Who would have thought Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters would have difficulty speaking but it happened when she was confronted with her own words.
“We can go around and around in circles about trying to talk about and defining socialism, but at its core I was intrigued by an op-ed that I saw not too long ago by a Democrat from Cuba commenting on one of our colleagues, an avowed socialist, and essentially pointing out the extent to which democratic socialism is a lot like the system my family fled except its proponents promised to be nicer when seizing your business. That’s the truth,” Texas Rep. Chip Roy said during a House Rules Committee meeting.
The Committee was discussing H. Con. Res 9 which is a resolution made by Florida Congresswoman Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar denouncing socialism.
The point of the resolution was to bring attention to the failure of socialism that has brought famines and human rights abuses. Salazar – who represents a section of Miami – is also using the resolution to force Democrats to vote on a bill opposing socialism.
During the hearing, Roy put Rep. Waters on the spot.
“I’ve got one question for… ranking member Waters in a 2008 hearing you said quote ‘and guess what, this liberal will be all about … this liberal will be all about socializing … would be about basically taking over the government and the government running all of your companies’ end quote,” Roy continued. “Simple question: Do you stand by that statement?”
“I’m not a socialist, I’m a capitalist and I commit to you that I am here to save Social Security, to save Medicare, to save seniors and Veterans and for some of you who have adopted certain kind of ways that you support what you now claim is socialism, I’m here to say to you, come on,” Waters said.
Roy then asked her why she demanded that the government take over oil companies in 2008.
“I am not a socialist,” Waters said.
