Exasperated Democrats try to rein in Ocasio-Cortez

[kstewart33]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by DonViejo (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Politico

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is already making enemies in the House Democratic Caucus — and some of its members are mounting an operation to bring the anti-establishment, democratic socialist with 2.2 million Twitter followers into the fold.

The effort, described by nearly 20 lawmakers and aides, is part carrot, part stick: Some lawmakers with ties to Ocasio-Cortez are hoping to coax her into using her star power to unite Democrats and turn her fire on Republicans. Others simultaneously warn Ocasio-Cortez is destined for a lonely, ineffectual career in Congress if she continues to treat her own party as the enemy.

“I’m sure Ms. Cortez means well, but there’s almost an outstanding rule: Don’t attack your own people,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.). “We just don’t need sniping in our Democratic Caucus.”

Incumbent Democrats are most annoyed by Ocasio-Cortez’s threat to back primary opponents against members of their ranks she deems too moderate. But their frustration goes beyond that: Democratic leaders are upset that she railed against their new set of House rules on Twitter the first week of the new Congress. Rank and file are peeved that there’s a grassroots movement to try to win her a top committee post they feel she doesn’t deserve.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/11/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-democrats-establisment-1093728

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

1. "we don't attack our own people" Hope the lessons been learned.

Ugh....

[ehrnst]

63. Yeah. Like so many do Pelosi. (nt)

[mountain grammy]

2. I CALL BULLSHIT, POLITICO!

[watoos]

9. I agree,

IMHO this is a right wing smear campaign.

There are more than OAC who don't like PAYGO, myself included. PAYGO pretty much killed Medicare for all.

I have no problem with our party having vigorous debates, we are a big tent party and we certainly don't need purity tests.

[George II]

27. Emanuel Cleaver is "right wing"? As for "PAYGO", the one included in the House rules is NOT....

....the big bad "PAYGO" that everyone hates.

People should familiarize themselves with the new rules.

[NurseJackie]

40. Sadly, it's often easier to jump to knee-jerk conclusions without thinking.

All I'm saying is... when someone attacks Democrats or the Democratic party, they should expect a fair amount of push-back. I mean, it's not like this hasn't happened before. I know this tune. It's an old one, and it's a little long in the tooth.

[George II]

43. Or reading. The article has explicit quotes from a number of Democrats. I find it interesting....

....that some are telling these Democrats to shut up because they perceive them as telling a Democrat to shut up. Quite ironic.

[gldstwmn]

58. She's got the Republicans scared shitless.

She's extremely popular and stands for everything they hate. She also represents the future and god knows how much they hate any sort of modernity. She was a community organizer like Barack Obama and I can see her running for president one day and winning.

[brooklynite]

16. So, you're saying House Member Cleaver didn't say this?

Or are you just objecting to stories you don't like?

[George II]

28. For the life of me I never thought I'd ever see Emanuel Cleaver called "right wing".

[Eliot Rosewater]

53. And now we know how we got here.

[mountain grammy]

64. I'm objecting to the fucking headline

And you should too. All Democrats should. Exasperated???? Really?

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

18. +1...

... kick.

[LittleGirl]

19. +1 exactly. eom

[turbinetree]

24. I second your motion, every time democrat party take's back a House or Senate, Politico or the Hill

will write some BULL SHIT story to further there right wing cause.................all one has to do is look at the opinion section of both of these right wing organizations..................they have a list of a who's who on right wing fascist talking points, and then they go and find a someone to spew there shit........................she won her election on her promises that she will make to the workers in this country and her district.

For one she said the people making lots and lots of money do not pay there fair share in taxes...................and they don't, ever since that right wing former NBC Hour Ronald Reagan, was given a platform by NBC to spew his right wing shit about the middle class ...............................so Politico and the Hill can go and twirl...................on a proverbial stick.....................

I back AOC, I wish my representative was like her.....................I got a "guy" that is beholden to the Club for Growth..................Andy (I'm a fucking doctor that voted 50 times to eviscerate ACA health care to hurt my wife and others in Maryland, and voted to fuck everyone in the state(s) with there property and mortgage taxes to give 1.5 trillion to the likes of the traitor sitting in the white house) Harris.................................so Politico and the HILL again...............go twirl...................


November 3, 2020 cannot get here fast enough................................

[McKim]

59. Thank You!

Your post is astute. AOC is doing what she was elected to do for her district. The Democratic Party is a BIG tent. She brings voters like me on board and gives me hope. Let’s not splinter it and create more false conflicts!

