McClintock defends polarized House: ‘Congress is simply a reflection of the country’

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.) on Sunday dismissed those who blame Congress for increased polarization in recent years, saying lawmakers in Washington are “simply a reflection” of the dynamics at play across the country.

“People ask me all the time, why are things so divided back there? Or why can’t you just get along? And the answer is that Congress is simply a reflection of the country. Congress is very divided right now because the country is very divided,” McClintock said on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.”

McClintock characterized polarization as a struggle between the “antithetical principles of liberty and socialism,” which he compared to the battle between “liberty and slavery” in the lead-up to the Civil War.

“As we discovered then and as we are discovering now, ultimately one has to prevail over the other. That’s what we’re working on as a country,” McClintock said.

“So it shouldn’t surprise us that Congress is as divided as the country. The debate that really matters is the one that takes place over backyard fences and family dinner tables,” he added. “Once this debate is resolved there, you will see it reflected in Congress.”

Research shows that partisan divisions are wider today than they were decades ago, and both parties maintain deeply negative views of people on the other side of the political aisle.

On a 2023 Pew Research Survey, Americans were asked to describe in their own words the biggest problem with the political system, and 22 percent declared “partisan polarization or lack of party cooperation.” The single most frequently mentioned response was “criticism of politicians,” at 31 percent.

Research also shows that Americans are less likely to consider romantic partners with different political views than in recent decades.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story