OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Liberal Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California blew up at a Republican House member during a hearing Tuesday after he brought up comments she made 15 years ago in which she threatened a federal government takeover of U.S. oil companies.
“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,” said Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), during a hearing of the House Rules Committee to discuss H. Con. Res. 9, a measure introduced by Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) denouncing socialism.
The Daily Caller added:
Salazar and Republican Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the House majority leader, introduced the resolution to bring attention to the failures caused by socialism, including famines and human rights abuses, according to a release by Salazar, whose congressional district includes Miami. Passage of this concurrent resolution by the House of Representatives and Senate would put Congress on record as opposing socialism.
“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 said. “Simple question: Do you stand by that statement?”
Waters had made the remark in the context of “the government running all of your companies” during a 2008 hearing when, at the time, oil prices were topping $140 a barrel and the average price for a gallon of gasoline was $4.00.
“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 kinds of ways that you support what you now claim is socialism, I’m here to say to you, come on,” Waters said.
But Roy persisted, asking her if she still stood by her 2008 remark about a government takeover of oil companies.
“I am not a socialist,” Waters repeated.
WATCH:
Earlier this month, Waters appeared to get into a shouting match with another Republican on the House floor.
“This is my ninth vote for Hakeem Jefferies,” said Waters, who stood up when it was her turn to vote for her party’s leader before she turned and appeared to point to a group of Republicans behind her. “Matt Rosendale, get it together.”
Waters continued speaking but was drowned out by Republicans shouting, “Order!”
Before Waters’ comments, Montana GOP Rep. Matt Rosendale went after Waters directly while speaking on the floor.
“Last summer we began to negotiate, a group of us in good faith, a list of changes, amendments, to the rules of this body. Not to empower ourselves, not to bring personal benefit to ourselves, but to empower you and you and you, Maxine, and you, and you, and everyone sitting in this chamber equally,” Rosendale said.
“There are no rules, I did not use anyone’s name… Excuse me, Maxine.”
Rosendale is one of 20 Republicans who have voted against GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy for House speaker through 11 rounds of balloting over three days. With the GOP’s slim majority, McCarthy can only lose four members of his caucus. Republicans cannot pass a rules package, consider legislation, or begin oversight of the Biden administration until they agree on a speaker. Democrats have voted in lockstep for Rep.-elect Hakeem Jefferies, D-N.Y., to be the next House speaker,” Fox News reported.
WATCH
Democrat Rep. Maxine Waters gets in shouting match with Republicans on House floorpic.twitter.com/d4hIfnnJkp
— Patriot Alerts (@alerts___) January 6, 2023
Roy, meanwhile, offered Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), as a candidate for speaker, though Donalds was just reelected to his second term in November. As Roy pointed out, it was “the first time in history there have been two black Americans placed into the nomination for speaker of the House.”
