Amash Blasts Defeated Opponent: 'I Ran For Office to Stop People Like You'
In his victory speech, Amash called on Ellis to apologize.
Having survived a primary challenge from a neoconservative crony capitalist supporter of the Export-Import Bank, Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) had no intention of making nice with an opponent who had branded him "al-Qaida's best friend" in Congress.
Brian Ellis, who lost to Amash 57 percent to 43 percent in Tuesday's primary, called to concede and congratulate the victor. But Amash rejected the call, lambasting Ellis for running "a ridiculous, despicable smear campaign."
In his victory speech, Amash called on Ellis to apologize:
"You owe my family and this community an apology for your disgusting, despicable smear campaign. You had the audacity to try and call me today after running a campaign that was called the nastiest in the country. I ran for office to stop people like you. To stop people who were more interested in themselves than in doing what's best for their district. Everyday Americans are taking back their government from the crooks and the cronies. They are taking back their government from the political class elites."
He also mocked former Republican House Rep. Pete Hoekstra, who backed Ellis:
"You are a disgrace. And I'm glad we could hand you one more loss before you fade into total obscurity and irrelevance."
Watch a video of the speech here, courtesy of The Washington Post.
More on Amash from Reason here.
