The battle over socialism’s future in America moved into the House chamber Tuesday, when Republican lawmakers voted to condemn socialism and the increasingly powerful Democratic Socialists of America.
The resolution passed with support from just eight Democrats.
In November, the last time the House voted on a resolution condemning socialism, 86 Democrats supported the measure. That was before socialists won multiple Democratic House primaries this year, in some cases unseating incumbents endorsed by party leaders.
The resolution, introduced by Rep. Jeff Crank, Colorado Republican, also calls for passage of the SAVE America Act, which would require photo identification and proof of citizenship in federal elections.
“It’s a reaffirmation of our commitment to the Constitution of the United States,” Mr. Crank told News Nation before the vote.
Many House Democrats opposed the resolution, even as they distanced themselves from the socialist movement in their party.
“I don’t agree with much of the DSA, but … this is America,” Rep. John Larson, Connecticut Democrat, told The Washington Times. “It’s wide open to every point of view that you can imagine and think of.”
The resolution broadly condemns the DSA’s platform but, more specifically, targets the group’s support for voting rights for noncitizens and extols the SAVE America Act.
House Democratic leadership opposed the measure. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Minority Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar all voted against it.
A few swing-district Democrats crossed party lines to condemn socialism. They included Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington, Jared Golden of Maine, Donald Davis of North Carolina and Kathy Castor of Florida, whose district became competitive only after Florida’s Republican redistricting this year.
Some Democrats who say voter ID requirements suppress turnout opposed the resolution because of its SAVE America Act language.
“It’s my understanding that the resolution elevates the so-called SAVE America Act, which is just the ’suppress the vote act,’” Mr. Jeffries told The Washington Times before the vote. “I’m not clear how many Democrats are actually going to support a resolution whose focus is on trying to rig the midterm election.”
Last year, Mr. Jeffries voted for the resolution condemning socialism. He now needs democratic socialists to win in November to help him seize the speaker’s gavel.
Democratic Socialists of America’s platform calls for abolishing the U.S. Senate and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and replacing the presidency and the Supreme Court with new institutions subordinated to the House of Representatives.
It also calls for closing overseas military bases, providing reparations to the descendants of slaves and guaranteeing “universal healthcare at no cost.”
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, a Texas Democrat seeking reelection in a competitive district, said he saw the resolution as a ploy for the midterms.
“It’s just a political bill that they’re putting on the floor to try to send mailers and run TV ads on Democrats. It’s a really disingenuous way to address issues,” Mr. Gonzalez said.
He said he opposed socialism and supported requiring voter ID in elections, but was not on board with backing the SAVE America Act.
Mr. Gonzalez ultimately voted for the resolution.
Ahead of the vote, a group of moderate Democrats introduced an amendment to strip the resolution’s SAVE America Act advocacy but retain its condemnation of socialism. It did not advance out of the House Rules Committee.
“They’re just running the SAVE Act again,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer, the New Jersey Democrat who authored the amendment, told The Times. “They’re not actually interested in getting people on the record on whether socialists are part of the Democratic Party.”
Mr. Gottheimer said he did not like the idea of condemning the DSA, which he says is separate from his party.
“I don’t condemn anyone’s perspective. I disagree with their perspective,” he said. “I just think they’re not part of the Democratic Party. They don’t support many of our policies. They have their own policies.”
Meanwhile, Rep. Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Democrat, dismissed the importance of the DSA’s platform.
“Honestly, reporters right now talk about DSA more than anyone in Wisconsin,” he said. “I’m going to keep talking about groceries and gas back home because that’s how you win elections. The people who are about to lose the majority are going to talk about socialism, so I’m going to let them do that.”
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