Former Rep. Mia Love made her debut this morning as a political commentator on CNN, following in the footsteps of other ex-members of Congress who’ve cashed in on TV deals.
Appearing on CNN’s “New Day” program alongside former Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Love discussed the government shutdown and partisan gridlock in Washington.
The former GOP Congresswoman lost her seat in Utah’s 4th District to Democrat Ben McAdams, who was sworn in last week.
Calling her departure from Congress “bittersweet,” Love told host John Berman she would be able to negotiate a deal with Democrats to reopen government if she were still serving.
“We would get it done,” she said, gesturing to Gutierrez.
"We'll teach you the secret handshake after the segment."@JohnBerman welcomes fmr. Congress members - and new @CNN political commentators - Mia Love and Luis Gutierrez.
— New Day (@NewDay) January 7, 2019
On shutdown, Love says if she and Gutierrez were still Reps., "we would get it done!"https://t.co/h0K8EFBBAr pic.twitter.com/7NtwOXPSSG
Love said the current impasse is largely the fault of Congress for allowing the president to consolidate too much power.
“We actually had a really good comprehensive bill that we couldn't get through. It was just really frustrating to me because we’re leaving everything in the hands of the administration, that’s where it shouldn’t be,” she said.
Gutierrez said Democrats have no incentive to compromise with a president who changes his mind so frequently.
“[You] cannot negotiate with someone who doesn’t keep their word,” he said.
Love’s TV appearance drew comparisons online to former Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah’s 3rd Congressional District.
Chaffetz abruptly quit Congress in May of 2017 in order to join Fox News, where he regularly provides commentary and plays substitute host for Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.
