Introduced by Rep. Jeff Frank, (R-CO), the resolution condemns and denounces socialism “in all its forms” after it claimed 100 million lives worldwide from famine and mass murder.
Describing the resolution on the “Washington Watch” program, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) called socialism a “degradation” of everything the United States represents.
“God, country, the free enterprise system,” Fleishmann told show host Jody Hice.
"So we should condemn it on the House floor," Rep. Fleischmann also stated. "We should condemn it all across these great United States because it's antithetical to the great nation that we have."
A previous and similar-sounding resolution passed in the House 285-98 last year, 14 months ago. That resolution was introduced by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Florida Republican, whose parents fled Cuba and came to the United States in 1961. Two years earlier, Fidel Castro had overthrown the Batista regime and seized control, executing or jailing his political enemies.
The new resolution from Rep. Crank, however, is drawing the ire of his Democrat colleagues for a couple of reasons that make it likely to get a “nay” vote from Democrats this week.
One reason is Crank’s resolution blatantly condemns the DSA, Democratic Socialists of America. The radical communist-backed group, which was founded in the 1980s, has emerged as an organized and energized political force during the midterm elections. The group's radical platform is also creating headaches for Democrats since Republicans are airing political ads to highlight that influence.
There is also political tension on Capitol Hill after DSA-endorsed candidates upset the political machine by defeating several incumbent Democrats.
The second reason Democrats oppose Crank’s resolution is it states support for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, the election bill that Democrats oppose and voted against in February.
After the socialism resolution passed a key committee vote Monday, Fox News reported lawmakers got in a shouting match over the definition of socialism.
A story by The Hill, also on Monday, reported that four House Democrats have introduced an amendment to compete with Rep. Crank's resolution. Their amendment also denounces socialism, and also criticizes the DSA for its controversial positions, but there is no mention of supporting the SAVE Act.
That amendment was blocked in the GOP-led committee vote Monday, the Hill story said.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) told The Hill that Republican are playing "political games," and the proposed amendment was introduced to prove it, he said.
