” Bash said.

“He didn’t disavow it,” Rogers said. “He goes on this word salad, trying to get around the fact —”

“He did say, ‘Sure, yeah,'” Bash repeated. “I don’t want to debate with you!”

“I don’t know why the press is so eager for him to protect this,” Rogers said.

“Congressman! I just want to be factual,” Bash insisted.

“It’s an ideology, it’s not about him being a Muslim,” Rogers argued.

After several more minutes of back-and-forth, Bash ended the interview, saying, “And just for the record, I’m not defending anyone. I’m just trying to be factual and use the words that he used, which is, ‘Yeah, sure.'”

“Sure sounded like it to me,” Rogers shot back.

Watch the clip above via CNN.

The post CNN’s Dana Bash Throws Down With GOP Candidate Mike Rogers About Trump Calling El-Sayed a ‘Jihadist’ first appeared on Mediaite.

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