Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has faced a storm of criticism after giving a speech at the America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC) in Orlando on Friday. The far-right event, a rival CPAC, is organized by white nationalist Nick Fuentes.
Fuentes has questioned interracial marriages and whether the Holocaust took place, praised Jim Crow-era segregation laws, and said that he would prefer it if women were not allowed to vote, among many other things.
Related: Here’s why everyone is laughing at Marjorie Taylor Greene today
Greene (R-GE) was not the only GOP figure to participate. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) also sent a 30-second video message, but it was Greene who showed up in person, telling the audience she was there to tell them, “about who I am, what I see as the future of our country, and the future for all of you.”
As criticism of her appearance grew, Greene attempted to backpedal. She told Robert Costa of CBS News on Saturday, “I do not know Nick Fuentes. I’ve never heard him speak. I’ve never seen a video. I don’t know what his views are, so I’m not aligned with anything that may be controversial.”
Fuentes had introduced Greene to the stage on Friday night. Greene continued to say she’d attended because she knew the event attracted a large, young audience, with whom she wished to engage: “It’s a generation I’m extremely concerned about it.”
On a Twitter thread, Greene said she refused to be denounced for speaking at the event.
“I am not going to play the guilt by association game in which you demand every conservative should justify anything ever said by anyone they’ve ever shared a room with. I’m not going to be drawn into that. I’m only responsible for what I say. So ask me about my speech.
“I talked about God and Liberty. I’m also not going to turn down the opportunity to speak to 1,200 young America First patriots because of a few off-color remarks by another speaker, even if I find those remarks unsavory.
“I want to embrace the young, boisterous and energetic conservatives in our movement—not cancel them like the establishment does.”
Related: Marjorie Taylor Greene is put in her place by phone-in caller
She went on to posts clips of her speech, in which she spoke out against people being “canceled” and abortion.
“Being truly America First means rejecting the Democrat obsession with skin color, sexuality, and gender,” Green tweeted. “It means having the courage to stop agonizing over fake divisions and disingenuous allegations from our godless and gutless mainstream media.
“We’re going to focus on people, not labels. We’re going to focus on protecting the nuclear family, our border, our jobs & our children. On saving this great nation from the jaws of the Biden catastrophe. And most importantly, on proudly proclaiming the greatness of our God.”
She went on to compare speaking at the AFPAC to Jesus speaking to sinners.
“Jesus was a friend to sinners; we are called to follow his example. That’s why I will continue to share my message of unity, family and faith in our great nation to every corner and every group within America.
“It doesn’t matter if I’m speaking to Democrat union members or 1,200 young conservatives who feel cast aside and marginalized by society.
“The Pharisees in the Republican Party may attack me for being willing to break barriers and speak to a lost generation of young people who are desperate for love and leadership. But I won’t abandon these young men and women, because I believe we need to do better by them.
“I won’t cancel others in the conservative movement, even if I find some of their statements tasteless, misguided or even repulsive at times.”
Other members of the Republican party have denounced Greene’s participation in the event.
Mitt Romney (R-UT) called Greene and Gossar “morons”. He told CNN on Sunday, “Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar, I don’t know them. I’m reminded of the old line from the ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ movie, where one character says, ‘Morons, I have morons on my team.'”
Liz Cheney (R-WY) tweeted a video clip of Fuentes praising Vladimir Putin and welcoming Greene to the stage. Cheney said: “As Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep Paul Gosar speak at this white supremacist, anti-Semitic, pro-Putin event, silence by Republican Party leaders is deafening and enabling. All Americans should renounce this garbage and reject the Putin wing of the GOP now.”
As Rep Marjorie Taylor Greene and Rep Paul Gosar speak at this white supremacist, anti-Semitic, pro-Putin event, silence by Republican Party leaders is deafening and enabling.
All Americans should renounce this garbage and reject the Putin wing of the GOP now. pic.twitter.com/6fgpV6ohZ8
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) February 26, 2022
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) tweeted, “Marjorie Taylor Greene spoke at a white nationalist event. Marjorie Taylor Greene endorsed @JDVance1. Wonder if Kevin McCarthy @GOPLeader will kick her out of the Republican Conference? Will he endorse her opponent? Or does he just do that to people like @Liz_Cheney”
Mike Pompeo called Greene “shameful.”
Associating with anti-Semitic neo-Nazis is not consistent with the conservative values I’ve defended for decades. Representative Taylor-Greene playing footsie with Nick Fuentes and his splinter movement is shameful.
