Steve Bannon, a former White House adviser to President Donald Trump, speaks at the California Republican Convention in Anaheim, Calf., on Friday Oct. 20, 2017. (Photo: AP)
Breitbart News Executive Chairman Steve Bannon tore into “corporatists, lobbyists, consultants, and the politicians they control” at the California Republican Party’s Fall Convention on Friday night.
The former White House chief strategist was on fire, drawing one overwhelming applause from the crowd after another.
“I’ve had the honor of being the CEO of his campaign, the chief strategist in the white house — and now I’m proud to say his wingman outside,” he said of his time with the President. “Donald Trump has been an existential threat to the system.”
He took hard shots at the Republican Establishment, calling former President George W. Bush the most “destructive” presidency in U.S. history. While the Texas neoconservative won two elections, he left the Republican Party in shambles and the American public weary enough of war and the party that they elected Barack Obama.
“President Bush embarrassed himself,” Mr. Bannon said in response to Bush’ recent public criticisms of President Trump. “It is clear he didn’t understand anything he was talking about. He had no idea whether he was coming or going. Just like when he was President of the United States. There has not been a more destructive presidency than George Bush’s.”
Even mentioning the name Bush elicited loud “boos” and harsh criticisms from the audience. The party’s voters rejected his brother in 2016, as well as a dozen other solid Republican candidates, in favor of Donald Trump. It’s a development the political class and Big Media still do not exhibit an ability to understand.
Mr. Bannon called for an “open revolt” against the “permanent political class,” which he called one of the great dangers the country faces. He said that the revolt will be carried out by united conservative movement and a “grassroots army.”
“It’s about one thing – are you a citizen of the United States of America?” Mr. Bannon asked the audience. “Economic nationalism is not what’s going to drive us apart, it’s what’s going to bring us together.”
He argued a nation is not just about number and measurable economic data, but an identity and common interest. The firebrand said American citizens should be given preference for jobs and be first in line to enjoy the economic opportunities the nation offers without having to compete against foreign and illegal labor.
“GDP isn’t everything. We are not an economy. We are a country. We have a social fabric. I’m a free market capitalist. That’s the underpinnings of our society,” he added. “Economic nationalism means ensuring that jobs that we have allowed to go to Asia come back to the United States.”
The Breitbart executive is supporting primary challengers across the nation to purge the Republican Party of unprincipled Establishment politicians who no longer represent the interest of working men and women in the country. However, Big Media, including Fox News, has attempted to paint this effort as one that will inevitably damage the Republican majorities in Congress.
There’s little evidence to support the theory as of yet, especially given the electoral success economic nationalism has had in the form of Donald Trump. Traditional Republicans have little hope to carry the Electoral College, but President Trump went on to carry states in Middle America Democrats haven’t lost since the 1980s.
