Rep. Sean Duffy (R-Wisc.) spoke to George Washington University students on Tuesday night, emphasizing that a more unified Republican Party is necessary to save the country and preserve the American dream — as well as the willingness to reach across the aisle.
At the gathering, organized by the GW Young America’s Foundation and GW College Republicans, Duffy opened up to the students about the prospects facing the GOP in 2014 and 2016, saying the Party had a “great shot” at winning both the Senate and the White House.
“But if you look at what Republicans are doing right now, or what conservatives are doing right now, they’re not focusing on the people who are running this country …” he added. “They’re fighting against themselves, about who’s more conservative … when we fight amongst ourselves, we use our energy and resources to fight each other. That’s energy and resources that we won’t use to win the Senate back.”
Using the example of former Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.), Duffy illustrated how he’s seen the issue first-hand.
“I had people in my community who would give Scott Brown $50, $100 — they wanted to help out, right?” Duffy said. “But when he was elected, a lot of those same people said, ‘Listen, I see the way this guy [Scott Brown] votes, he’s not a conservative — I want my money back! He’s a RINO!’”
The Wisconsin Republican stated that one of the issues is the attitude that seems to be prevailing in Congress lately: a mindset that some conservatives have about bills that aren’t “completely pure.”
“I won’t vote for this thing unless it is the most conservative, pure bill or amendment…” Duffy said, conveyed the thought process of some conservatives. “If it’s not perfect, if it doesn’t completely turn this ship around, I won’t vote for it.”
Duffy went on to point out that Republicans can’t have it all, and spoke on his own bipartisan voting record, explaining that he votes across the aisle because if he can move the needle “just a little bit right,” then his job was accomplished. Perhaps if other Republican lawmakers were as willing to work across the aisle, the needle could be shifted even further to the right, he implied.
The Congressman’s remarks seem to echo what many millennials are feeling today, as they watch the infighting that is affecting so much of the GOP. Questions from the college-aged audience focused on current foreign policy issues and the impact of Obamacare on future generations. Many were also concerned about President Barack Obama’s failed promises, including health care and job policies.
Regarding foreign policy and peace overseas, Duffy drew applause as he summed up his views with this: “I would argue that if you want peace, you don’t get peace by being weak. As Reagan said, you get peace through strength! A strong military, a strong national defense, is the very system you need that will deter aggression from other bad actors around the world.”
Duffy briefly touched on immigration reform and the recent Hobby Lobby case regarding contraceptives, as well as 2016 presidential predictions. The Congressman wrapped up his time by taking a selfie with the room.
“It’s about standing together, it’s about working together, it’s about winning together,” he closed. “And if we don’t do that, and if we want to fight amongst ourselves, we will never win.”
