Florida State Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D), who is arguably the most controversial Progressive/Socialist Democrat in the State House of Representatives, has come out in support and is defending Socialism during a heated debate on the floor of the Florida House of Representatives. Rep. Smith denies Socialism has ever killed anyone.
Rep. Smith took issue with the CS/HR 145 “Individual Liberty, Private Property, and Democracy” cosponsored by Miami Rep. Tom Fabricio that condemns Socialism as a whole in the state and nation.
The measure passed along party lines, even though Floridians dispelled Democratic Socialism during the 2020 presidential election.
Smith acknowledges that today’s Democratic Party has wholly embraced Socialism, which he argues has not caused the deaths of anyone, ever.
“With all due respect, adopting possibly a resolution to condemn an entire political party and movement, so I'm trying to understand the justification and I’m hoping that this sponsor can answer for me whether or not this movement has resulted in any physical harm or death because there are political movements that have resulted in that. I'd like an answer on that question,” said Smith.
Rep. Fabricio made his case:
“I would say that around the world, many people have died as a result of Socialism. Many people have died leaving countries, looking for freedom coming to this country, so I would say that many have died as a result of this.”
Smith, appears to mock and disagree with Fabricio’s statement that Socialism “has killed people around the world.”
Smith: “Again, Wow! These are stunning allegations that Socialism has killed people around the world. My question is, are you at all concerned that by focusing on Democratic Socialism, which has actually resulted in no deaths, no one is physically harmed, and not addressing the very real problem of neo-Nazism, white supremacy, and Fascism in the last four years, that we are sending a bad message.”
While prominent Florida Republican lawmakers like Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, and Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Brian Mast, Matt Gaetz, and others, have denounced the killing that has resulted from Socialism around the world, so have many of Smith’s fellow Florida Democrats.
Former Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell denounced Senator Bernie Sanders’ support for Socialism and Communism, stating the following during the 2018 Democratic presidential primary race:
“As the first South American immigrant member of Congress who proudly represents thousands of Cuban Americans, I find Senator Bernie Sanders’ comments on Castro’s Cuba absolutely unacceptable. ... The Castro regime murdered and jailed dissidents, and caused unspeakable harm to too many South Florida families. To this day, it remains an authoritarian regime that oppresses its people, subverts the free press, and stifles a free society.”
Rep. Ted Deutch also denounced socialism.
“It’s not just socialism. When it comes to Israel, a lot of people are really uncomfortable with the thought of using critical assistance to Israel as some sort of bargaining chip, some withholding aid as a threat to Israel,” said Rep. Deutch said. “For a candidate who runs in Florida and talks to the pro-Israel community, when they hear a candidate saying maybe we ought to ... withhold aid to Israel to make some sort of political statement, that’s something that’s going to concern a lot of people.”
Even Rep. Stephanie Murphy, who is also from the Orlando area, called Democratic Socialism a “dangerous philosophy.”
“I’ll-informed & insulting to thousands of Floridians. Castro was a murderous dictator who oppressed his own people. His ‘literacy program’ wasn’t altruistic; it was a cynical effort to spread his dangerous philosophy & consolidate power,” said Rep. Murphy.
— Florida Politics and Florida Political News
