GOP irked by Rep. Haaland’s ‘peaceful protesters’ remark (Dem US Rep. from NM)

The Albuquerque Journal ^ | August 25, 2019 | Scott Turner

[CedarDave]

Did U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland call leftist group antifa peaceful protesters in an interview with CNN, and should the rest of New Mexico’s congressional delegation condemn her for doing so?

Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce believes so, and called on Haaland’s Democratic colleagues to do so in a news release last week by the party.

“Rep. Deb Haaland’s comments calling Antifa ‘peaceful protestors’ are reprehensible, and our Federal delegation should disavow Haaland’s irresponsible and incorrect statement that goes against our American values,” the former Congressman said.

Haaland was asked about President Donald Trump’s post on Twitter about the possibility that antifa would be labeled a domestic terrorist organization and the protests going on in Portland, Oregon, over the weekend.

“It’s not surprising Trump would side away from the folks who are peaceful protesters, working to safeguard their city from domestic terrorism. Not surprised at all that the President sides with the white nationalists. That’s been his mode of operation since before he was elected President,” Haaland said during the interview.

“Violent extremism must be called out truthfully no matter the source,” Pearce said. “I call on Sens. (Martin) Heinrich and (Tom) Udall, along with Reps. (Ben Ray) Luján and (Xochitl) Torres Small to join me in condemning Rep. Haaland’s inexcusable and baffling support for this violent group.”

Haaland’s office deferred to the state Democratic Party, which said Haaland was not referring to antifa.

“Anyone who listens to the clip will hear that Congresswoman Haaland is standing against white supremacy and expressing her concern for communities that are being targeted because of President Trump’s daily embrace of hatred and bigotry,” the party said in a statement to the Journal.

[CedarDave]

Haaland, a Native-American from Laguna Pueblo, is one of two new Dem Congressional Representatives from New Mexico who were elected in last November's complete takeover of the Dem party by far-left, anti-Trump radical environmentalists. With complete control of the governor's office and the state legislature they have already enacted gun control (universal background checks and prohibition of gun ownership if domestic violence charge) and climate change requirements that require renewables and ban fossil fuel electric generation by 2040 in a state with #3 production in the nation of oil and natural gas (which funds 35% of state government). Oh, and with a $1.3 billion in surplus funds this year from that industry, they raised taxes anyway.

[CedarDave]

NM list PING!

I may not PING for all New Mexico articles. To see New Mexico articles by topic click here: New Mexico Topics

To see NM articles by keyword, click here: New Mexico Keywords

To see the NM Message Page, click here: New Mexico Messages

(The NM list is available on my FR homepage for FR member use; its use in the News Forum should not be for trivial or inconsequential posts. Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
(For ABQ Journal articles requiring a subscription, scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the article for free after answering a question or watching a short video commercial.)

[BenLurkin]

“Violence is peaceful” NewSpeak

[refermech]

I know a lot of people that won’t take the time to educate themselves and vote. It’s a damn shame what has happened to New Mexico.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Haaland supports terrorism and terrorists. Period. She needs to be run out of office on a rail.

[Deplorable American1776]

New Mexico: The land of Morons