'Don't be ridiculous': Ex-GOP rep called out for stab at linking Talarico to Hezbollah

CNN contributor John Avlon called out former Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) on Saturday morning during a conversation about the Republican attempts to paint rising Democratic star James Talarico as a wild-eyed extremist.According to Meijer, whose own star crashed to the ground after one term, the moderate Texas lawmaker running for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) has yet to assure voters he is not aligned with Middle Eastern terrorists.That wild assertion stemmed from comments made on “Table for Five” by conservative panelist Lydia Moynihan as she tried to make the case for scandal-plagued Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.Making an attempt at a lesser-of-two-evils argument, the New York Post writer listed off a litany of spurious claims Republicans are testing out against Democrats and Talarico.As she put it, “I will take Ken Paxton any day over a Hezbollah and an Iranian sympathizer.”Avlon countered, “Right, but is James Talarico any of those things?” at which point Meijer jumped in and stated, “We don't know what James Talarico is.”As Moynihan attempted to agree with the former Republican lawmaker, Avlon laughed and shot back, “That is ridiculous, Peter. That is so ridiculous.”“I’m not accusing him of being that,” Meijer protested as Avlon continued, “You’re better than that.” - YouTube youtu.be