At the annual gathering of conservatives near Washington, Republican lawmakers urged their supporters to stand up for American values and resist socialism, which they say Democrats are embracing.

Rep. Mark Meadows, the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, said Democrats are starting to lay the foundation for impeaching the president.

“It’s not just impeachment — it’s taking away everything foundation to who we are,” the North Carolina Republican said.

Mr. Meadows also said his colleagues across the aisle have moved further to the left.

He specifically called out the new face of the Democratic Party — Rep. Alexandria-Ocasio-Cortez of New York — over her push for the progressive Green New Deal.

“They are embracing socialism,” Mr. Meadows said while speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

He said Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, a freshman lawmaker, has invited socialism into her congressional office by increasing the amount of pay for lower level staffers.

“Real socialism doesn’t just take the money we pay to employees and compress it. It actually would take her salary and compress it,” Mr. Meadows said.

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