In a recent episode of "The Glenn Beck Program," Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California was invited for a conversation that transcended party lines.
The discussion, hosted by Glenn Beck, was marked by a blend of friendly disagreement and shared perspectives, a rarity in today's polarized political climate.
Khanna, as reported by The Blaze, is a unique figure within the Democratic party, known for his willingness to engage in dialogue with those who hold differing views. His stance on issues such as DOGE cuts and nuclear energy often deviates from the mainstream Democratic narrative.
Addressing Beck's extensive audience, Khanna stated, "You've got a lot of followers, and look, at the end of the day, we're all Team America. We have differences of opinion, but this country has gone down a place of greater and greater division. And I do hope that the next generation, whether that's JD Vance, Rubio, myself, others, that we find some way of turning that around."
Khanna's respect for America's founding principles sets him apart from many of his Democratic colleagues. Unlike those who criticize the nation's roots and history, Khanna was raised to appreciate and value the United States. He expressed, "Our common, defining moment as a nation is the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as interpreted through the Declaration of Independence. The biggest blessing I had, as a son of immigrants born in Philadelphia in our bicentenary, is I got to go to a school that taught American history and gave me a reverence for this country."
He further shared his parents' perspective, saying, "'Ro, you won the lottery.' They didn't talk a lot about my rights. They talked about my responsibilities."
The conversation between Beck and Khanna also touched on contentious issues such as the 14th Amendment and immigration. However, they found common ground on the subject of government's role in asset forfeiture. Khanna noted, "Progressive Democrats like me and libertarians in the Freedom Caucus often align, saying that the government shouldn't come in and be able to take things from citizens without due process. I believe that's the essence of who we are as a people, that yes, you have inalienable rights endowed by God, and that's who makes citizens."
Khanna also acknowledged the Democratic party's shortcomings on border security, a topic that has been a point of contention. He stated, "Someone said it's like a knock-knock joke. You say, 'Knock, knock. Who's there?' The American people just want to know who's there, who's at the border, just like you would when coming to someone's house and making sure that people are vetted before they come in. That seems to be a very reasonable a place. We can agree."
However, he also expressed his belief in providing a path to legalization for those already in the country, contributing through taxes and hard work. "But I also believe that people here, now that they're here, if they're paying taxes, if they're working hard, and ... if they've been here that there should be some path to at least legalization," Khanna added.
In a final note, Khanna emphasized the importance of skepticism towards politicians, while also acknowledging the current crisis of trust in American politics.
He concluded, "Skepticism is healthy. I get concerned if there were town halls and people weren't asking hard questions, weren't criticizing their politicians. But I think there's a difference between skepticism and what's happened now, which is just the loss of trust, the sense that people aren't in it for the country, aren't in it for the public good." This sentiment encapsulates the need for a return to unity and trust in the nation's political discourse.
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