"I think it's historically inaccurate that liberals have tried to hijack equal rights. It's an improper characterization to label it a liberal issue."
This is complete nonsense and 100% historically wrong. It has always been liberals that support and fought for equal rights, in all definitions of that phrase. It is Gaetz that is trying to hijack the issue. It is true that we shouldn't have to label it as a liberal issue, but history and facts clearly say we do. Any look at the voting records of liberals and conservatives on equal rights issues clearly shows that, in general, liberals favor equal rights laws and conservatives oppose it. Even on this issue, if you look at the states that haven't ratified the ERA, you'll find some of the most conservative states and legislatures in America.
Gaetz is misleading, but a little more honest, when he goes on:
"Equal rights, in general, and the Equal Rights Amendment, specifically, started as a Republican principle," said Gaetz.
This is technically true. But it happened when the Republican party was the liberal party. Since then, things have changed.
