Breitbart pounds Ryan, Romney, Rubio for not denouncing anti-fascists

Breitbart News took aim at so-called establishment Republican lawmakers Wednesday by slamming House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney for not denouncing left-wing “anti-fascist” violence in a lead headline on Wednesday.

“‘Unequivocal Condemnation’: Pelosi Denounces Antifa Violence… Before GOP’s Ryan, Rubio, Romney,'” reads the Breitbart lead headline.

The criticism from the conservative publication comes after Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a statement Tuesday evening that so-called antifa protesters — militant far-left groups that demonstrate against neo-Nazis and white supremacists — deserve “unequivocal condemnation.”

{mosads}Breitbart seized on the opportunity to point out that Pelosi was ahead of the Republicans in denouncing antifa, which Trump has called the “alt-left.”

Pelosi had called on President Trump to be censured for his “many sides” blame remarks after violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., on Aug. 12 left one woman dead when a car was driven into a group of counterprotesters. A man with alleged ties to white supremacist groups has been charged with murder in the case. 

“Trump was widely criticized for his remarks, with even top Republicans — such as House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) and 2012 presidential nominee Mitt Romney — blasting Trump for his remarks,” wrote Breitbart politics reporter Adam Shaw. 

Shaw went on to share Romney’s criticism of Trump in a tweet that said neo-Nazis and left-wing protesters come from “morally different universes.” 

“One side is racist, bigoted, Nazi,” Romney tweeted. “The other opposes racism and bigotry. Morally different universes.” 

No, not the same. One side is racist, bigoted, Nazi. The other opposes racism and bigotry. Morally different universes.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) August 16, 2017

The Breitbart piece comes after former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon said in an Aug. 25 interview that he’ll be asserting more pressure on political opponents within the GOP while continuing to push a nationalist agenda at Breitbart.

Bannon, who immediately rejoined Breitbart as its executive chairman following his Aug. 18 departure from the White House, told The Economist that he is going to “light up” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), saying his ability to influence opinion has only grown since returning to Breitbart.

“Mitch McConnell, I’m going to light him up,” Bannon said. 

“In the White House, I had influence,” he added. “At Breitbart, I had power.”