Four newly-elected Republican women vowed to be the conservative “Squad” and prevent the progressive posse led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, from running the House.
Rep.-elect Nicole Malliotakis, R-NY, described the new GOP coalition as a “natural alliance” forming among new members.
The group has already begun to refer to itself as the “Freedom Force.”
“I think what you’re going to see is a group of individuals who are going to serve as a counterbalance to the values of the socialist squad,” Malliotakis told CNN. “We don’t believe we should be dismantling the economy. We don’t believe we should be destroying free market principles. We don’t believe in ‘Green New Deal.’ We don’t believe in packing the courts.”
Malliotakis said one of the reasons she and so many other Republican women did so well during the 2020 election is because voters wanted to check liberals such as Ocasio-Cortez.
“I think there’s just a stark contrast between what we’re offering and what people like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are offering. And that’s something that needs to be debated in Washington,” she said.
The progressive “Squad” — which includes Ocasio-Cortez, Reps. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich. — added a few men to their ranks this year, but the “Freedom Force” includes minorities and men too.
Rep.-elect Burgess Owens, R-Utah, a former NFL player and African American, said the new GOP group will represent the new Republican coalition and fight for the rights of the working class.
“We have different cultures, backgrounds, colors. But what we have in common is that we have a love for our country… and we’re going to make sure we stay free,” Owens told Fox News.
Malliotakis agreed: “What we stand for are freedom, liberty. We love this nation. We want to see it prevail. We want to see it remain the land of opportunity, what has, in essence, attracted millions of immigrants from around the world, to pursue that American dream,” she explained. “Somebody like me, daughter of a Cuban refugee; I want to be there to be a part of the discussion, debate and provide a counterview.”
