The political center in Congress “is collapsing,” and has led to the “political ground … shifting under our feet,” Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., said Sunday.
In remarks on CBS News’ “Face The Nation,” the retiring Pennsylvania Republican decried “the very simple tasks of governing, just keeping the government open” have fallen victim to the discord.
“What's happening in Congress is the political center is collapsing,” he said, adding, “What I've found is that we have become enormously polarized here in Congress, and that polarization has led to a paralysis.”
“I think there's a fundamental political realignment happening in our country,” he declared. “You look at where the Democrats are — they’ve gone kind of full [Independent Vermont Sen.] Bernie [Sanders]. Bernie has more or less taken over their party, even though he didn't win the [2016 presidential] nomination.
“On our side, Donald Trump took over the Republican Party. And I do think that this political ground is shifting under our feet. Nobody knows quite how it will settle. In — in our party, a lot of members have adjusted their politics to suit the president. You know, it's really about loyalty to the man — more than it is about any set of — given principles or ideals. And I think that's what's really changed.”
Dent also took a jab at Trump’s “incendiary comments” on minorities that have hurt the GOP’s efforts to be more inclusive.
“It starts at the top,” he said. “But at the top, when the president makes incendiary comments on Hispanics, Muslims, women — the Charlottesville situation, and others — I think it narrows our appeal. And I do believe that we have to be much broader in our thinking, and show that we want… everybody in.”
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