New Jersey congressman’s pledge of ‘undying support’ for Trump hangs over close House race
In December, Rep. Jeff Van Drew shocked his colleagues in the Democratic Party when he announced he would become a Republican, citing his discomfort with impeaching President Donald Trump. Van Drew’s detractors point to a more craven political calculation: that he might not have been able to survive his Democratic primary.The decision culminated in an Oval Office photo-op, where Van Drew pledged his “undying support” to the President. Camera shutters clicked as the two men vigorously shook hands. Eleven months later, those images are at the center of one of the hottest congressional races in the country, with Van Drew seeking reelection for the first time — and, also for the first time, running as a Republican.
It was pretty craven. Go on.
During CNN’s interview this week, we asked Van Drew if he regretted those words that have followed him around these months and might now cost him reelection.
“I think the words didn’t explain as well what I exactly felt,” Van Drew conceded. “It’s not undying support that, whatever you say I’m going to do, or undying support, I agree with whatever you say. It was undying support for the presidency, for the idea of the greatness of America, for a friendship, but not necessarily that I’m going to agree with everything.”
Totally sounds sincere, just like when Noot cheated on wife #2 with mistress #2 (soon to become wife #3) during Clinton’s impeachment over a blow job, because he loved the country so damn much.
