Congressman Burgess Owens accepts Biden as president, apologizes to ‘liberals’

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — In a meeting with Utah House Democrats, Congressman Burgess Owens said he now accepts Joe Biden as the nation’s president.

Owens accepts Biden presidency following objection

It comes after Owens voted on January 6 to object to the certification of Pennsylvania’s Electoral College votes. 

Rep. Andrew Stoddard, D-Sandy, was the individual to ask Owens about his vote in early January.

In response, Owens pointed to a letter that he signed with some of his colleagues that was sent to President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. He says in the letter, he pledged to “rise above the partisan fray and work towards meaningful change.”

Proud to join my colleagues in signing a letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, pledging to rise above the partisan fray & work towards meaningful change for Utah’s Fourth District and Americans across the nation. pic.twitter.com/0avCvwkhPX

— Rep. Burgess Owens (@RepBurgessOwens) January 20, 2021

Liberalism and socialism: “There’s a difference”

Later, when answering questions from Rep. Suzanne Harrison, D-Sandy, Owens admitted to undergoing somewhat of a revelation when it comes to political ideology. 

“What I didn’t realize and now I am realizing is that the ideology that we’re all fighting against is something we all need to know is out there. There are literally people who do not love our country the way we do. And when I say that, my apologies go to liberals, because I didn’t quite see the difference in liberalism and Marxism and socialism. There’s a difference. There’s a difference,” said Owens. “We believe in God. We believe in capitalism. We believe in the family unit. Conservatives and liberals believe that.”

Congressman Blake Moore also visited Utah lawmakers on Thursday. It was the first day Utah’s congressional delegation came to Capitol Hill, which is a tradition every year near the beginning of the legislative session.