John Block, a Zebra of Many Stripes, America First? Follow the Money...

America First was founded as a true coalition of left and right and was controversial for the anti-Semitic and pro-fascist views of some of its most prominent speakers, leaders, and members.

Representative John Block of Alamogordo representing the New Mexico House District 51, markets himself as an America First Republican. Exactly what does that mean and what is the history of "America First?"

The phrase "America First" was invoked a few times at the 2016 Republican convention which coronated Donald J Trump as the presidential candidate of 2016. That slogan comes with a lot of history, and one might wonder how much the people who chant it now really know about its history.

The America First Committee was founded in 1940 by a group of Yale students, many of whom would go on to distinguished careers, and funded by prominent Chicago business leaders. It was one of the largest peace organizations in U.S. history, with more than 800,000 registered members.

Unlike today under Trumpian rule, it was a true coalition of left and right. America First included Sinclair Lewis, the novelist, e.e. cummings, the poet, Walt Disney, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Norman Thomas, the socialist leader. Joseph Medill Patterson, the liberal publisher of the New York Daily News, was a member, as was his cousin, Robert. R. McCormick, who published the conservative Chicago Tribune. Its best-known member was a genuine American hero, Col. Charles A. Lindbergh, who became the public face of the America First movement.

The AFC principally supported isolationism for its own sake, and its varied coalition included Republicans, Democrats, farmers, industrialists, communists, anti-communists, students, and journalists – however, it was controversial for the anti-Semitic and pro-fascist views of some of its most prominent speakers, leaders, and members. The AFC was dissolved on December 11, 1941, four days after the attack on Pearl Harbor brought the United States into the war.

Paleoconservative commentator Pat Buchanan has praised America First and used its name as a slogan. "The achievements of that organization are monumental," wrote Buchanan in 2004. "By keeping America out of World War II until Hitler attacked Stalin in June 1941, Soviet Russia, not America, bore the brunt of the fighting, bleeding and dying to defeat Nazi Germany."

Historian Wayne S. Cole concluded that while the America First Committee did not actually defeat any Roosevelt administration proposal in Congress.

Donald Trump has appealed to many voters by refusing to use what he considers politically correct rhetoric. When the New York Times asked him about this phrase, he said, "I like the expression. I'm 'America First,'" and said he's not isolationist, and certainly not anti-Semitic. But anyone who uses the phrase might want to know the history it recalls for others.

So why does John Block use the phrase?

He certainly is not original.

Mr. Block claims to be a Trump Republican and he classifies any other version of Republican as a RINO. Why does Mr. Block follow the Trumpian ideology and is he a true believer? If one reads his financial filings, following the money, one understands the reason he classifies himself in the mold of Trump. He was employed for a political action committee that supported Mr. Trump and was paid on average of $2,500 per month by the PAC. Mr. Block has been financially incited to follow Trumpian ideology. Further those candidates that fly the banner of "America First" are eligible for funding from the America First Pac. Much of the legislation sponsored by Mr. Block had nothing to do with the needs of his constituents in District 51, but everything to do with the appearances of following the "America First Agenda" thus increasing the likelihood for eligibility for money from political action committees that rally under those banners.

An example was his sponsorship of transferring $1.5 Billion dollars to the Biden Administration from New Mexico state taxpayers to build the border wall in New Mexico.

The legislation was not even considered and would not have been allowed legally.

There is no legal mechanism to force the Federal Government to build a wall based upon a transfer of funds from a state such as New Mexico to the Federal Government.

The proposed legislation was nothing more than a stunt to show isolationist support and garner the favor and endorsement of national political action committees.

As is typical when the dialog is around Mr. Block, follow the money.

When one looks even further at his, LBGTQ domestic partner, Karl Melton who lost as a candidate for city commission but is now running for the office of Otero County Treasurer while working on a master's in finance, again the money trail becomes even more clear as each have been paid by far-right wing extremist.

Most recently his compliance company which takes in 1000s of dollars in payments from extremist Republican office holders or candidates was paid significant payments by a Texas congressional candidate of which the traditionalist of the Republican Party of Texas had concerns.

Following the money makes on question do these two LBGTQ candidates that preach "America First" ideals truly believe the rhetoric being spewed or are they just jumping onto the populist movement for financial gain. The voters should be sceptical of those who have migrated to Alamogordo. preach a political ideology counter to the lifestyle of which they live but are well funded by "outside interests."

More to follow...