Congresswoman says ‘our neighbors to the north need to be liberated’, prompting widespread condemnation
Lauren Boebert said: ‘We have neighbors to the north who need freedom and you need to be liberated and we need that right here at home.’ Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images
The Republican congresswoman Lauren Boebert was condemned for comparing the Russian invasion of Ukraine to the clearing of a truckers’ protest in Ottawa, saying: “We also have neighbors to the north who need freedom and who need to be liberated.”
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A former US ambassador to Canada called the comments “reckless” and “dangerous”.
A protest in imitation of the Canadian truckers has been making its away across the US. It is expected in Washington this week.
Anthony Housefather, a Liberal member of the Canadian parliament, told Boebert that “while it’s good that you are not following the Trump line and are standing with Ukraine instead of Putin, it is sad to hear you compare free and democratic Canada to the invasion of Ukraine.
“If you would like to learn about Canada please reach out.”
That seems unlikely. Boebert, from Colorado, is a far-right controversialist and conspiracy theorist who since being elected in 2018 has consistently sought attention through confrontation.
She was discussing the Ukraine invasion at CPAC, the conservative event in Florida, in an interview with Fox Nation hosts Pete Hegseth and Kayleigh McEnany, the latter a former White House press secretary under Donald Trump.
Trump has condemned the invasion but repeatedly praised Putin.
Boebert said: “I pray for Ukraine and I wish them the best.”
She also praised the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, whose response to an evacuation offer was widely reported.
“They have a great president right now who really said, clearly, ‘Live free or die’,” Boebert said, reaching for the New Hampshire state motto before paraphrasing Zelenskiy, saying: “I don’t need a ride, give me ammunition. The fight is right here.”
She continued, saying: “But we also have neighbors to the north who need freedom and you need to be liberated and we need that right here at home.”
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It was a reference to the “Freedom Convoy”, a truckers’ protest which choked downtown Ottawa this month. The protest began against vaccine mandates but morphed into a protest against the government of Justin Trudeau.
The prime minister used emergency powers to aid the effort to end the protest, which saw police and protesters clash in the snowy streets of the Canadian capital.
Many in Canada and the US reacted to Boebert’s comments with anger.
Bruce Heyman, who was US ambassador to Canada under Barack Obama, said the congresswoman’s remarks were “reckless, dangerous and [crossed] every line of diplomacy and decency. Boebert would have been expelled from the Republican party before Trump but [is] now the darling of CPAC.
“Canada is our best friend, best trading partner, closest ally and should be treated as such.”
Reckless, dangerous and crosses every line of diplomacy and decency. Boebert would have been expelled from the @GOP before Trump but now the darling of CPAC. Canada is our best friend-best trading partner- closest ally and should be treated as such. https://t.co/W4VJhE1ENO
As Ukrainians fight for their lives during the Russian invasion, the extremist lawmaker used their plight to nonsensically push her ideology. https://t.co/nGQCNtMoF9
Paul Gosar also spoke at far-right conference, as calls for the censure of the two Republicans ring out again
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks at the 2022 Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar, members of Congress who spoke at a white nationalist event in Florida this week, are “morons” with no place in the Republican party, Mitt Romney said on Sunday.
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“I’m reminded of that old line from the Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid movie,” the Utah senator and 2012 presidential nominee told CNN’s State of the Union.
“One character says, ‘Morons. I’ve got morons on my team.’ I have to think anybody that would sit down with white nationalists and speak at their conference was certainly missing a few IQ points.”
Greene, from Georgia, and Gosar, from Arizona, spoke at the America First Political Action Conference, or AFPAC, organised by the far-right activist Nick Fuentes. Greene defended her attendance, saying she did not know Fuentes or endorse his views.
Calls for the censure of the two Republicans, familiar from previous instances of extreme behaviour, rang out again on Saturday.
Ammar Moussa, a spokesperson for the Democratic National Committee, said: “In any other world, Greene speaking at a white supremacist conference where attendees have defended Vladimir Putin and praised Adolf Hitler would warrant expulsion from the caucus, to say nothing of her advocacy for violence and consistent antisemitism is disgusting.
“Quite simply, the longer [House Republican leader] Kevin McCarthy gives Marjorie Taylor Greene an unfettered platform and promises to elevate her, the more complicit he is.”
The Republican party chair, Ronna McDaniel, said: “White supremacy, neo-Nazism, hate speech and bigotry are disgusting and do not have a home in the Republican party.”
But McDaniel and McCarthy lead a party in which the far right is strong, former president Donald Trump its figurehead.
McDaniel is Romney’s niece, though she reportedly stopped using his name at Trump’s request. On CNN, Romney mentioned McDaniel’s statement about Greene and Gosar as well as strong words from Liz Cheney, the Wyoming Republican congresswoman and Trump critic.
“Talking about how repugnant these white nationalists are,” Romney said, “look, there’s no place in either political party for this white nationalism or racism. it’s simply wrong.
“Speaking of evil, it’s evil as well. And, you know, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar, I don’t know them.”
Cheney is a stringent conservative but remains at odds with her party. She was not invited to CPAC, the larger conservative event in Florida at which Trump and Greene appeared.
In video posted online, Vaughn Hillyard, a reporter for NBC, asked CPAC organizer Matt Schlapp why Greene had been invited despite her long record of extremist behavior and her participation in the white nationalist event.
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“I think it’s great that Marjorie Taylor Greene was on this stage because she was elected by her constituents to have a vote in Congress,” Schlapp said.
“[House speaker] Nancy Pelosi decided to strip her of her rights as a congressperson to serve on these committees and Twitter has decided to shut her down.”
Hillyard said: “But you’re inviting legitimacy to that white nationalist movement that was just down the road when a member of Congress from the Republican party appears at that event and you bring her here.”
Schlapp said: “I’m providing legitimacy to you and your network by being allowed to be in this room. It’s called the first amendment and you are a member of the press and you have a right to be in this room. If I had said you couldn’t come into this room, how would that make America better?”
Hillyard asked: “Did you extend an invite to Liz Cheney?”
Schlapp said: “No.”
Romney: "Marjorie Taylor Greene & Gosar, I don't know them. But I'm reminded of the old line from Butch Cassidy where one character says, 'Morons, I have morons on my team.' I think anybody who would sit down w/ white nationalists at their conference is missing a few IQ points." pic.twitter.com/sCEM2rSaxl
This is an audio only post. It does have CC and I watched it with the CC on for a while and it tracks well. The host is former Senator Al Franken. The subject is on how the right when batshit and got everything they wanted. It is how the Republican party became the tRump party. It is an important subject.
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