OP-ED: Is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez The Democratic Party's Trump?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seems to have it all. She’s 29, the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, the daughter of two working-class Puerto Ricans, a progressive Democrat, and a Twitter god. In terms of 2019, how could she be any more appealing?
When Ocasio-Cortez (known as AOC) beat out Republican Anthony Pappas for the 14th district of the Bronx, the Democratic party was over the moon. She quickly became a symbol for the party: a young, fresh face that brings a new wave of passionate liberals. However, upon closer examination, AOC may be hurting the Democratic party more than she is helping. Even worse, she may be much more similar to President Trump then most voters think she is. Here’s how:
She crosses a clear line of professionalism with her rhetoric
First of all, Ocasio-Cortez does not communicate like a politician. Sure, it’s 2019, and, sure, it’s definitely time for politicians who can talk and communicate with Americans in today’s English. However, a line must be drawn between mature and immature language.
In January 2019, Fox Business published an article entitled “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez isn't the future of the Democratic Party: Joe Lieberman” after a TV interview with independent politician Joe Lieberman. In it, Lieberman explains that he finds Cortez to be too extremist for a party that has shifted to appeal to the left-right spectrum. To that, Cortez retweeted a screenshot on her ever-popular Twitter account with the caption “New party, who dis?”
Cortez was referencing a trend among teens to respond to an unwanted text with “New phone, who dis?” AOC is proving with this tweet that she is definitely in with the kids, and takes her politics pretty casually. However, as quirky and relatable as this may appear to millennials, she is not gathering support from anyone else.
AOC has secured the vote and support of young democrats, period. However, the midterms are over. Cortez is far from gaining the respect, or even acknowledgment of many longtime Republicans. She may never gain that respect, but she is certainly not going to get anywhere close by acting juvenile. Cortez can tweet about Fox News attacking her until she’s blue in the face, but she is only fueling into the conservative narrative by tweeting like a child.
2. She’s a Twitter Star
It’s not just Republicans who are finding fault with AOC’s ways; it’s the veteran Democrats too. In an interview with Politico, it is pretty apparent that everyone in Congress is doing their best to put Cortez in her place. One unnamed Democratic congressman commented, “She needs to decide: Does she want to be an effective legislator or just continue being a Twitter star?” He added that there’s a difference between being an activism personality and a true lawmaker.
3. Her fiery rebuttals and snarky comments may come from her lack of knowledge on the federal government system:
In fairness, she’s only 29, and politicians who spend decades devoted to learning about the complex governmental system still don’t always understand every quirk of it, but most veteran politicians are certainly not posting about everything on their minds. This leaves much room for error, and she has already slipped up.
In November 2018, two weeks after being elected, Cortez posted a video to her Instagram explaining how to turn the White House blue in 2020. “If we work our butts off to make sure we take back all three chambers of Congress- rather all three chambers of the government- the presidency, the Senate, and the house in 2020, we can’t start working in 2020.”
Many Americans at the time had lots of questions when this was posted as her statement was pretty unclear. Nonetheless, as Ocasio-Cortez tried to defend herself and apologize, she only dug herself into a deeper hole.
“Maybe instead of Republicans drooling over every minute of footage of me in slow-mo, waiting to chop up word slips that I correct in real-time,” she replied, “they actually step up enough to make the argument they want to make.” Sure, Cortez’s response can be labeled ‘savage’ by her younger counterparts, but in reality, it’s not helping her case.
The proper response to a hiccup on social media is never to attack the other side. Cortez should have corrected herself, apologized, and left the issue as is. Fox News loves to see AOC react explosively, just as it’s entertaining for the liberal news agenda to see Trump spaz out on Twitter.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was made for this decade’s politics, no doubt, and as far as progression goes, it’s a beautiful and inspiring thing to see someone like her in Congress. Not only was her win historic, but children with similar backgrounds as AOC will undoubtedly strive to get into politics.
Cortez is much more dignified than Trump, truly. However, she as well as many other Democrats at times have stooped down to Trump’s level of immature rhetoric entirely.
At the end of the day, though, Cortez needs to reflect on the true priorities of the Democratic party in Trump’s America. Healthcare for all and justice for immigrants are beautiful goals, but not if the rhetoric used to describe these goals is eruptive and hypocritical. If we’re not careful, Trump’s way of acting could become the new political normal.
By Annie Levy