Republican Study Committee lawmakers used Constitution Day to frame the fight over socialism as a fight over the American system itself.
RSC Chairman August Pfluger, R-Texas, said the Founders gave Americans 'a Constitution built on liberty, limited government, and the belief that power belongs to We the People.' He said Democrats 'can't even bring themselves to reject an ideology that has killed more than 100 million people and failed everywhere it's ever been tried.'
Rep. Austin Scott, R-Ga., called the Constitution 'a testament to the wisdom and foresight of the founders of our nation.' Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, said America's framers 'understood our inalienable rights come from God and not government.'
Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., said the day is a reminder that Americans 'must fight every day to defend our fundamental American values.' She also said concern about ideas advocated by the Democratic Socialists of America is behind the committee's focus.
The DSA's official platform calls for abolishing the Senate and packing the Supreme Court with additional justices, the report said. It also said 192 Democrats voted against a resolution denouncing socialism.
Why it matters: the debate is not just symbolic. It is about whether the country keeps a system of limited government and separated powers, or moves toward more centralized control.
The big picture: lawmakers on the right are trying to make socialism a liability inside the Democratic Party. That is a political fight, but it is also a fight over the size and reach of government.