Schiff on GOP Lawmaker’s Claim ‘We’re Not a Democracy’: ‘That’s Music To Putin’s Ears’
After a top Republican lawmaker suggested the United States is “not a democracy,” he received push back from Democrats. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) claimed in a tweet this week, “We’re not a democracy,” following the…
After a top Republican lawmaker suggested the United States is “not a democracy,” he received push back from Democrats.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) claimed in a tweet this week, “We’re not a democracy,” following the vice-presidential debate. He also tweeted, “Democracy isn’t the objective; liberty, peace, and prospefity are. We want the human condition to flourish. Rank democracy can thwart that.”
During Friday’s interview on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” the host Bill Maher pointed to Lee’s remarks and noted, “The Founding Fathers were afraid of direct democracy, that is true. But for a senator saying we’re not a democracy, it’s not the objective, that’s pretty dangerous talk, especially at this moment with this president.”
“Absolutely, absolutely,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) responded, adding, “It’s all the more astonishing because we see around the world a real challenge to democracy.”
Schiff added, “So to have a Republican senator say, “Yeah, you know, rank democracy isn’t such a good thing,’ that’s music to Putin’s ears, I’m sure. But in terms of the attacks on our own institutions… those kind of comments are just dangerous.”