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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) at the Capitol on Friday, March 27, 2020. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc/Getty Images)
DNC Appears Ready to Sideline Progressive Standout Ocasio-Cortez at Upcoming Convention
"You want Bill Clinton to speak but maybe not AOC. Okay, dummies."
Aug 07, 2020
Progressives expressed their discontent with the Democratic establishment Friday after reporting from Politico indicated that it was "unclear" if popular Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would be guaranteed a speaking slot at the party's convention.
"It would be stupid not to give" Ocasio-Cortez a role at the convention, Corbin Trent, a former top adviser to the New York Democrat, told Politico. "She's one of the best speakers the Democratic Party's got."
\u201cThis is so on-brand @TheDemocrats : debate whether @AOC (who would excite turnout) should speak because "moderates" might be offended VERSUS "of course" have the 2016 horrendous party nominee speak who lost partly because she alienated..."moderates" \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\nhttps://t.co/0o6nFm1M66\u201d— Jonathan Tasini (Substack Working Life Newsletter) (@Jonathan Tasini (Substack Working Life Newsletter)) 1596806850
As Politico reported, the convention has lined up a number of party stalwarts and leaders, including more centrist types like former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State and 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, as well as progressives like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
\u201cOther tidbits:\n\n\u2022 Warren, Kamala speaking, per sources\n\u2022 Citizens like a nurse may talk\n\u2022 Unclear if AOC will talk (to some tweeting on it, that's diff than saying "she def won't")\n\u2022 Bernie expected "to have a big speaking role"\n\u2022 Planning still in flux, things can change\u201d— Holly Otterbein (@Holly Otterbein) 1596804041
The party has also invited former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, to speak in a show of anti-Trump unity that goes past party.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a powerful member of the party's centrist wing, told Politico that he doubted Ocasio-Cortez would be offered a role at the convention.
"I think Bernie and Warren will speak, and they'll represent the progressive wing of the party very ably," said Rendell.
\u201cAs of now, Kasich speaking, AOC not, per politico. We guarantee you, Ed, there will be yelling\ud83d\ude09\nhttps://t.co/U4OFGkOl5o\u201d— People for Bernie (@People for Bernie) 1596801228
Kasich's inclusion and Ocasio-Cortez's possible exclusion rankled advocates and activists on the left.
\u201cDNC literally about to let John Kasich, a Republican, fill in host for Bill O'Reilly and frequent Hannity guest, speak at the convention. Yet there\u2019s no guarantee AOC will.\n\nThis isn\u2019t an accident, it\u2019s neoliberals trying to reconsolidate power.\nhttps://t.co/WnsplvUjVk\u201d— Read Reviving The Strike by Joe Burns \ud83e\udee1 (@Read Reviving The Strike by Joe Burns \ud83e\udee1) 1596803748
"You want Bill Clinton to speak but maybe not AOC," tweeted progressive activist and former Sanders campaign advisor Winnie Wong. "Okay, dummies."
Calling the decision "classic Dem shit," journalist Paul Blest opined it was unlikely that the party would ever see a repeat of former President Barack's famous keynote speech at the 2004 convention that propelled him to political stardom and the White House.
"She's one of the three most visible and culturally relevant politicians in the country," said Blest, "and she's particularly popular among young and left-leaning people, two blocs Biden needs even more in states like Wisconsin where the margin is narrow."
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alexandria ocasio-cortezbernie sandersbill clintondemocratic partyelection 2020hillary clintonjohn kasich
Progressives expressed their discontent with the Democratic establishment Friday after reporting from Politico indicated that it was "unclear" if popular Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would be guaranteed a speaking slot at the party's convention.
"It would be stupid not to give" Ocasio-Cortez a role at the convention, Corbin Trent, a former top adviser to the New York Democrat, told Politico. "She's one of the best speakers the Democratic Party's got."
\u201cThis is so on-brand @TheDemocrats : debate whether @AOC (who would excite turnout) should speak because "moderates" might be offended VERSUS "of course" have the 2016 horrendous party nominee speak who lost partly because she alienated..."moderates" \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\nhttps://t.co/0o6nFm1M66\u201d— Jonathan Tasini (Substack Working Life Newsletter) (@Jonathan Tasini (Substack Working Life Newsletter)) 1596806850
As Politico reported, the convention has lined up a number of party stalwarts and leaders, including more centrist types like former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State and 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, as well as progressives like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
\u201cOther tidbits:\n\n\u2022 Warren, Kamala speaking, per sources\n\u2022 Citizens like a nurse may talk\n\u2022 Unclear if AOC will talk (to some tweeting on it, that's diff than saying "she def won't")\n\u2022 Bernie expected "to have a big speaking role"\n\u2022 Planning still in flux, things can change\u201d— Holly Otterbein (@Holly Otterbein) 1596804041
The party has also invited former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, to speak in a show of anti-Trump unity that goes past party.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a powerful member of the party's centrist wing, told Politico that he doubted Ocasio-Cortez would be offered a role at the convention.
