SEC. POMPEO: We're In For "REAL Challenges" Ahead

On today’s very special edition of Sekulow, ACLJ Senior Counsel for Global Affairs, and former U.S. Secretary of State Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Mike Pompeo joined us IN STUDIO.

Secretary Pompeo shared his expert analysis of last week’s surprising midterm elections, and his thoughts on America’s immediate and long-term future.

My dad, ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, kicked things off by asking Sec. Pompeo for his thoughts on the midterms, as well as the state of conservative leadership right now. Sec. Pompeo made the case that conservative leaders were just not in touch with their voters this time and they need to do the work:

It was a disappointing election for sure. We had some good things . . . so it’s not all bad news but goodness gracious, with inflation running at close to 10%, open borders, all those things, we should well have been able to make the case to the American people that there was a need for change much more radical than what we’re going to be able to get. The message President Biden received, sadly, we all saw. He said nothing’s going to change. And so conservative leaders, those of us who believe in our founding traditions, need to return to that, and . . . the last thing this reminds me of in this election is work. You have to go work. It’s not enough to rail on Twitter. It’s not enough to go on Fox News. You have to go out and actually communicate and listen, and I don’t think enough of our candidates did that.

My dad echoed Secretary Pompeo’s words, and called out leadership that is discouraging its own supporters from using the system the same way their opponents are:

I think there is a leadership void right now . . . Joe Biden’s approval ratings are really low – but the lack of vision casting within the Republican Party, and this looking back over previous elections. I think we’re actually hurting ourselves as this continues to happen, because number one, it depresses the vote. Number two, it’s like the early voting thing –  we have somehow gotten it in our head that this is a bad thing to do, that it’s not American – but if your state allows early voting,  we need to take advantage of everything because frankly they’re building up a huge lead a month before the election actually happens. And a lot can happen in that last month.

If you want leaders who share your beliefs, your values, and your priorities, then you have to use every option the law will allow. As Sec. Pompeo added, “You’ve got to get out there and work it.”

As I shared with the Secretary, one of my concerns is obviously the economy. Inflation is out of control. Gas prices appear to be creeping back up again. Food prices are up (and probably not coming back down). Some people probably voted for handouts – for relief checks – just like in the worst days of COVID-19. It’s possible even some conservative voters figured their vote wouldn’t matter so they might as well try to get some of that money.

And now I can’t help but fear that conservative lawmakers, knowing their congressional powers are somewhat precarious, will cave to the Left, and we’ll see more “bipartisan” money going out without any solid plan to put it back. Not a plan that doesn’t hurt Americans in the long-run, anyway.

And as Sec. Pompeo, himself a former member of the House of Representatives explained, my concerns are justified:

I’ve seen this dynamic when you have small majorities in the House, there’s an enormous amount of pressure on those in the center, and those in less conservative districts to go along with some of that big government spending. I hope they will come along to see that’s not in America’s best interest.

One thing is certain after chatting with Sec. Pompeo today – we cannot let our guard down. Not for a second. The next month will find us with a lame duck Congress, and we can only imagine what the radical Left will try to jam through while they still can.

Now that the race for the White House in 2024 has officially begun, conservative candidates need to stop talking about the past as a campaign strategy, because it’s failed. We need our leaders to present a compelling vision of the future they want to create. That is how you connect with and inspire voters. And that is how you win elections, with vision, not with lectures, or with antics. 

Today’s full Sekulow broadcast includes more in-depth discussion with Sec. Mike Pompeo about the midterm elections, and his very serious concerns for the next month, and the next two years as President Biden feels much more comfortable to push his radical agenda and attempts to shred the Constitution. Pompeo also shared his thoughts on international policy, and our relationships with countries like China and Russia. And speaking of putting in work, we even discuss the former CIA Chief’s days working at Baskin-Robbins. You will want to watch the full hour.

Watch the full broadcast below: