Top Democrat targets Hasan Piker, sends message to fellow party members

Hasan Piker has lately become a lightning rod in U.S. politics. In some Democratic circles, the influencer has gained currency.

But Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat himself, is against him.

In a blistering message, he called on his fellow party members to distance themselves from Piker.

“Anyone campaigning with him is part of the problem,” he said.

Besides Piker, Gottheimer also took an aim at the Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA.

In his view, which he has expressed before, the group does not represent the Democratic Party.

According to Gottheimer, socialist activists, as he described them, should not use Democrats as a platform and form their own political party.

“Obviously, I’m a very proud, common-sense Democrat, and I don’t think DSA members are Democrats," he told Fox News.

"They’re socialists, right? And I’m all for them having their own party if they want one, but if they’re trying to take over our party, that’s unacceptable to me,” the politician said.

“Their values, their ideas are certainly not in line with ours, and they don’t support our leadership," Gottheimer claimed.

"They’re trying to use the Democratic Party as a vessel for their ideas," he alleged.

Gottheimer's remarks spotlight a growing tussle allegedly brewing inside the Democratic Party over how far progressive factions can wield influence over the party's makeup.