Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
To keep us informed with a Washington perspective on things
that are happening, not just in the United States of America,
but in the perspective of somebody from our area. Is
the representative of the second Congressional District of Nebraska, Representative
Don Bacon. Representative Bacon as always an honor to have
you on the show today.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Well, it's an honor to be on your show. I
thank you for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
I want to start very quickly with polling because I
talked a bit there's a big pole dump basically in
the last couple of days, and we're seeing a lot
of changes in the way that people are viewing this
race and the swing states specifically. How important is polling
from your perspective when you guys are strategying for a campaign.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well, at this point, I don't often look at the
head to head numbers. I look at what issues are
you know just fully pop out in the polling and so,
like I know in our district, the economy is the
number one issue. It's like three times higher than the
border or abortion right now because people can afford us
right they go to the supermarket. They have inflation has outpaced
(01:06):
the wages since Biden came in. But you look for
key issues that you think the voters that resonates the most.
And you know, sometimes you try some issues that I
think are important, like, for example, you know, I've passed
more legislation than any Republican in the last three years,
and we've showed the results in our district and my
opponent has hardly done anything in the unit camera. And
(01:28):
so you want to, Okay, how does that register? So
you know, you test it out. So that's how I
use pulling, just to see if different issues pop out
or not, or if they're not really an issue.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, it's It's an interesting point because I also like
to look at those parts of polls. But in the
seven swing states, and for those who are unfamiliar with
what those are, I'm going to keep saying them over
and over again from now until election day. Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania,
North Carolina, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona. Those are states that
many people think are really up for grabs and unpredictable.
At this point, heading into November, and when Joe Biden
(02:03):
was still the nominee, it looked like Donald Trump had
a pretty good handle on all seven of them, or
at least six of the seven of them. And now
as a lot of these polls are coming out and
showing that head to head er even with RFK involved
as his support kind of dwindles here, it's showing that
Kamala Harrison the Democrats are making up a lot of headway.
Is that something that Republicans are going to be concerned with?
(02:24):
And why do you think those changes are happening right now?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Well, I think we should be concerned. I think they're
probably accurate. We have a lot of polls that are
showing that a five point swing since she came in
or you know, or roughly you know that that amount.
And what happened is there's a bit of a sugar high.
Folks wanted to the Democrats want to get rid of Biden,
who's so bad on that debate, and so I think
they're they were relieved. I think have someone that has
(02:51):
strained a couple of sentences together a to be deb blunt,
respectful of our seniors. But they were the Democrats were
relieved to get someone else. I also think the media
has been very one sided. I mean, I'll give you
an example. President Trump put out a you know a
bill that he wanted to give our tips as tax free,
(03:12):
and then Harris has did that this week. If you
look at the headlines, how the same newspapers portrayed his
when he proposed it versus her. One was negative, one
was very positive. And you see that across the board.
So there's almost like a lot of the reporters out
there our cheerleaders for Harris. But I wanted to say this,
we got to own this. When I got elected, I
(03:33):
was told the media is not fair and get over it.
You got to be sharper than the other guy. And
I would just say President Trump's got to stay focused
on the issues. Harris couldn't even make it to the
first debate, or excuse me, the first primary in twenty twenty.
She's a historically terrible candidate. She was the most liberal
senator in the Senate. She was one hundred worst for
(03:55):
the worst, and then you know Bernie Sanders was next worst.
She was to the left of Bernie Sanders. And if
you look at gun confiscation to ending fracking and medicare
for all, if we focus on those issues and the
results of what President Trump had this is we're going
to win this race. But you get sidetracked on DEI
(04:15):
or you know, start attacking a Republican governor, it does
not work. And so if we stay focused on the issues,
she was the worst senator in the US Senate. The
vice president nominee for her he was fairly centrist as
a congressman, but it would be one of the most
ridiculously progressive governors in our country. He's a Bernie Sanders governor.
(04:37):
And if we can't get that through the voters, we're
going to struggle. But it's a truth. So we just
got to convey this to the voters. And I think
if we do if we do this, if President Trump
does this, this is our race to win.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
We're speaking with Representative Don Bacon, second Congressional District of Nebraska.
A lot of Republicans are saying our policies are so
much better than their They can't even run on their
own policies right now based on three and a half years.
