Rogers on El-Sayed: "Why Would We Vote Someone Into The Senate Who Couldn't Get A Security Clearance?"
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/10/09/rogers_on_el-sayed_why_would_we_vote_someone_into_the_senate_who_couldnt_get_a_security_clearance.html

Republican Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers joins "FOX & Friends" to discuss his debate with Democratic opponent Abdul El-Sayed.

CHANLEY PAINTER, FOX NEWS: And in Michigan Mike Rogers and Abdul El-Sayed facing off in the Senate debate last night with affordability taking center stage. The two candidates clashing over prescription drugs.

ABDUL EL-SAYED (D), SENATE CANDIDATE: He wants to continue to be Big Pharma's champion. He called himself Big Pharma's champion. Took more money from the pharmaceutical industry than any member of Congress. More than any member of Congress in the Michigan delegation.

MIKE ROGERS (R), SENATE CANDIDATE: There are 2 million Michigan families today who are on Medicare enjoying Part D prescription drugs, which I did champion because there was no prescription drug coverage under Medicare, which I thought was a terrible idea.

PAINTER: Recent Fox News polling shows El-Sayed holds a slim one point lead among likely voters. However, 52% say they're very or extremely concerned his positions are too liberal. Well, El-Sayed avoiding answering a major question on Iran. Watch this.

MODERATOR: Who do you think's a bigger threat to the United States, Israel or Iran? You have 60 seconds.

EL-SAYED: And again, Rick, I'm just going to say that that's a ridiculous hypothetical.

MODERATOR: I'll ask one last time. Israel or Iran?

EL-SAYED: That's again a ridiculous question. I think both of them have proven dangerous in their own way.

PAINTER: And guys, we only have 25 days until Election Day.

BRIAN KILMEADE, FOX NEWS: Joining us now is the man on the other side of that debate. Senate candidate Mike Rogers. Senator, what a brawl yesterday. He did phenomenally well. I know he's unorthodox. He's not like somebody you want up against. What is your takeaway from this after seeing him and going head to head?

ROGERS: Well, I thought this was really important. We exposed him for who he really is. I mean, this guy has been the ultimate con man, can't answer questions on Medicare for all, refuses to tell you that you lose your health, your private health insurance on.

Think of Iran. He couldn't answer the question on a country that has attempted terrorist attacks in the United States. Oh, and by the way, has blood of U.S. soldiers on his hands. I mean, this guy is absolutely dangerous. And I think what we were able to do is show he says one thing, does another thing, wants to present the one one set of facts when the when the real facts just don't match it up to me.

LAWRENCE JONES, FOX NEWS:Let's play. Let's play that exchange because I want our audience to hear that portion of the debate because it's disqualifying. Let's play it.

MODERATOR: Who do you think is a bigger threat to the United States? Israel or Iran? You have 60 seconds.

EL-SAYED: Again, Rick. I'm just going to say that that's a ridiculous hypothetical.

MODERATOR: I'll ask one last time. Israel or Iran?

EL-SAYED: That's again a ridiculous question. I think both of them have proven dangerous in their own way.

JONES: Shocking congressman.

ROGERS: Oh, my God. He's the equivalent of the biggest state sponsor in the world with blood on their hands from just about every country in the Middle East and beyond, including U.S. soldiers. He can't answer the question who the good guy is and who the bad guy is.

If you can't answer that question, you have no business walking into the United States Senate. This guy could not get a security clearance. Why would we vote somebody into the Senate who couldn't get a security clearance if he needed one?