The rift, some are calling a Civil War, within the Republican Part is growing as one representative announced her idea to create an “America First” caucus in Congress.
Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep. Matt Gaetz, two Donald Trump loyalists, are behind the new caucus, a document obtained by Punchbowl News showed.
“The America First Caucus (AFC) exists to promote Congressional policies that are to the long-term benefit of the American nation,” it said. The caucus said it aims ‘follow in President Trump’s footsteps, and potentially step on some toes and sacrifice sacred cows for the good of the American nation.”
But the group has been accused of being racist because it said “The America First Caucus recognizes that our country is more than a mass of consumers or a series of abstract ideas. America is a nation with a border, and a culture, strengthened by a common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions. History has shown that societal trust and political unity are threatened when foreign citizens are imported en-masse into a country, particularly without institutional support for assimilation and an expansive welfare state to bail them out should they fail to contribute positively to the country.”
That particular paragraph ruffled many feathers, even among Republicans. But Rep. Matt Gaetz was one of the first to say he would join.
“I’m proud to join @mtgreenee in the #AmericaFirst Caucus. We will end wars, stop illegal immigration & promote trade that is fair to American workers. This is just a hit piece from the America Last crowd in Big Media, Big Tech & Big Government,” he said in a tweet.
Another paragraph on immigration made many furious.
“An important distinction between post-1965 immigrants and previous waves of settlers is that previous cohorts were more educated, earned higher wages, and did not have an expansive welfare state to fall back on when they could not make it in America and thus did not stay in the country at the expense of the native-born,” he said.
Many derided the group as racist because it would be a caucus the promotes Anglo Saxon traditions, but those same people do not appear to have an issue with the Congressional Black Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus or the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.
Tt was the Republicans, who are quick to form a circular firing squad, who came out strong against it that stunned many.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California representative, said that the new caucus did not reflect the ideals of the Republican Party.
“America is built on the idea that we are all created equal and success is earned through honest, hard work. It isn’t built on identity, race, or religion. The Republican Party is the party of Lincoln & the party of more opportunity for all Americans—not nativist dog whistles,” he said in a tweet.
And Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger was one of the strongest voices against it, but he has also been one of the strongest voices against Trump.
“Just when I was hoping to take a long weekend away from crazy I see this. Completely disgusted,” he said.
“I believe anyone that joins this caucus should have their committees stripped, and the Republican conference should expel them from conference participation. While we can’t prevent someone from calling themselves Republican, we can loudly say they don’t belong to us,” he said.
“When Matt says he’s joining the white supremacy caucus,” he then said, referencing Rep. Gaetz.
But a representative for Rep. Taylor Greene hit back at the media reports about the new caucus.
“Capitol Hill is full of dirty backstabbing swamp creatures willing to leak gossip to borderline tabloids, like Punchbowl News,” spokesman Nick Dyer said. “Be on the lookout for a public release for the America First Caucus platform when it’s released publicly very soon.”
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