Dem lawmaker brags about transforming moderate coalition into national Antifa group

Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA) revealed that she and Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Mary Peltola (D-AK) are restructuring the Blue Dog Coalition into an "antifascist rural" group." 

According to Fox News, while speaking at a "Postcarding and Conversation" event last month, Glusenkamp Perez explained, "Jared, Mary, and I actually just took over the Blue Dogs." She continued, "They basically lost some of their membership before we came in, and we are sort of rebuilding it into, Mary, Jared, and I, are rebuilding it into this sort of antifascist rural [group]."

The Blue Dog Coalition was traditionally made up of centrist members of the Democrat party. According to the House Democrats website, the group says it "represents the center of the political spectrum, appealing to the mainstream values of the American public."

"The Blue Dogs are dedicated to pursuing fiscally-responsible policies, ensuring a strong national defense for our country, and transcending party lines to get things done for the American people."

In an interview with the Washington Post, the three explained that they want Democrats to go back to being a "big tent party," to grow the party. “I think it’s about creating a caucus where you’re free to represent your district and still be a Democrat because of the shared values that we still have with everyone else in our caucus, despite our differences,” Golden said about their goal to grow the group. 

Gluesenkamp Perez claimed in the interview, “I think it’s also important, like, we are not trying to win a popularity contest. We are trying to represent our communities and our values.” 

All three of the representatives are listed as targets by the Republican National Congressional Committee to have their seats taken in the House. The comments come as 15 members left the group earlier this year over internal disagreements on how to grow the group. 

Antifa, short for antifascists, is a far-left organization that causes chaos and violence to force their political goals. In January, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) said she would introduce legislation to declare the group as a domestic terrorist organization. 

There are currently 10 House Democrats that are registered members of the Blue Dog Coalition.