Dem Rep. Resists GOP Efforts To Switch Parties Amid Impeachment Opposition

UNITED STATES - MARCH 6: Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., leaves the House Democrats' caucus meeting in the Capitol on Wednesday, March 6, 2019. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
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It appears that the GOP tried to get another Democratic congressman to switch over to their party soon.

Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN) says he was approached about switching over to the Republican Party, according to a KFGO report Monday. Peterson told the outlet there have been “overtures by the highest levels of the Republican Party in the last couple weeks.” Over the weekend, Peterson indicated that he’s leaning toward voting against President Trump’s impeachment.

News of the effort comes after Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ) announced his plans to defect from the Democratic Party over the weekend. The Washington Post reported that President Trump met with Van Drew on Friday, during which the President urged him to join the GOP.

However, Peterson told KFGO that, unlike Van Drew, he has no plans to switch sides.

“I’m staying in the party, in spite of some of the stuff that’s going on that I don’t agree with, I am not going switch parties at this stage of my career,” Peterson told KFGO.

Peterson’s latest remarks come just a day after he said he wouldn’t join his fellow House Democrats in the impeachment vote this week “unless they come up with something between now and Wednesday.”

Both Peterson and Van Drew were the lone Democrats who voted against the House’s resolution to officially authorize the impeachment proceedings in October.

Read KFGO’s report here.

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Notable Replies

  1. When a crime family approaches you about switching sides, I’m not sure its a great idea to talk about it. What would Don Corleone say?

  2. “I’d like for you to do us a favor, though.”

    What more do they need to come up with?

  3. “Listen, whoever comes to you with this Barzini meeting, he’s the traitor. Don’t forget that.”

  4. Perfect response!

  5. “I’m staying in the party, in spite of some of the stuff that’s going on that I don’t agree with …"

    Does he mean “stuff” like attempting to hold a career criminal to account for his myriad crimes?

    Perhaps if Dems regularly used the Constitution for toilet paper he would find the party more agreeable. Until then, he should be unceremoniously booted out.

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