A House Democrat sounded off Tuesday against members of her own party who have embraced socialist policies over the last few years.
“I am offended by this whole conversation about socialism,” said Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla. “The idea that in the greatest democracy, the greatest capitalist system in the world, we’re having casual conversation about socialism, offends me.”
Murphy, speaking at the BakerHostetler conference in Washington, declared herself a “proud capitalist” in front of the 150 attendees. She did not name any of her colleagues. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., are two prominent lawmakers who have touted socialist policies.
[Read more: Poll: Americans like capitalism more than socialism, yet want government to do more, not less]
“It is the system that built us the greatest nation and the greatest economy in the world. Sure, we have to fix the inequities that exist in our system. We have to make sure everybody, no matter what zip code they’re born in, has a fair shot,” Murphy said. “But it is not the moment to undo the whole system and embrace something that Americans have spent blood and treasure fighting to save other countries from.”
Murphy, the first Vietnamese American woman in Congress, said her disdain for socialism is a result of growing up in a country that adhered to that style of government. She immigrated as a refuge to the U.S. with her family as a baby.
She recalled mailing enough medicines, bandages, fabric, and other items to last a year from the U.S. to relatives back in Vietnam because they were not available.
