House Democrat speaks out: 'I am offended by this whole conversation about socialism'

Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy (Fla.) took members of her own party to task Tuesday, telling an audience she's "offended by this whole conversation about socialism" in American politics.

What are the details?

The Washington Examiner reported that Murphy — whose family fled Vietnam for the U.S. when she was a baby — decried the notion of socialism.

"I am offended by this whole conversation about socialism," she said. "The idea that in the greatest democracy, the greatest capitalist system in the world, we're having casual conversation about socialism, offends me."

Speaking to a crowd of 150 people at the BakerHostetler legislative seminar, Murphy called herself a "proud capitalist."

"It is the system that built us the greatest nation and the greatest economy in the world," she reminded attendees. "Sure, we have to fix the inequities that exist in our system. We have to make sure everybody, no matter what zip code they're born in, has a fair shot.

"But it is not the moment to undo the whole system and embrace something that Americans have spent blood and treasure fighting to save other countries from," she added, according to the Examiner.

Murphy went on to contrast her experience of living in the United States with the lifestyle of relatives who remain in Vietnam, saying she's even had to ship them basic medical supplies due to shortages.

Who is talking about socialism?

The Florida congresswoman didn't name names, but her fellow Democrats have made strides in recent years to introduce socialist policies into the mainstream — and with great success.

Self-proclaimed socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) nearly won the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2016, promising "free" universal health care and college tuition.

Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has become a household name with her online following after only becoming a congresswoman a few months ago. Right out of the gate, Ocasio-Cortez garnered public support from nearly all 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls for her proposed Green New Deal, which would transform the U.S. economy to "clean" energy over a decade at a project cost of over $94 trillion.

Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez clearly have the ear of many on the left.

While only a few years ago such proposals would be considered ludicrously radical, data shows young American voters are embracing socialist platforms at an increasing rate.

A poll conducted last year showed that nearly half of Democrats between the ages of 22 and 37 consider themselves to be "socialists" or "democratic socialists." Another 22 percent said that while they don't identify as either, "they need to learn more."