But people in the middle, I fear, if you're especially
if you're a staunch Republican, I fear that it's going
to be personality versus policy, and personality is what many
(05:15):
people will vote for when they don't understand or can't
comprehend some policy. Is that something that could backfire, especially
considering the reputation Donald Trump has to potentially independent voters
in America.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
So the based voters always vote on policy, and so
the hardcore Dons or policy and the hard core Republicans
or policy. The swing voters are more based on personality.
They have to like you and they have to trust you.
And that's why we got to be on message. And
we can't be you know, our nominee to include myself.
(05:49):
We have to be focused on the issues and what
we've got done in the past and what our opponent
has Donna failed to do. And I'll tell you the
policies are so clear that if we stay on message,
I think we can win the personality argue a two.
But you get into name calling and attacking character, talking
(06:10):
about race and things like that, it's it's going to backfire.
So the issues are in our favor, but we've got
to be focused on them.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I did some you know, electoral math, and if this
happens right, all the predictable states go the way we
expect and Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin vote blue for the
for the presidency. And then the other four swing states
North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada vote read that could
basically be a dead heat. And the second Congressional District
(06:42):
of Nebraska and their single electoral vote could decide this election.
How important do you see the voter base here in
the Omaha area and do you expect this to be
in play for the Republicans considering that many are polling
this as mostly a Democratic situation for the presidency.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Prior to Biden's stuff and down, I think President Trump
had the advantage here. That was the numbers we saw,
and I just believe that you could see it folks
and lost confidence in President Biden. I would say right now,
if you did the polling right today, they would be
in favor of Vice President Harris that said, this district
does not like a Bernie Sanders type politician, and she
(07:25):
was to the loft of Bernie Sanders. We have a
Mike or Tim Waltz is to the loft of but
he's been a Bernie Sanders governor. So if the voters
here see when when you talk about gun confiscation, when
you talk about mandating tampons and the men's or the boys, uh,
restrooms and high schools. When you talk about ending fracking,
(07:48):
so we're dependent on energy that does not appeal to
this district. But but you know, they also want a
deal maker and they want people to govern, and so
you know that's another thing we've got to communicate. Why
I focus on that here, I really do think the
issues if it's clearly understood, we have a great shot
at winning this district. In this district voter. But you know,
(08:10):
as each voter goes, we carry more weight than any
other district in the country right now, and so there's
an article about that. They're absolutely right this pound for pound,
we're the most important district in the country right at
the moment.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
There's no doubt that, you know, every single vote is
going to end up mattering, especially in the second congressional district.
And somebody that's going to be visiting and trying to,
you know, make people understand that will be jd Vance,
who is the Vice president's nominee for Donald Trump. A
guy that's been in the Senate of a short time,
but somebody that you certainly would consider a colleague. Can
(08:44):
you explain to me a little bit about his background.
Do you think he's been a positive influence on the
campaign so far.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
For Donald Trump, well, I think he's he's firing at
on cylinders right now. I mean, I think there was
a slow start. I think historically I've been studying this
since as a kid, when when the vice president get
or the nominee gets announced, it's typically a slow start.
They're not used to the headlights and uh and all
the all the cameras in front of him. But I
(09:10):
think he has been done. He's done really well. Like
the Sunday talk shows. Uh he I thought, you know,
he killed it. He was hitting hitting home runs with
every answer. Obviously, I would prefer the one area. I
prefer a little more clarity on Ukraine. Uh. I think
that's an area that's a week on our side because
the majority of voters support Ukraine. However, he's very strong
(09:31):
on Israel, and that's for Harris and Walts's week, because
they're trying to curry favor with the progressors, who you know,
are who are leaning towards the Palestinians or I would say,
wee k on Hamas and so so I think in
the end that's that's how I'm going to counter that
we have a leadership or our nominees are gonna be
(09:52):
very strong on Israel, and they're not. But I think
he's on fire now. He's firing on all cylinders. And
I was reading in the paper he's going to be
out here next week.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yeah, and we don't know the location you have. As
soon as we get that, you'll hear that on the
newscast here on KFAB as well. Speaking with Representative Don Bacon,
second Congressional District here getting at Washington perspective on the
complexion of this race. And I appreciate all those thoughts,
but I know our military is near and dear to
your heart because you're a man of service as well,
and we are, you know, talking about the third anniversary
(10:23):
of the Afghanistan withdrawal, which you've been on record as
to saying is one of the most disastrous things has
ever happened as far as our military is concerned. Just
some thoughts on that as you reflect three years after
this tragedy occurred.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Well, first of all, I think about the thirteen US
troops that were killed, and they were killed by a
guy that was in Bagram prison and under orders of
President Biden, they had to release all the prisoners at
that guy went on and killed thirteen of our troopers.
