New York Democratic Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez may not be a member of Congress yet, but it looks like she just secured a earlier victory over House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
On Tuesday, the 29-year-old socialist took part in a protest with the “Sunrise Movement,” the group who flooded Pelosi’s office on Capitol Hill with activists who demanded a more progressive climate agenda.
Within hours of the protest, it was reported that Pelosi had recommended to her colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives that they reinstate a committee to address climate change, which is what Ocasio-Cortez wanted.
“PELOSI: ‘I have recommended to my House Democratic colleagues that we reinstate the select committee to address the climate crisis,'” wrote The Daily Beast’s Sam Stein, quoting the California Democrat.
PELOSI: “I have recommended to my House Democratic colleagues that we reinstate the select committee to address the climate crisis."
— Sam Stein (@samstein) November 13, 2018
Just hours before Pelosi caved to the mob, Ocasio-Cortez joined dozens of protesters who flooded the House Minority Leaders office with chants and demands.
Many of the far-left activists can be seen in photographs holding signs that read, “Step Up or Step Aside.”
Ocasio-Cortez not only delivered a speech and called on Pelosi to get on board with the progressive climate agenda, she also high-fived the young activists while making it clear she was not going to be kissing up to the establishment.
Young voters from around the country have filled @nancypelosi's office & hallway to submit their stories & demands for a #GreenNewDeal. Step Up or Step Aside. They told their stories, sang & then much to their glee someone showed up to show support & rally them on. @Ocasio2018 pic.twitter.com/mZ7NvNcwnA
— Spiritually Ascending 🙏✌️♥️ (@Poli_NewSense) November 13, 2018
Wow! @Ocasio2018 just joined @sunrisemvmt in its sit-in in Pelosi's office demanding a #GreenNewDeal pic.twitter.com/FxAjBBNzcK
— jordan (@JordanUhl) November 13, 2018
After issuing her demands from Pelosi’s office, Ocasio-Cortez told The Young Turks’ reporter Emma Vigeland that she was excited to see the group of activists fighting for climate change.
“It’s amazing … It’s really incredible to see … that people are very serious about making sure that we address climate change, that we get to 100 percent renewables, with living wages, jobs and infrastructure for working class Americans,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Ocasio-Cortez also appeared to suggest that she was going to push Pelosi to become more favorable toward a progressive agenda.
“I’m really working forward to us working together and delivering on everything we talked about on the campaign trail,” she said. “I know that she has the conviction to be a progressive leader and we need to support those objectives and we need to support the progressive agenda.”
Ocasio-Cortez said she knew holding a protest in Pelosi’s office would send a bold message, but argued that it was necessary to “get results.”
“The way things are done has not been getting results,” she said, taking an apparent shot at Pelosi and establishment lawmakers. “We have to try new methods.”
Pelosi caving to Ocasio-Cortez’s demands comes just days after it was reported that ten Democratic congressmen, including Ocasio-Cortez, said they would vote against Pelosi for House Speaker.
Ocasio-Cortez — who recently attacked the “electoral system” because she can’t receive her congressional salary until she becomes a member of Congress — made it clear last week that she isn’t ready to endorse Pelosi for Speaker.
“Who needs to lead the House and would you consider the possibility of being the Speaker yourself?” asked Democracy Now host Amy Goodman.
“Uh, I mean, I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew. I just won my seat,” Cortez said, laughing while refusing to give a definitive answer.
Ocasio-Cortez also made her stance clear when asked about backing Pelosi for Speaker.
“In terms of her leadership, in context, we need to see what our options are,” Ocasio-Cortez said, adding that she doesn’t want candidates “running to her right.”
“We need to make sure we are electing party leadership with strong commitments to putting Medicare For All, tuition-free-college and more at the top of the agenda,” the socialist darling said.
As the Democratic Party arguably become more progressive and comfortable publicly supporting socialism, it sounds like Pelosi isn’t liberal enough for her own party.
It also appears that a battle for inner party power may be brewing between Ocasio-Cortez and Pelosi. And on Wednesday, Pelosi caved to the socialists’ demands within hours.
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