[mountain grammy]

66. Yes

[Pachamama]

3. Let her be

Efforts that control or silence her will not only fail massively, they will only make the Democratic Party look bad and she will have a bigger forum and stage.

I for one like her and even if I don’t agree on all of the things or tactics, I think she is smart and energetic and passionate and I think she walks the talk.

[Tribalceltic]

4. Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

They have the power , now they need to exercise it!

[tenderfoot]

5. What a bullshit article

eom

[dem4decades]

6. If you attack a Democrat here it goes to a jury.

Why should we not have our leaders close the same rules?

[watoos]

13. Is it an "attack" a word that the right likes to use,

or is it rigorous debate?

[NurseJackie]

44. Yep... attacks and smears... that's exactly what it is. Fact is, Democrats are NOT "do-nothings" ...

Yep... attacks and smears... that's exactly what it is. Fact is, Democrats are NOT "do-nothings" nor "corrupt" nor are Democrats "climate change deniers". I will always push-back whenever I hear this type of divisive rhetoric. It causes division and creates distrust and suspicion. All I'm saying is that these things weaken the Democratic party and drive away new voters, support, volunteers and donors... and a weak Democratic party benefits the GOP (and Russia).

Cenk Uygur's "Justice Democrats" (Just us Democrats?) philosophy that the Democratic Party must be "destroyed" in order to be "rebuilt" is dangerous and foolish. With his Republican backing and funds, I distrust him... his motives... and ANYONE who has a close association with him. Cenk is toxic. And quite the asshole, too.

[Eliot Rosewater]

54. If everyone doesnt RIGHT NOW figure the fuck out who JD really are, we are doomed to repeat somethin

[ehrnst]

61. Calling for Pelosi to be canned was considered just fine for a long time here.

[Perseus]

7. There we go again...Democrats do not seem to learn

There is time when your mouth needs to be shut...

Are these democrats feeling threatened by AOC? That has to be the reason they are being stupid. Someone should ask them that question.

[George II]

29. So you're telling a Democrat to shut his mouth because.....

.....you think he's telling a Democrat to shut her mouth?

[kstewart33]

41. Bingo, George. nt

[NurseJackie]

47. It's dizzying!

[liberalmuse]

8. Nope.

And if this story isn’t BS (it is), Democrats should not reign her in. She’s energizing and a breath of fresh air. If any Dems are exasperated, they’re likely of the old white guy conservative ilk (like Lieberman, that POS) She really scares them.

[BeyondGeography]

10. We've been sailing with a cargo of love and devotion

Damn you, AOC!

[johnp3907]

11. We just don't need sniping in our Democratic Caucus." he sniped.

[KG]

12. I LOL'd

[watoos]

14. Me too.

[OKNancy]

15. Well, I think that backing candidates to primary members is dumb

No wonder Democrats are annoyed. I'm annoyed with her.
NOT EVERY PLACE IS the Bronx. I'm thrilled that a female Democrat won Oklahoma's 5th district. The first one in 44 years!
If for any reason AOC tried to primary her.... someone just might need to primary AOC.

[watoos]

22. The word "if" can be a complicated word at times.

[Ramsey Barner]

17. AOC has already shown us

that she is as focused on the practical as she is on the ideal. She's trying to effect change, AND she supported Speaker Pelosi. Case closed.

[NurseJackie]

51. Anyone who treats their own party as the "enemy" will have a lonely and short career.

Case closed.

[watoos]

20. 20 members don't like her, boo hoo,

that means that 179 members have no problem with her.

[SFnomad]

50. No it doesn't ... it means that 179 members haven't said anything, either way n/t

[jmowreader]

21. He's got a point

The GOP is the Devil. It is Evil Incarnate. Attacking Democrats for not being perfect enough for her, when she SHOULD be attacking Republicans for being enemies of the state, only helps the Republicans.

[theaocp]

23. It's almost like she's leaving the republicans alone, right?

Oh, wait.

[HopeAgain]

30. Attack or disagree?

Does towing the line mean I have to give up my beliefs? Is PAYGO a inviolate principle of the party now?

[mentalslavery]

25. classic concern trolling.....

[IronLionZion]

26. Exasperated political blog tries to divide Democrats

Because if Dems fight each other, then Republicans win.

[rocktivity]

31. Consider the source...

rocktivity

[LakeArenal]

32. I can only speak for myself...

Not concerned. What we see is fresh air, new blood, youthful zeal, change in the air or any cliche to characterize AOC.