And I fill for the family, you know Dagan Paige
and his family right here in Omaha. My heart's with thumb. Also,
(10:59):
if you saw today the Taliban paraded our helicopters, our
armored vehicles, the billions of dollars of weapons be left behind,
how could President Biden? I think that's a disaster, leaving
billions of dollars of weapons behind. And so just the
one thing I'd like to remind everybody, our chairman of
the Joint Chiefs told him, told President Biden his plan
(11:22):
was going to fail and recommended against it, that the
Taliban would take over. He thought in two months, he
did it would be two weeks, and in advice against it,
and he was overruled by the President who thought he
knew better than General Milly. And we saw the disaster
two weeks it fell. The interpreters that served by our
side are being murdered today. The women in Afghanistan, they're
(11:45):
not allowed to go to schools anymore, and they're not
even allowed employment now either. So this has been a
nightmare of ethical proportions. And they want to blame President
Trump from negotiating with the Taliban. I didn't agree with
the negotiations Frankling, but it was conditions based and in
the end he did not do it. It was President
Biden who done it against the recommendations or the chairman
of the Joint Chiefs, and he owns it. And it
(12:08):
was a disaster.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Yeah, it's certainly a day for the history books that
we will learn lessons from hopefully, so nothing like that
ever happens again. And somebody with unique perspective is someone
who did serve our country, and that is Representative Don Bacon.
He's currently serving in Congress for the second Congressional District
of Nebraska, and as always Representative Bacon, we really appreciate
the time and we'll talk to you again sometime very soon.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Thank you. Emory
To keep us informed with a Washington perspective on things
that are happening, not just in the United States of America,
but in the perspective of somebody from our area. Is
the representative of the second Congressional District of Nebraska, Representative
Don Bacon. Representative Bacon as always an honor to have
you on the show today.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Well, it's an honor to be on your show. I
thank you for having me on.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
I want to start very quickly with polling because I
talked a bit there's a big pole dump basically in
the last couple of days, and we're seeing a lot
of changes in the way that people are viewing this
race and the swing states specifically. How important is polling
from your perspective when you guys are strategying for a campaign.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Well, at this point, I don't often look at the
head to head numbers. I look at what issues are
you know just fully pop out in the polling and so,
like I know in our district, the economy is the
number one issue. It's like three times higher than the
border or abortion right now because people can afford us
right they go to the supermarket. They have inflation has outpaced
(01:06):
the wages since Biden came in. But you look for
key issues that you think the voters that resonates the most.
And you know, sometimes you try some issues that I
think are important, like, for example, you know, I've passed
more legislation than any Republican in the last three years,
and we've showed the results in our district and my
opponent has hardly done anything in the unit camera. And
(01:28):
so you want to, Okay, how does that register? So
you know, you test it out. So that's how I
use pulling, just to see if different issues pop out
or not, or if they're not really an issue.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
Yeah, it's It's an interesting point because I also like
to look at those parts of polls. But in the
seven swing states, and for those who are unfamiliar with
what those are, I'm going to keep saying them over
and over again from now until election day. Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania,
North Carolina, Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona. Those are states that
many people think are really up for grabs and unpredictable.
At this point, heading into November, and when Joe Biden
(02:03):
was still the nominee, it looked like Donald Trump had
a pretty good handle on all seven of them, or
at least six of the seven of them. And now
as a lot of these polls are coming out and
showing that head to head er even with RFK involved
as his support kind of dwindles here, it's showing that
Kamala Harrison the Democrats are making up a lot of headway.
Is that something that Republicans are going to be concerned with?
(02:24):
And why do you think those changes are happening right now?
