Colorado Democratic congressional nominee Melat Kiros brushed aside concerns about communists inside the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) faction of the Democratic Party on Friday, arguing Republicans were using the issue to blunt the socialist movement's growing influence ahead of the midterm elections.Host Margaret Hoover of PBS's "Firing Line," asked Kiros how she addressed criticism that some DSA members, including roughly half of its national leadership, identify as communists."Yeah.Well, some members of the Democratic Party are proudly proclaiming themselves as capitalists, and it’s a big tent, right?" Kiros said.
"But again, at the end of the day, it’s up to the voters, right?"SHOCKING PERCENTAGE OF DEMOCRATS IDENTIFY AS 'DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS' ACCORDING TO NEW POLL: 'TOXIC POLICIES'Democratic congressional nominee Melat Kiros dismissed concerns about communists in the Democratic Socialists of America as Republican "noise." (RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post)"Until a self-proclaimed communist actually wins an election, then it’s just noise from the Republican Party.There’s no one who’s actually winning with that."Hoover asked Kiros directly whether she was a communist after citing President Donald Trump's characterization of the movement as "hardcore, godless communists.""No, I’m not a communist," Kiros said.Kiros attributed the Republican attacks to concern that the DSA's economic message was gaining support among voters.EXPERT WHO FLED CUBA WARNS OF ‘VICIOUS CYCLE’ THAT WILL LEAD TO ‘COMMUNISTS IN DOUBLE DIGITS’ IN CONGRESSKiros denied being a communist and described the DSA as a "big tent" that includes members with differing political views.
(Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)"Because I think the Republican Party, and frankly, the oligarchy that largely stands behind the Republican Party can see that our message of, in its most basic form, economic populism, is actually resonating with voters," Kiros said.Kiros, 29, defeate...