Rep. Debbie Dinged (D., Mich.) said Thursday that talking about the new branding and leadership of the Democratic Party are "false discussions."
CNN host Poppy Harlow asked Dingell about her thoughts on Democrats' new branding and desire to have a fresher face run for leadership in 2018 and president in 2020.
Dingell wondered why she and Harlow, and the media in general, were "having this discussion."
"You had Rep. Seth Moulton, Democrat from Massachusetts, your fellow Democrat in Congress, saying he doesn't want the leadership, Pelosi and Schumer's name on bumper stickers heading into 2018," Harlow said. "He said they are not the future of the party. Do you agree new leadership is needed?
"You know, why are we having this discussion?" Dingell asked. "I represent my district. And in my district, it's my name that's on that bumper sticker."
However, Harlow cut in and told Dingell that they were talking about this because leadership is in charge of everything from fundraising to messaging, and is the face of the party.
"It matters, right?" Harlow asked.
"See, I don't think that's the discussion we need to be having right now," Dingell said. "And I won't have that discussion because I think it's people trying to divide us. And that's what people are doing to us every place, divide us with fear and hatred."
"I want to talk about the issues and I'm gonna talk about the issues," she said. "And I think it's a sheer distraction when we try to have these discussions. They're false discussions."
Harlow asked Dingell about the slogan "A Better Deal" and whether former President Barack Obama's speechwriters Jon Lovett and and Jon Favreau were right when they called the slogan "garbage."
"Well they're certainly not right about my district," Dingell said.
Dingell went on to describe how well she knows her constituents from going to union halls and farmers markets in Ann Arbor, and said that representatives need to know their constituents and represent them.
"And you don't think 'A Better Deal' does that?" Harlow asked.
"No, I don't disagree with 'A Better Deal' but you need to be able to talk about a better deal," Dingell said.
"I can talk about it because I know what they mean," Dingell said.