"I think Bernie and Warren will speak, and they'll represent the progressive wing of the party very ably," said Rendell.
\u201cAs of now, Kasich speaking, AOC not, per politico. We guarantee you, Ed, there will be yelling\ud83d\ude09\nhttps://t.co/U4OFGkOl5o\u201d— People for Bernie (@People for Bernie) 1596801228
Kasich's inclusion and Ocasio-Cortez's possible exclusion rankled advocates and activists on the left.
\u201cDNC literally about to let John Kasich, a Republican, fill in host for Bill O'Reilly and frequent Hannity guest, speak at the convention. Yet there\u2019s no guarantee AOC will.\n\nThis isn\u2019t an accident, it\u2019s neoliberals trying to reconsolidate power.\nhttps://t.co/WnsplvUjVk\u201d— Read Reviving The Strike by Joe Burns \ud83e\udee1 (@Read Reviving The Strike by Joe Burns \ud83e\udee1) 1596803748
"You want Bill Clinton to speak but maybe not AOC," tweeted progressive activist and former Sanders campaign advisor Winnie Wong. "Okay, dummies."
Calling the decision "classic Dem shit," journalist Paul Blest opined it was unlikely that the party would ever see a repeat of former President Barack's famous keynote speech at the 2004 convention that propelled him to political stardom and the White House.
"She's one of the three most visible and culturally relevant politicians in the country," said Blest, "and she's particularly popular among young and left-leaning people, two blocs Biden needs even more in states like Wisconsin where the margin is narrow."
Progressives expressed their discontent with the Democratic establishment Friday after reporting from Politico indicated that it was "unclear" if popular Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez would be guaranteed a speaking slot at the party's convention.
"It would be stupid not to give" Ocasio-Cortez a role at the convention, Corbin Trent, a former top adviser to the New York Democrat, told Politico. "She's one of the best speakers the Democratic Party's got."
\u201cThis is so on-brand @TheDemocrats : debate whether @AOC (who would excite turnout) should speak because "moderates" might be offended VERSUS "of course" have the 2016 horrendous party nominee speak who lost partly because she alienated..."moderates" \ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\ud83e\udd26\u200d\u2642\ufe0f\nhttps://t.co/0o6nFm1M66\u201d— Jonathan Tasini (Substack Working Life Newsletter) (@Jonathan Tasini (Substack Working Life Newsletter)) 1596806850
As Politico reported, the convention has lined up a number of party stalwarts and leaders, including more centrist types like former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State and 2016 nominee Hillary Clinton, as well as progressives like Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).
\u201cOther tidbits:\n\n\u2022 Warren, Kamala speaking, per sources\n\u2022 Citizens like a nurse may talk\n\u2022 Unclear if AOC will talk (to some tweeting on it, that's diff than saying "she def won't")\n\u2022 Bernie expected "to have a big speaking role"\n\u2022 Planning still in flux, things can change\u201d— Holly Otterbein (@Holly Otterbein) 1596804041
The party has also invited former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, to speak in a show of anti-Trump unity that goes past party.
Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a powerful member of the party's centrist wing, told Politico that he doubted Ocasio-Cortez would be offered a role at the convention.
"I think Bernie and Warren will speak, and they'll represent the progressive wing of the party very ably," said Rendell.
\u201cAs of now, Kasich speaking, AOC not, per politico. We guarantee you, Ed, there will be yelling\ud83d\ude09\nhttps://t.co/U4OFGkOl5o\u201d— People for Bernie (@People for Bernie) 1596801228
Kasich's inclusion and Ocasio-Cortez's possible exclusion rankled advocates and activists on the left.
\u201cDNC literally about to let John Kasich, a Republican, fill in host for Bill O'Reilly and frequent Hannity guest, speak at the convention. Yet there\u2019s no guarantee AOC will.\n\nThis isn\u2019t an accident, it\u2019s neoliberals trying to reconsolidate power.\nhttps://t.co/WnsplvUjVk\u201d— Read Reviving The Strike by Joe Burns \ud83e\udee1 (@Read Reviving The Strike by Joe Burns \ud83e\udee1) 1596803748
"You want Bill Clinton to speak but maybe not AOC," tweeted progressive activist and former Sanders campaign advisor Winnie Wong. "Okay, dummies."
Calling the decision "classic Dem shit," journalist Paul Blest opined it was unlikely that the party would ever see a repeat of former President Barack's famous keynote speech at the 2004 convention that propelled him to political stardom and the White House.
"She's one of the three most visible and culturally relevant politicians in the country," said Blest, "and she's particularly popular among young and left-leaning people, two blocs Biden needs even more in states like Wisconsin where the margin is narrow."
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