Republican nominee for governor of Colorado, Victor Marx, has recently been criticized after suggesting “send in the Marines” to counter the rise of socialist candidates in the state. Many Colorado residents criticized the candidate’s anti-socialist rhetoric, accusing the Marine veteran of creating a “left-wing boogeyman.”
As reported by Fox News, Marx, who has retired Marine Col. George Markert as his running mate, is campaigning on public safety and has put a big emphasis on his background in the military as one reason why voters should pick him.
According to him, Marines bring discipline, integrity and “steely spines” to government, which could be necessary to win against organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America, which are seen as direct adversaries by the right-wing politician.
Marx also criticized Democratic gubernatorial nominee Phil Weiser, claiming that during his time as Attorney General, he failed to address public safety in the state.
Colorado’s Marx Slammed for Anti-Socialist Remarks
On Reddit’s r/Colorado, users were quick to criticize Victor Marx for this anti-socialist posturing: “‘Socialists rising’ and it’s just people wanting affordable housing and healthcare,” one person argued.
Someone else said: “The thing I find funniest about this left-wing boogeyman is that there are basically no radical policies beyond ‘stop supporting Israel’ and ‘stop masked men kidnapping random people off the street.’ The rest is just affordable healthcare, better pay, and childcare.”
Others criticized him for talking about socialism while having previously been part of the military: “The American military is the largest socialized labor project in human history. Rural America wouldn’t survive without the education/training, benefits, and pay that come from the military and its support systems.”
Some people also mocked the gubernatorial nominee because of his surname: “Says the guy named Marx,” drawing comparisons to the famous socialist thinker Karl Marx from the 19th century. Another local said: “I can’t wait for this guy to lose by 1 million votes.”
It remains to be seen whether Marx’s anti-socialist rhetoric will win enough votes for him to win the election in November, when he will face Phil Weiser, who will try to succeed the current Democratic governor, Jared Polis.
