Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) speaks while walking through the Canon Tunnel to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images)
Florida Rep. Byron Donalds (R) has spoken out against the Congressional Black Caucus for denying him membership. The freshman representative argued members of the CBC have been reluctant to let him join.
In a recent interview with the Epoch Times, Donalds said he has spoken to several members of the caucus about joining, but has yet to receive an invitation. He claimed the caucus is made up of Democrat lawmakers who have become “petty” and don’t even talk to Republicans in the Capitol hallways.
He added it was “comical” to have not been admitted into the caucus as Democrats have made it “intolerable to have different opinions.” Earlier this month, Donalds appeared on television to explain what he would bring to the table and why he should be offered an invitation into the CBC.
I was born & raised in Brooklyn; I know what crime looks like. I also know that criminals, by definition, don't follow laws.
The gun control policies Biden plans on outlining today are a tone-deaf & misguided solution to this problem.
We need more law enforcement. Back the blue
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) June 23, 2021
“Whether it’s talking about jobs or yes, even voting rights or anything that the CBC wants to talk about, I have the perspective being a 42-year-old black man who’s come up in America after a lot of the battles through the civil rights movement,” he expressed. “Whether they want to take advantage of that is really up to them.”
The reporter interviewing Donalds then suggested that perhaps the lawmaker’s support for President Trump would be a legitimate reason to deny him CBC membership. Donalds pushed back by explaining the issue lies with the CBC’s refusal to accept conservative ideology.
“As a black man in America I’m allowed to have my own thoughts on who I choose to support and who I choose not to support,” he explained. “…My support of President Trump has been consistent, but at the same time I’ve had the ability to advocate for issues, ideas, proposals and funding that have helped the black community in my state.”
Meanwhile, the Congressional Black Caucus has 57 Democrats and not one Republican.
Source: One America News Network
