Kevin McCarthy and Liz Cheney Indirectly Denounce New Pro-Trump America First Caucus

It was reported earlier today that several House Republicans, led by U.S. House Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) and Paul Gosar (AZ), are forming a pro-Trump America First Caucus.

A policy platform for the group declares that “a certain intellectual boldness is needed” in order to “follow in President Trump’s footsteps, and potentially step on some toes and sacrifice sacred cows for the good of the American nation.”

Language in the founding documents that has now been indirectly denounced by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and U.S. House Rep Liz Cheney (R-WY) as well as many others, more directly in many cases, calls for a “common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions.”

Following the report of the new caucus, McCarthy tweeted, “America is built on the idea that we are all created equal and success is earned through honest, hard work. It isn’t built on identity, race, or religion. The Republican Party is the party of Lincoln & the party of more opportunity for all Americans—not nativist dog whistles.”

America is built on the idea that we are all created equal and success is earned through honest, hard work. It isn’t built on identity, race, or religion.

The Republican Party is the party of Lincoln & the party of more opportunity for all Americans—not nativist dog whistles.

— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) April 16, 2021

Not long after that, Cheney tweeted, “Republicans believe in equal opportunity, freedom, and justice for all. We teach our children the values of tolerance, decency and moral courage. Racism, nativism, and anti-Semitism are evil. History teaches we all have an obligation to confront & reject such malicious hate.”

Republicans believe in equal opportunity, freedom, and justice for all. We teach our children the values of tolerance, decency and moral courage. Racism, nativism, and anti-Semitism are evil. History teaches we all have an obligation to confront & reject such malicious hate.

— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) April 16, 2021

Greene has pushed back on those suggestions in a recent tweet where she said, “Did you miss me this week Fake @JakeSherman? Taking #AngloSaxon out of context to mean racist is the same as the idiots that lied about me and #JewishSpaceLasers. Jake, how about you tell your favorite communist @AOC to debate me and I’ll teach her about #AmericaFirst. K?”

Did you miss me this week Fake @JakeSherman?

Taking #AngloSaxon out of context to mean racist is the same as the idiots that lied about me and #JewishSpaceLasers.

Jake, how about you tell your favorite communist @AOC to debate me and I’ll teach her about #AmericaFirst.

K? https://t.co/Otn1ICxRXX pic.twitter.com/XYiMfrIZcb

— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) April 16, 2021

From The Hill:

The policy platform, which was first reported on by Punchbowl News and obtained by The Hill, states that “America is a nation with a border, and a culture, strengthened by a common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions.”

“History has shown that societal trust and political unity are threatened when foreign citizens are imported en-masse into a country, particularly without institutional support for assimilation and an expansive welfare state to bail them out should they fail to contribute positively to the country,” the document continues.

“As such, America’s legal immigration system should be curtailed to those that can contribute not only economically, but have demonstrated respect for this nation’s culture and rule of law.”

The platform further calls for infrastructure that “reflects the architectural, engineering and aesthetic value that befits the progeny of European architecture.”

It states that public infrastructure “must be utilitarian as well as stunningly, classically beautiful, befitting a world power and source of freedom,” specifically citing the example of the ancient Romans.

The platform also calls for ending business closures caused by COVID-19 health measures and restricting access to voting. The position on voting access cites former President Trump‘s baseless claims of election fraud and calls for ending voting by mail, implementing a national voter ID law and investigating allegations of voter fraud.