On Thursday‘s episode of The ReidOut on MSNBC, guest Matthew Dowd shared his opinion about Republicans who use the term “America first.” He said that this term is actually code for “democracy last.” During a segment on the Ukrainian President‘s visit to Congress, Reid noted that some Republicans didn‘t give the foreign leader the same amount of applause as she wanted. Dowd felt this demonstrated that these Republicans prefer America first and democracy second. His opinion was that America should be looking out for democracy first, as it is a key part of what makes the country strong. He believes that if democracy is not valued, it could lead to negative consequences. Therefore, he believes that America should prioritize democracy above all else. Dowd believes that America should make sure democracy is at the forefront of all decisions, as it is what makes the country so great.
Dowd said, “When Republicans say America first, which is what they constantly kinda try to say. What they really mean is democracy last. That’s really what they mean when they say America first. It’s not about our principles anymore and the narrative and common story that all of us have shared about a constitution and the will of the people and a government by and for the people. It is about an ability to push through whatever you want by whatever means necessary in this.”
Of course, the former Republican had zip to offer in the form of solutions but instead insisted that the GOP is somehow inline with Putin. Saying they are, “in sync now with Vladimir Putin who espouses basically the exact same things which is I’m gonna hold power for power’s sake and it doesn’t matter who I run over or what I do or what country I invade.”
Getting in another shot at his former party, Dowd ended by crying that “Ronald Reagan would be shocked at what’s going on.”
Yeah… I call BS. Dowd is clearly talking out of his rear because the left hates Reagan and accused him of being a Nationalist. In fact, you could easily draw a line between Reagan’s presidency and the current ‘America first’ movement.
Transcript
MATTHEW DOWD: Again, I think it’s a fundamental thing. When Republicans say America first, which is what they constantly kinda try to say. What they really mean is democracy last. That’s really what they mean when they say America first. It’s not about our principles anymore and the narrative and common story that all of us have shared about a constitution and the will of the people and a government by and for the people. It is about an ability to push through whatever you want by whatever means necessary in this.
And so it doesn’t surprise me that they’re in sync now with Vladimir Putin who espouses basically the exact same things which is I’m gonna hold power for power’s sake and it doesn’t matter who I run over or what I do or what country I invade. If I can get what I want, that’s what I want. That’s what the Republican Party has become. It’s the least of which it’s not anything close to the last two Bushes, but it’s a party that they used to claim Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan would be shocked at what’s going on.
JOY REID: And he’d be run out of the party. He’d be considered a RINO.
DOWD: He couldn’t join—If Ronald Reagan ran today in the Republican nomination, Ronald Reagan would probably finish fifth or sixth in a Republican primary.
REID: 100 percent. Easily. Easily.