Congressman Says 17 House Members Are Socialists

By: Brent Lang
Topics: Congress

(AP Photo/Dennis Cook)

You have to go all the way back to 1929 to find a member of the Socialist Party in the U.S. House of Representatives, but U.S. Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) says the "workers' party" is alive and kicking on Capitol Hill.

While addressing elected officials yesterday in his Birmingham-area district, the conservative congressman told an audience at the Trussville Civic Center that socialists in Congress are pressuring President Obama to cater to the far left of the political spectrum, The Birmingham News reports.

"Some of these guys I work with, the men and women in Congress, are socialists," the congressman said.

When asked to name names following his remarks, Bachus could only cite one person – U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.), a self-described "Democratic Socialist." But he demurred when pressed to name specific members of the House who subscribe to socialism.

He had a number though. Bachus was able to say that 17 house members are socialists.

If he's concerned about the rise of socialism, a new Rasmussen Reports polls shows that Bachus may have reason to worry. According to its findings, just 53 percent of those asked prefer capitalism to socialism. Twenty percent of respondents favored socialism to the free market system.

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by zykracosmos April 21, 2009 8:11 AM EDT

Rule #3: If you are on the left then you are required to accept anything that the leadership states as truth...
Posted by historydude2 at 10:04 AM : Apr 15, 2009
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This is so funny! After witnessing Tom Delay's almost military command of the Republicans in Congress to "fall in line" or be punished, this guy has the audacity to compare the fractious independent Democrats with these extremists who threw our country into the dark ages.

Reply to this comment


by actornaught July 4, 2009 11:11 AM EDT: 'dude2 was told to say that...


by iamDutchess1 April 13, 2009 8:31 AM EDT: His statements reminds me of the movie "The Manchurian Candidate" where Angela Lansbury tells James Gregory how many "Communists" are in the Senate. In the scene he stands up and says there are X number of Communists. Later a reporter asks him what the number was and he rattles off a different number. In the back room he asks his wife, Angela Lansbury, "hon, how many Communists are there? Just give me a set number" to which she replied that it didn't matter how many there were. One was too many. And of course, they couldn't name any either.; Reply to this comment


by actornaught April 12, 2009 8:36 PM EDT: Sound a bit like Joe McCarthy ?
Posted by pr_boxer at 1:33 PM : Apr 12, 2009

Not even on a par with Joe. At least back then there were a few people that did sincerely hold to communist ideology, even tho' Joe exaggerated it ridiculously.

The double-edged problem might be the mangling of the meaning of "socialism" in fox limbaugh media. There is just about nobody in the USA that is actually socialist. But since public works, universal healthcare, etc, have been labeled as such, and so many people favor them, "socialism" as it's been redefined sounds okay to many people.

Extrapolating, perhaps the neocons will be creating real socialists where there would'nt've been any, had they been honest about it all along.

But for now, let's hold this creep's feet to the fire, and see what his "list" says. Should be good for another neocon scandal...; Reply to this comment


by democracy1 April 12, 2009 7:52 PM EDT: Uhh actually there has been a study released about Obamas speeches and it would appear that he may have attempted to do this very notion, Funny how you should bring this up!

Posted by tyrany1 at 8:13 AM : Apr 12, 2009

No, actually there has only been a fake study done as a YouTube Troll post that PRETENDS to be an actual study.

And YOU'RE such a moron that you fell for it!!!!!!!!!; Reply to this comment


by pr_boxer April 12, 2009 4:33 PM EDT: Sound a bit like Joe McCarthy ?; Reply to this comment


by pr_boxer April 12, 2009 4:30 PM EDT: How many Facist are there? Thats the problem Congressman!; Reply to this comment


by tyrany1 April 12, 2009 11:13 AM EDT: Uhh actually there has been a study released about Obamas speeches and it would appear that he may have attempted to do this very notion, Funny how you should bring this up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4iDwV7hCmw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebabylontoday%2Ecom%2Fnational%5Fdebt%5Fclock%2Ehtm&feature=player_embedded; Reply to this comment


by democracy1 April 12, 2009 10:26 AM EDT: Free speech is for all of us, even if you have never written anything even close to being right about anything.

But until you guys finish off the constitution, and the Bill of Rights I suggest you don?t read the truth we post here.

But I do have one thing I think you would love to hear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4iDwV7hCmw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebabylontoday%2Ecom%2Fnational%5Fdebt%5Fclock%2Ehtm&feature=player_embedded

None on the left have the guts to watch this!

No one on the left feels the need or the responsibility to be American enough to watch this.

I categorically put you all in line with the Barney Franks of the world if you wont even take a look at this truth!

Oh, peace unto you, and May your OBAMA be with you!
Love, Conservatism
Posted by tyrany1 at 6:00 AM : Apr 12, 2009

I did watch it and almost fell out of my chair laughing that anyone would be so stupid as to take this seriously!

"Obama Uses Hypnosis"--WHAT A CROCK!

And that they PRETEND to be a legitimate scientific group!
LMAO!

You sir, are nothing more than a gullible victim of YouTube Trolls. If you are foolish enough to believe anything that is on the internet, then you are TRULY a MORON!!!!!!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is this what the right wing has come to?

How lame can you get?!

BWAHAHAHAHA!; Reply to this comment


by tyrany1 April 12, 2009 9:00 AM EDT: Free speech is for all of us, even if you have never written anything even close to being right about anything.

But until you guys finish off the constitution, and the Bill of Rights I suggest you don?t read the truth we post here.

But I do have one thing I think you would love to hear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4iDwV7hCmw&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ebabylontoday%2Ecom%2Fnational%5Fdebt%5Fclock%2Ehtm&feature=player_embedded

None on the left have the guts to watch this!

No one on the left feels the need or the responsibility to be American enough to watch this.

I categorically put you all in line with the Barney Franks of the world if you wont even take a look at this truth!

Oh, peace unto you, and May your OBAMA be with you!
Love, Conservatism; Reply to this comment


by tyrany1 April 12, 2009 8:44 AM EDT: hakori

What are ya trying to say here?
are ya for or against free trade, the GOP, the DEMS, what?; Reply to this comment