Speaker 2 (02:28):
Well, I think we should be concerned. I think they're
probably accurate. We have a lot of polls that are
showing that a five point swing since she came in
or you know, or roughly you know that that amount.
And what happened is there's a bit of a sugar high.
Folks wanted to the Democrats want to get rid of Biden,
who's so bad on that debate, and so I think
they're they were relieved. I think have someone that has
(02:51):
strained a couple of sentences together a to be deb blunt,
respectful of our seniors. But they were the Democrats were
relieved to get someone else. I also think the media
has been very one sided. I mean, I'll give you
an example. President Trump put out a you know a
bill that he wanted to give our tips as tax free,
(03:12):
and then Harris has did that this week. If you
look at the headlines, how the same newspapers portrayed his
when he proposed it versus her. One was negative, one
was very positive. And you see that across the board.
So there's almost like a lot of the reporters out
there our cheerleaders for Harris. But I wanted to say this,
we got to own this. When I got elected, I
(03:33):
was told the media is not fair and get over it.
You got to be sharper than the other guy. And
I would just say President Trump's got to stay focused
on the issues. Harris couldn't even make it to the
first debate, or excuse me, the first primary in twenty twenty.
She's a historically terrible candidate. She was the most liberal
senator in the Senate. She was one hundred worst for
(03:55):
the worst, and then you know Bernie Sanders was next worst.
She was to the left of Bernie Sanders. And if
you look at gun confiscation to ending fracking and medicare
for all, if we focus on those issues and the
results of what President Trump had this is we're going
to win this race. But you get sidetracked on DEI
(04:15):
or you know, start attacking a Republican governor, it does
not work. And so if we stay focused on the issues,
she was the worst senator in the US Senate. The
vice president nominee for her he was fairly centrist as
a congressman, but it would be one of the most
ridiculously progressive governors in our country. He's a Bernie Sanders governor.
(04:37):
And if we can't get that through the voters, we're
going to struggle. But it's a truth. So we just
got to convey this to the voters. And I think
if we do if we do this, if President Trump
does this, this is our race to win.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
We're speaking with Representative Don Bacon, second Congressional District of Nebraska.
A lot of Republicans are saying our policies are so
much better than their They can't even run on their
own policies right now based on three and a half years.
But people in the middle, I fear, if you're especially
if you're a staunch Republican, I fear that it's going
to be personality versus policy, and personality is what many
(05:15):
people will vote for when they don't understand or can't
comprehend some policy. Is that something that could backfire, especially
considering the reputation Donald Trump has to potentially independent voters
in America.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
So the based voters always vote on policy, and so
the hardcore Dons or policy and the hard core Republicans
or policy. The swing voters are more based on personality.
They have to like you and they have to trust you.
And that's why we got to be on message. And
we can't be you know, our nominee to include myself.
(05:49):
We have to be focused on the issues and what
we've got done in the past and what our opponent
has Donna failed to do. And I'll tell you the
policies are so clear that if we stay on message,
I think we can win the personality argue a two.
But you get into name calling and attacking character, talking
(06:10):
about race and things like that, it's it's going to backfire.
So the issues are in our favor, but we've got
to be focused on them.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
I did some you know, electoral math, and if this
happens right, all the predictable states go the way we
expect and Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin vote blue for the
for the presidency. And then the other four swing states
North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada vote read that could
basically be a dead heat. And the second Congressional District
(06:42):
of Nebraska and their single electoral vote could decide this election.
How important do you see the voter base here in
the Omaha area and do you expect this to be
in play for the Republicans considering that many are polling
this as mostly a Democratic situation for the presidency.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
Prior to Biden's stuff and down, I think President Trump
had the advantage here. That was the numbers we saw,
and I just believe that you could see it folks
and lost confidence in President Biden. I would say right now,
if you did the polling right today, they would be
in favor of Vice President Harris that said, this district
does not like a Bernie Sanders type politician, and she
(07:25):
was to the loft of Bernie Sanders. We have a
Mike or Tim Waltz is to the loft of but
he's been a Bernie Sanders governor. So if the voters
here see when when you talk about gun confiscation, when
you talk about mandating tampons and the men's or the boys, uh,
restrooms and high schools. When you talk about ending fracking,
(07:48):
so we're dependent on energy that does not appeal to
this district. But but you know, they also want a
deal maker and they want people to govern, and so
you know that's another thing we've got to communicate. Why
I focus on that here, I really do think the
issues if it's clearly understood, we have a great shot
at winning this district. In this district voter. But you know,
(08:10):
as each voter goes, we carry more weight than any
other district in the country right now, and so there's
an article about that. They're absolutely right this pound for pound,
we're the most important district in the country right at
the moment.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
There's no doubt that, you know, every single vote is
going to end up mattering, especially in the second congressional district.
