Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) on Sunday pushed back against those who say Congress is to blame for growing polarization in recent years, saying lawmakers in Washington are “simply reflecting the dynamics that are happening across the country.”
“People always ask me why things are so divided over there or why can’t everyone just get along, and the answer is that Congress is simply a reflection of the country. Congress is currently so divided because the country is so divided,” McClintock told NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.”
McClintock characterized this polarization as a battle between “the opposing principles of liberty and socialism” and likened it to the battle between “liberty and slavery” leading up to the Civil War.
“We knew then and we know now that ultimately one has to prevail over the other, and that’s what we’re working on as a country,” McClintock said.
“So it’s not surprising that Congress is as divided as the country as a whole. The debates that really matter are the ones that are played out behind backyard fences and at family dinner tables,” he added. “When those debates are resolved there, they’re reflected in Congress.”
Research shows that partisan divisions are wider than they were decades ago, with both parties Very negative opinion I’m talking about people on the other side of the political spectrum.
in 2023 Pew Research SurveyWhen Americans were asked to describe in their own words the biggest problem with the political system, 22 percent said “partisan polarization or lack of cooperation between the parties.” The only answer cited more frequently was “criticism of politicians,” at 31 percent.
Surveys have similarly shown that Americans are less likely to consider romantic partners who share different political views than they did in previous decades.
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