OPINION GUEST ESSAY The Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez You Don't Know

[Uncle Joe]

By Gaby Del Valle

Ms. Del Valle began covering Ms. Ocasio-Cortez in 2018.

(snip)

The strategy she has come to embrace isn’t what anyone would’ve expected when she arrived in Washington. In some ways, she’s asking the obvious questions: What’s broadly popular among a vast majority of Americans, and how can I make it happen? To achieve progress on these issues, she has sought common ground in places where her peers are not thinking to look. Her willingness to forge unlikely alliances, in surprisingly productive places, has opened a path to new voters — for her party, her ideas and her own political ambitions if she ever decides to run for higher office.

Since 2016, there have been two competing visions for the Democratic Party. One is the promise that began with Barack Obama of a multiracial coalition that would grow stronger as America’s demographics shifted; the other is the political revolution championed by Bernie Sanders as a way to unite nonvoters with the working class. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez bridges the gap between the two. The dream for Democrats is that one day, she or someone like her could emerge from the backbench to bring new voters into the party, forging a coalition that can win election after election. It’s too early to tell whether she has what it takes to pull that off. But what’s clear is that at a time when Democrats are struggling, she is quietly laying the groundwork to build a coalition broader than the one she came to power with, unafraid to take risks along the way.

(snip)

For decades, bipartisanship has meant bringing together moderates, lobbyists and establishment insiders to produce watered-down legislation unpalatable to many voters in both political parties. What Ms. Ocasio-Cortez is doing is different; she’s uniting politicians on the fringes of American politics around a broadly popular set of policies.

Americans in both parties overwhelmingly say that they don’t trust the government to do the right thing and that donors and lobbyists have too much sway over the legislative process. A Pew Research Center poll conducted last year found that more than 8 in 10 Americans believe politicians “are more focused on fighting each other than on solving problems.” One-fifth of respondents said lack of bipartisan cooperation was the biggest problem with the political system.

(snip)

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/04/opinion/alexandria-ocasio-cortez.html

[Think. Again.]

1. That's weird...

...didn't she get elected to her current office by asking "What’s broadly popular among a vast majority of Americans my constituents, and how can I make it happen?" in the first place?

Why would her continuing to embrace that strategy be unexpected?

[alfredo]

2. It is because

Washington changes people, and too often in a bad way.
Stay strong, stay outspoken, make your adversaries break out in hives.

[Think. Again.]

4. Well, it's good then to see...

...that Washington hasn't changed her, as she is asking the same question about how to best serve her constituents.

Still, the article seems to be trying to imply the opposite. Weird.

[-misanthroptimist]

3. I sincerely hope...

...that I live long enough to be able to vote for AOC for President.

[KPN]

5. Really? This piece is like saying Michael Jordan is (was) a better basketball player than I thought. Geesh.

AOC already belongs in the Progressives Hall of Fame in my book.

[dutch777]

6. I hope her strategy succeeds and our party gets more responsive to people than special interests. Bigger tent please!

Given some notable House losses in the last two elections in districts that we saw as safely Dem in perpetuity, I think she is seeing a way to a more viable and solid future for the party. Go AOC!