Lawmakers have been quietly criticizing the New York newcomer and are hoping to rein in her criticism of those in her own party, Politico reported, citing nearly 20 lawmakers and aides. The report described lawmakers as fearful of Ocasio-Cortez's ability to swing progressives against more establishment Democrats and anxious to utilize her influence to unite the party.
They point to her hiring of two former organizers from the progressive group Justice Democrats, which helped get her elected, and a November conference call in which she urged, "all Americans know money in politics is a huge problem, but unfortunately the way that we fix it is by demanding that our incumbents give it up or by running fierce campaigns ourselves."
Democratic leaders were also frustrated that Ocasio-Cortez criticized their new set of House rules on Twitter in the first week of the new Congress, Politico reported. Ocasio-Cortez shared with her more than 2 million Twitter followers that she'd vote against a Democratic rules package.
House Democrats were also annoyed that Ocasio-Cortez sought a seat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee -- on which veteran lawmakers typically serve -- with a grassroots campaign to pressure Speaker Nancy Pelosi to add her to the panel, Politico reported, adding that Ocasio-Cortez's office denied being behind the effort.
Through her staff, Ocasio-Cortez declined to comment to Politico. Recently she told the outlet that she wasn't interested in backing progressive candidates against incumbent Democrats, insisting that she's "focused on my job."
Some lawmakers are trying to convince Ocasio-Cortez to use her influence to unite Democrats, while others have warned her that she's headed for a lonely tenure in Congress if she treats her more moderate colleagues as enemies, the report said.
Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez of New York has been a bridge between the Democratic caucus and Ocasio-Cortez, counseling the freshman congresswoman in private conversations against targeting her fellow Democrats, according to Politico.
Velázquez told Politico that the two shared a "long, long conversation" about the dynamics of Congress and Washington, and how there shouldn't be a "litmus test" for each district, and advised Ocasio-Cortez to think twice before backing primary challenges against her colleagues.
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Politico: Some House Dems upset with Ocasio-Cortez"
Post a Comment