Ramaswamy: ‘I’m Using the Republican Party as a Vehicle to Advance an America First Agenda’

[mystery-ak]

Ramaswamy: ‘I’m Using the Republican Party as a Vehicle to Advance an America First Agenda’

Pam Key 27 Aug 2023

Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy said Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he was “using the Republican Party as a vehicle to advance an America first agenda.”

Ramaswamy said, “I don’t want to see this in terms of red versus blue. We’ve created an incentive structure in this country, increasingly whatever your political affiliation, to see yourself as a victim. I refuse to see myself as a victim. Hardship is not the same thing as victimhood. We are going through hardship as a country right now, including many conservatives. Hardship is sometimes not a choice. Victimhood is a choice.”

He continued, “So whoever the American is that I’m talking to, I say we do not choose victimhood. We choose victory. That is who we are. I think we can be stronger on the other side of it. Chuck, this isn’t some game of gotcha. I stand by everything I’ve written over the last three years in the books except on a few areas of facts, whereas the new facts that have come out, I’ve changed my mind. But in the core thesis, I am in the exact place as when I wrote the books.”

Ramaswamy added, “I am not in this race to lead a political party. I am in this race to lead a nation. I’m using the Republican Party as a vehicle to advance an America first agenda that I think many Americans, most Americans, can rally behind, and that’s what we will need.”

https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2023/08/27/ramaswamy-im-using-the-republican-party-as-a-vehicle-to-advance-an-america-first-agenda/

[libertybele]

I haven't read his books over the past three years, so I don't know where he stands and I'm not about to go out and buy his books.

An America first agenda is indeed needed, but he needs to realize, that, that isn't what's being taught in our public schools.

Vivek may be a smooth talker, but without a record there's no way to check to see if he actually walks the walk.

[kevindavis007]

I haven't read his books over the past three years, so I don't know where he stands and I'm not about to go out and buy his books.

An America first agenda is indeed needed, but he needs to realize, that, that isn't what's being taught in our public schools.

Vivek may be a smooth talker, but without a record there's no way to check to see if he actually walks the walk.

America First movement failed in the 1930s and it will fail again.

[Maj. Bill Martin]

America First movement failed in the 1930s and it will fail again.

Defining what "America First" actually means is the tricky part, because there is disagreement about what is good for America, and what isn't.

In this specific context, I think it is being used as code for neo-isolationism.  Most advocates of that policy won't admit to endorsing actual isolation, but that's what it amounts to in practice.

[DefiantMassRINO]

For me - America First, America Foremost - is about the United States Federal Government being held to account for those policies that harm Americans - Globalist Free Trade - and those policies that give American taxpayers' money to those are not America's friends - United Nations, Saudi Arabia.

I did not authorize my Federal Government to cede American sovereignty to the United Nations, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, World Economic Forum, etc.

Trade agreement should be reciprocal and bi-lateral.  There should be a benefit to American exports as well as to imports.  The American Government, as the representatives of the American People, should be able to hold a trading partner directly accountable for not fulfilling its bi-lateral trade agreement obligations and responsibilities.

The World is a better place with a prosperous and strong American leading from the front.

The World is a worse place when America leads from behind.

I am not an isolationist.  I believe in America engaging the World, on its own terms, not terms set by unelected, unaccountable international bodies (especialy European ones).

I believe in the Monroe Doctrine and Teddy Roosevelt's "speak softly and carry a big stick".

America is no longer a European colony; nor should it behave as such.