Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, had a moment of absolute brilliance during a House Committee Rules meeting — and it left rival Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., completely humiliated.
During a hearing on a rule “denouncing the horrors of socialism,” Roy challenged Waters on her and Democratic ally Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., past remarks.
Waters, the ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, had tried to downplay the Democrat leader’s socialist rhetoric… but ended up forced to denounce herself on the record.
“We can go around and around in circles … trying to define socialism. But at its core, I was intrigued by an op-ed that I saw not too long ago by a Democrat from Cuba commenting on one of our colleagues — an avowed socialist,” Roy said, referencing Ocasio-Cortez.
The op-ed pointed “out the extent to which ‘democratic socialism is a lot like the system [the author’s] family fled, except its proponents promised to be nicer when seizing your business.’”
“That’s the truth,” Roy said. “That’s the truth here. We can talk about these terms as if they don’t matter, but they do. They do matter.”
“They’re actually at the core of who we are,” he said.
“Ranking Member Waters, in a 2008 hearing you said quote, ‘And guess what, this liberal will be all about? This liberal will be all about socializing, would be about basically taking over the government and the government running all of your companies.’ End quote” Roy said to Waters.
“Simple question: Do you stand by that statement?”
Waters paused before replying, “Simple answer: I am here today, in this rules committee, because we’re taking up time on basically a non-issue.”
“The gentlelady denounces your previous statements, then? And do not accept that previous statement, that you would take over these business?” Roy shot back.
“I’m not a socialist,” Waters responded. “I am a capitalist.”
She then attacked Republicans and claimed they don’t support Social Security or Medicare, forcing Roy to hold up a piece of paper containing her quote.
“So you disagree with that” previous statement, saying the government would run all private businesses. “You now denounce that statement?” Roy asked.
“I am not a socialist!” Waters exclaimed.
Watch the explosive exchange here —
"I am NOT a socialist!!"
Watch this incredible clip of Chip Roy quoting Maxine Waters' own words right back to her face…
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 31, 2023