— Mike Pompeo (@mikepompeo) February 27, 2022
Prax07
She’s such a piece of trash. Human garbage like everyone around her
GrizzleyMichael
Stop being so polite
Cam
The guy was praising Putin while introducing her, he is a well known racist and Neo Nazi. Greene knew exactly where she was going, but she just figured the media would let her get away with it as they have been doing for the last several years.
Republicans are anti-American.
Chrisk
This garbage was the same as the last American Nazi party garbage that was praising Hitler back in the 40s. Same exact people.
Chrisk
Oh and lastly.
“I do not know Nick Fuentes. I’ve never heard him speak. I’ve never seen a video. I don’t know what his views are, so I’m not aligned with anything that may be controversial.”
Ha. Funny who was that evil C*nt holding the arm of the Nazi chanting Putin then? Girl looks like you were about to drop down to your knees and blow him right there.
Eternal.Cowboy
Cheney, Romney, Kinzinger and Pompeo can blather on all they want but they still choose to be part of the Republican part which openly embraces Greene and Fuentes views. If any of them had any sort of conviction they would walk away. They don’t and they thus complicit.
Chrisk
“Being truly America First means rejecting the Democrat obsession with skin color, sexuality, and gender”
Ha. Projection at it’s finest. She just admitted that the Republican party isn’t truly American I guess.
whereshouldistart
A SITTING SENATOR OF THE UNITED STATES SPOKE AT A RALLY WHERE THE HEADLINER SAID THIS…
***************
AFPAC opened with Fuentes soliciting a round of applause from the crowd for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The white nationalists chanted in response, “Putin! Putin! Putin!”
In his closing speech, Fuentes said “the United States is the evil empire in the world.”
“Now, they’re going and saying,’’Vladimir Putin is Adolf Hitler,’ as if that isn’t a good thing,” he said, before nervously laughing and adding, “Oops, I shouldn’t have said that.”
***************
She doesn’t know him my ass! Not only should she be forced to resign, but also run out of town with her tail, ( we all know she has one with feet like that,) between her legs!
kish
This just proves what most already know. Greene is scum and is only interesting in seeking attention and elevating her platform.
When Mike Pompeo calls you out, you know you’re a bad person.
woodroad34
“Marjorie Taylor Greene likens herself to Jesus”. Well, only because she heard someone say, “Oh, Jeeezzzus!; it’s Marjorie Taylor Greene, ugh” and she thought “oh, cool. They think I’m like Jesus, or something”…cause Jesus looked like a bleach-blonde, horse-faced bimbo.
GrizzleyMichael
Let’s nail her to the cross
lambchopp59
While she’s comparing herself to Jeebus, there’s one of those congregational theaters nearby here has a tall wooden crucifixion cross in it’s front facade. If you’ll hold her on it I’ll nail her hands and feet.
GrizzleyMichael
Then set it ablaze
Jaquelope
At an America First event, Russia and its leader is touted as being so great?
That’s all that needs said.
Huron132
What a sick sack of skin.
muggie01
“We’re going to focus on people, not labels. We’re going to focus on protecting the nuclear family, our border, our jobs & our children. On saving this great nation from the jaws of the Biden catastrophe. And most importantly, on proudly proclaiming the greatness of our God.”
Okay the bible mentions children….and is the god she’s talking about orange by any chance?
scotty
i am soooo relieved. when i read that she said she is not aligned with anything controversial. phew dodged that bullet. oh yeah time to look up again.
CNY1983
When someone says “Im republican” now you know exactly what to think about them dont you?
Josh in OR
This ugly beast (inside and out) wouldn’t know Jesus – or His message – if He came back and kicked her ass for being a terrible ambassador for Him. She’d call him a filthy Arab and mockingly compare him to ‘The Squad’. Boehbert would make a joke about being afraid of a bombing, Goehmert would wonder aloud if this hippiecommiepinkofascist ‘love thy neighbor as thyself’ Jesus was a homosexual and why his eyes aren’t blue, like in all the ‘pictures’. Gosar would introduce a bill banning all non-white Jesuses from being closer than 500 feet from any church. McConnell would quietly manipulate Congress to do nothing but offer ‘thoughts and prayers’ when ICE, the GQP gestapo, round Him up for being an illegal alien and ‘accidentally’ kill Him while using ‘justified’ excessive force due to His past history of violence in temples…