Politics

Congresswoman-Elect Starting ‘Freedom Force’ As Counterweight To Dems’ ‘Squad’

Report

There might be a new squad in town, and this time, it’ll be composed of Republicans.

Congresswoman-elect Maria Elvira Salazar, R-Fla., has signalled her interest in forming a “freedom force” to fight socialism.

A Cuban-American, Salazar called out the “socialist nightmare” created by former dictator Fidel Castro.

“I was born in Miami — a community built by survivors my parents fled Castro’s socialist nightmare,” she tweeted Friday. “[W]e can’t just let the socialist left destroy the American Dream for our children! join The Freedom Force & FIGHT BACK today!”

She linked to an article containing her previous comments on the issue. Salazar told NBC News: “I want to create a force within my freshman class that will have to be reckoned with. A force of reason, a force for freedom, a force for democracy.”

The idea of a conservative “squad” seemed like a possibility as New York Republican Nicolle Malliotakis –who defeated Rep. Max Rose, D-N. Y., this cycle — expressed interest. Malliotakis’ mother also fled Cuba.

“New York City needs a two-party system. We need someone who is going to be a counterbalance to AOC [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N. Y.]” Like Malliotakis’ and Salazar’s families, congresswoman-elect Victoria Spartz also has experience living under socialism.

“I grew up in a socialistic country, the Socialist Republic of Ukraine. I saw what happens when it runs out of money and it is not pretty,” Spartz previously told Fox News.

Salazar’s comments came amid a resurgence in Republican women in Congress and infighting over the direction of the Democratic Party.

The moderate vs. progressive divide erupted during a caucus call just days after the election, where Rep. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., urged the party to stay away from ideas typically associated with the left flank of her party. Spanberger was particularly animated and yelled during the call, Fox News confirmed. She told her colleagues: “We lost races we shouldn’t have lost. Defund the police almost cost me my race because of an attack ad. Don’t say socialism ever again. We need to get … (Read more)