Mass. Congressional Delegation Condemns Steve Bannon's Appointment

BOSTON, MA — President-elect Donald Trump hasn't yet taken office, but Massachusetts' all-Democrat Congressional delegation is already coalescing against him, with most members releasing statements this week condemning Trump's appointment of Breitbart News' Steve Bannon as chief strategist and senior counselor.

Bannon joined Trump's campaign staff after turnover earlier in the race, and was subsequently appointed chief strategist and senior counselor following Trump's victory.

While the appointment of Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus draws from the GOP establishment, Bannon's inclusion in Trump's inner circle seems meant to echo the anti-establishment wave that swept Trump into office. Bannon, like Trump, is as likely to insult Republicans as Democrats, saying in a 2010 radio interview, "What we need to do is b---h-slap the Republican Party.”

Bannon's Breitbart News site has become a haven for the so-called "alt-right," a nominally Republican group notorious in this election cycle for spreading commentary and memes considered racist, xenophobic, misogynist and anti-Semitic.

Because of that role, Bannon's appointment to the administration sparked an outcry from many quarters, including civil rights groups and from members of Massachusetts' delegation.

Wrote junior Sen. Ed Markey:

If the saying is true and you are the company you keep, Donald Trump has chosen to champion the positions of neo-Nazis, white nationalists and anti-Semites by appointing Steve Bannon as chief strategist and senior counselor.

There is no place in our society, let alone the White House, for purveyors like Steve Bannon of hate and violence against any group of Americans. President-elect Trump will forever poison the well with Congress and the American people by appointing a figure who has fueled the rhetoric and activities of hate groups that actively promote violence against immigrants, Muslims, women, African-Americans, the LGBTQ community, and people of Jewish faith.

If Donald Trump wants to keep his word and unify the country, he must call on all of his appointments to repudiate any and all past affiliations with hate groups, and he himself must denounce anyone who has affiliations with groups whose stock and trade is hate and violence against the American people.

Right now, we are in an epic battle for our democracy. The stand we take today will determine if future generations live in a nation founded on hope or fueled by hate. Today, and every day moving forward, we must always be guided by the principles and values of our nation -- justice, tolerance, liberty, and equality -- for all races, creeds, colors, faiths and origins.”

Below is a sampling of other Massachusetts representatives' thoughts:

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr Commons