#Rep. Karen Bass praised Communist Party USA member in Congressional Record

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Rep. Karen Bass
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Rep. Karen Bass, who is reportedly among Joe Biden’s shortlist of potential running mates, honored a known member of the Communist Party USA by praising him in remarks she then entered into the Congressional Record.

Bass (D-Calif.) delivered the remarks in January 2017 in the wake of Oneil Marion Cannon’s passing, commending him for his “longstanding commitment to serving and uplifting others, and for a century of fighting to make the world a better place.”

“As part of the [Independent Progressive Party], he used economic power to force employers to hire Black and Mexican American workers, using the slogan ‘don’t bank or buy where you can’t work.’ He worked for decades to elect representatives of color to office, including Tom Bradley, Ed Roybal, and even campaigning at age 90 for Barack Obama,” the congresswoman said in her remarks.

The remarks have come to light as the Congressional Black Caucus chairwoman has been under increased scrutiny since emerging as a potential frontrunner to be Joe Biden’s vice president.

But a spokesperson for Bass told Politico Tuesday that her relationship with the known Communist leader was similar to that of her relationship with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

“Karen Bass has always been a Democrat and only a Democrat. The congresswoman is friends with Kevin McCarthy and is not a Republican. She knew Oneil Cannon but never shared the political ideology he may have had at one time in his life,” Zach Seidl, Bass’ spokesman, said in a statement.

“While she and Cannon differed politically, she recognizes work he did in the community. He taught the printing trade to generations of young people in South Los Angeles and he co-founded a wellness center, which is South LA’s first organic produce market and a local food hub increasing access to healthy local food for the entire South Los Angeles community,” Seidl said.

Speaking to NBC News, Bass maintained that she is a Democrat and nothing else.

“I am not a communist,” she said.

Over the weekend, Bass also backtracked on comments praising late Cuban Communist dictator Fidel Castro that she made in 2016 — insisting she didn’t know he was despised by his own people.

Bass made the controversial remarks in an official statement after Castro’s death, in which she suggested that “the passing of the Comandante en Jefe is a great loss to the people of Cuba.”

Asked during an appearance on “Fox News Sunday” whether she regretted those remarks, Bass said “absolutely.”

“I absolutely would have not put that statement out,” Bass told host Chris Wallace.

“Lesson learned, would not do that again, for sure,” she continued, telling Wallace she now understood Castro’s leadership was a “brutal regime.”