Not interested in her for Prez so let her go. Right now she’s representing her constituents. They elected her. Leave her to that.

[Gothmog]

33. Great article

[bonniebgood]

34. This headline smacks of Russians Bots. If dems keeps falling for these kinds of Bots

division the republicons wins. PEOPLES DON FALL FOR THE DIVISIVE HEADLINES
Remember this divisive headline of Bernie vs Hillary? this thread needs to be deleted.

[George II]

36. A number of Democratic members of Congress are quoted in that article. Are they Russian bots?

[SFnomad]

49. It's the Democratic version of the RepubliCON "fake news" chant

It's not that they're Russian bots, they know they're not Russian bots, they just don't like the message so they pretend they are (or could be) Russian bots.

[George II]

35. I can see that very few who are bashing your OP have read the article. A number of Democrats....

Last edited Fri Jan 11, 2019, 12:04 PM - Edit history (1)

...in Congress have commented in the article, include two Congresswomen in abutting districts in Brooklyn and Queens, Nydia Velázquez and Grace Meng.

Some are being discounted and characterized as "right wing".

I can't believe it.

[Eliot Rosewater]

55. Believe it AND expect many more assaults in the future.

There are a group of people who want what they want and if they cant get it they THEN want Democrats to lose.

WE KNOW this ...why in the FUCK cant we _ _ _ _ about it?

[PubliusEnigma]

37. Teamwork gets things done. She can do nothing alone.

[zentrum]

38. Maybe it's because...

...she makes the old guard look weak in the face of our national crisis which is Trump.

These are not normal times. The old way of doing things has been broken and not by new progressive Democrats.
She brings a knife and not a spoon to a knife fight----at long last. Go Ms. Cortez!!!!

[BeyondGeography]

42. That's life

You don’t get to suffer a terrible loss without having some aspects of your world changed. Happens to us all; no one is immune, even tenured Congresspeople in safe seats.

[George II]

45. I don't see how she makes the "old guard" look weak. Nancy Pelosi looks stronger than ever.

[beastie boy]

39. The media thrive on drama and conflict. And if they need to turn disagreements into conflicts and

AOC's left of center agenda into drama, they will gladly do so.

I will not be surprised to read, as soon as she votes with mainstream Democrats on anything, how AOC is selling her principles out. And it will probably be published by the same Politico.

[agingdem]

46. Nancy Pelosi has five children

and nine grandchildren...she knows how to corral Ms. Cortez when she needs to

[NurseJackie]

52. Well said! An excellent observation!

Pelosi's skills were clearly demonstrated to us the day she had to deal with the offshoot of the "Justice (Just us) Democrats" protest group and so much grandstanding. Pelosi was so kind and considerate to them (obviously not what they were anticipating) and that made the group look a bit foolish. Awkwarrrrd!

[LenaBaby61]

60. "Nancy Pelosi knows how to corral Ms. Cortez when she needs to."

This 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻

Which is why I'm not really worried nor pay much attention to AOC @ this time.

Secondly, Politico & The Hill = & & LIES, so I barely go to those two sites.

[pwb]

48. More politico crap?

.

[dlk]

56. AOC is Young and New at her Job, and She Will Make Missteps. We Still Need to Stick Together

The right-wing sees her as a threat and will begin their dirty tricks campaign to take her out. Let's not get fooled again. The cost is too high. As someone has said (who was taken out by right-wing dirty tricks [and the Russians]), we're stronger together.

[NurseJackie]

67. Treating one's own party as some sort of "enemy" is more than just a "misstep"...

Treating one's own party as some sort of "enemy" is more than just a "misstep" and I don't care who does it. I'll push back against him or her regardless.

we're stronger together.

Indeed we are. All I'm saying here is that I don't understand why anyone would do things that create distrust and division. It's simply wrong to suggest that Democrats are do-nothings, or corrupt, or that Democrats don't care about climate change.

[GeorgeGist]

57. Fuck TigerBeat on the Potomac.

[CousinIT]

62. Politico.

With it's big shit-stirring paddle to help whip apart our Dem coalition.

Is there a day that goes by that this outfit DOESN'T post something about Democratic conflict, division, infighting?

[ehrnst]

65. Maybe Bernie could have a talk with her. I understand that he's worked closely with Dems for years.

He caucuses with them, and votes with them.

He was even a superdelegate. Working within the system like that can get one places.

[DonViejo]

68. Locking...

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