Democrats have a public relations disaster on their fingers that they should “change” now – the notion that they’re unpatriotic, Rep. Tom Suozzi declared in a brand new op-ed.
“I like America. Sadly, as we have fun our nation’s 250th birthday, too many Individuals affiliate these three phrases solely with Republicans,” Suozzi (D-NY) wrote in a Wall Avenue Journal opinion piece revealed Wednesday.
“Democrats want to alter that,” he argued.
Suozzi voiced a number of grievances he and different Democrats have with President Trump and the “nation’s present trajectory.”
“Beneath President Trump, we’ve fallen quick on earnings inequality. We’ve seen masked brokers go head-to-head with U.S. residents. Our elections and voting rights have been attacked, whereas misinformation proliferates on-line amid bigotry, extremism and political violence,” he wrote.
The congressman, nevertheless, urged these annoyed with the nation’s course to not let their considerations dampen their patriotism.
“Regardless of all this, we should always stay fiercely happy with the American system,” Suozzi continued. “It has enabled the hunt for ‘a extra excellent union’, making doable the abolition of slavery, the rights of girls and black Individuals to vote, the safety of civil rights, the confrontation of spiritual, ethnic and racial bigotry and a lot extra.”
He stated patriotism doesn’t ask Individuals “to whitewash the nation’s shortcomings,” however to confront them whereas recognizing the power “to appropriate our errors” within the US democratic system to make America higher.
“Democrats have lengthy believed that America is nice not as a result of it’s excellent, however as a result of it has the capability to develop into higher. We should reclaim the language of patriotism, as a result of our historical past teaches us that probably the most American factor any of us can do is assist our nice nation stay as much as the beliefs charted by our Founders 250 years in the past: liberty, equality, democracy and the rule of regulation.,” Suozzi wrote.
“Patriotism,” the congressman added, “means recognizing that America has been a pressure for good.”
Suozzi cited the American Revolution and the way it “fueled struggles for independence, democracy and self-determination from Europe to Latin America.”
“Two and a half centuries later, America continues to be a beacon,” he stated.
“Patriotism doesn’t demand blind loyalty,” Suozzi argued. “It calls for religion that our nation is price bettering and confidence that our beliefs are price defending.”
Some current surveys present that Democrats are much less patriotic than Republicans.
Simply 18% of self-described Democrats stated they felt “proud” to be an American in comparison with 68% of Republicans, in line with an Elon College ballot launched final month.
A separate current Reuters/Ipsos survey discovered 64% of Republicans stated they’d show an American flag or flag bunting exterior their residence this July 4, in contrast with simply 27% of Democrats.
In the meantime, Dariliaza Avila Chevaier, the socialist who received the Democratic major in Home District 13 protecting northern Manhattan and The Bronx, as soon as boasted on social media, “I forgot to get napkins so I simply wiped my hand on the American flag behind me.”
Suozzi, a former Nassau County government and gubernatorial candidate who represents the swing third district protecting components of Lengthy Island and Queens, faces a tricky re-election battle from Republican Michael Lipetri, a former state assemblyman.
It’s a rematch. Suozzi defeated Lipetri by solely 3 proportion factors in 2024, when President Trump carried the district over Democrat Kamala Harris, the previous vp.
Lipetri instructed The Put up that Suozzi is making an attempt to desperately distance himself from “American-hating communists” in his personal celebration, and his personal voting document, by speaking about patriotism.
“Discuss is affordable. That is simply one other instance of Tom Suozzi saying no matter it takes to avoid wasting himself,” Lipetri stated.
“Whether or not it’s voter ID, mass amnesty and open borders, retaining boys in women’ sports activities, or tax will increase, he flips and votes precisely with the America-hating communists in his personal celebration.”
Suozzi give up Congress in 2022 to run governor, shedding to Kathy Hochul within the Democratic major.
However he received the seat again in a particular election in Feburary 2024 after convicted fraudster, Republlican Rep. George Santos, was expelled from Congress. He received re-election that fall in opposition to Lipetri in a squeaker.
“We should always reject each the politics of resentment on the appropriate and ideological purity on the left,” Suozzi’s op-ed continued. “Individuals are in search of sensible options, not limitless tradition wars or litmus checks.”
In accordance with the congressman, “the selection Democrats face is evident.”
“We are able to permit patriotism to develop into a partisan label, or we are able to reclaim a practice that rightly belongs to each American.”