And somebody that's going to be visiting and trying to,
you know, make people understand that will be jd Vance,
who is the Vice president's nominee for Donald Trump. A
guy that's been in the Senate of a short time,
but somebody that you certainly would consider a colleague. Can
(08:44):
you explain to me a little bit about his background.
Do you think he's been a positive influence on the
campaign so far.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
For Donald Trump, well, I think he's he's firing at
on cylinders right now. I mean, I think there was
a slow start. I think historically I've been studying this
since as a kid, when when the vice president get
or the nominee gets announced, it's typically a slow start.
They're not used to the headlights and uh and all
the all the cameras in front of him. But I
(09:10):
think he has been done. He's done really well. Like
the Sunday talk shows. Uh he I thought, you know,
he killed it. He was hitting hitting home runs with
every answer. Obviously, I would prefer the one area. I
prefer a little more clarity on Ukraine. Uh. I think
that's an area that's a week on our side because
the majority of voters support Ukraine. However, he's very strong
(09:31):
on Israel, and that's for Harris and Walts's week, because
they're trying to curry favor with the progressors, who you know,
are who are leaning towards the Palestinians or I would say,
wee k on Hamas and so so I think in
the end that's that's how I'm going to counter that
we have a leadership or our nominees are gonna be
(09:52):
very strong on Israel, and they're not. But I think
he's on fire now. He's firing on all cylinders. And
I was reading in the paper he's going to be
out here next week.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Yeah, and we don't know the location you have. As
soon as we get that, you'll hear that on the
newscast here on KFAB as well. Speaking with Representative Don Bacon,
second Congressional District here getting at Washington perspective on the
complexion of this race. And I appreciate all those thoughts,
but I know our military is near and dear to
your heart because you're a man of service as well,
and we are, you know, talking about the third anniversary
(10:23):
of the Afghanistan withdrawal, which you've been on record as
to saying is one of the most disastrous things has
ever happened as far as our military is concerned. Just
some thoughts on that as you reflect three years after
this tragedy occurred.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Well, first of all, I think about the thirteen US
troops that were killed, and they were killed by a
guy that was in Bagram prison and under orders of
President Biden, they had to release all the prisoners at
that guy went on and killed thirteen of our troopers.
And I fill for the family, you know Dagan Paige
and his family right here in Omaha. My heart's with thumb. Also,
(10:59):
if you saw today the Taliban paraded our helicopters, our
armored vehicles, the billions of dollars of weapons be left behind,
how could President Biden? I think that's a disaster, leaving
billions of dollars of weapons behind. And so just the
one thing I'd like to remind everybody, our chairman of
the Joint Chiefs told him, told President Biden his plan
(11:22):
was going to fail and recommended against it, that the
Taliban would take over. He thought in two months, he
did it would be two weeks, and in advice against it,
and he was overruled by the President who thought he
knew better than General Milly. And we saw the disaster
two weeks it fell. The interpreters that served by our
side are being murdered today. The women in Afghanistan, they're
(11:45):
not allowed to go to schools anymore, and they're not
even allowed employment now either. So this has been a
nightmare of ethical proportions. And they want to blame President
Trump from negotiating with the Taliban. I didn't agree with
the negotiations Frankling, but it was conditions based and in
the end he did not do it. It was President
Biden who done it against the recommendations or the chairman
of the Joint Chiefs, and he owns it. And it
(12:08):
was a disaster.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
Yeah, it's certainly a day for the history books that
we will learn lessons from hopefully, so nothing like that
ever happens again. And somebody with unique perspective is someone
who did serve our country, and that is Representative Don Bacon.
He's currently serving in Congress for the second Congressional District
of Nebraska, and as always Representative Bacon, we really appreciate
the time and we'll talk to you again sometime very soon.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Thank you. Emory
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