New York Democratic Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez isn’t even a member of Congress yet, and she’s already endorsing plans to primary members of her own party who aren’t progressive enough.
According to Politico, the 29-year-old socialist told Justice Democrats in a video conference on Saturday that she supported the group’s efforts to primary Democratic incumbents who aren’t liberal enough on issues.
“Long story short, I need you to run for office,” Ocasio-Cortez told the far-left group, who has launched a campaign called #OurTime.
Join our call today with @Ocasio2018 to hear our plans for 2020 and how to get involved in the #OurTime project to support more diverse working class leadership in our country.
RSVP ➡️ https://t.co/Dhwq77NjHA pic.twitter.com/7oP4HGgdxt
— Justice Democrats (@justicedems) November 17, 2018
“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,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
“We need new leaders, period. We gotta primary folks,” said Saikat Chakrabarti, Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff, during the call.
Coincidentally, Chakrabarti is not only Ocasio-Cortez’s chief of staff, he’s also a co-founder of Justice Democrats.
During the call, Ocasio-Cortez reportedly endorsed the group’s efforts to primary against incumbent Democrats who don’t support liberal policies such as Medicare for All, abolishing the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, rejecting corporate money to PACs, and implementing a progressive “Green New Deal.”
Justice Democrats want its members to focus on nominating and supporting women and minorities who run for office in districts that are up for re-election in the next election cycle.
On Saturday, Ocasio-Cortez retweeted the group’s tweet and made it clear she supports only having progressives who support this far-left agenda in Congress.
If you’re a strong progressive leader in your community and committed to getting money out of politics, I want you to join me in Congress. I want you to run.
To run in 2020 without corporate money, you need to start considering now. Join @justicedems tonight to learn more ⬇️ https://t.co/7hkAFkaZ4A
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 17, 2018
The group said they recruited Ocasio-Cortez and will use her “playbook” across the country.
“We recruited and supported Ocasio-Cortez all the way to a historic victory and now we’re going to repeat the playbook,” Justice Democrats Executive Director Alexandra Rojas told Politico.
Aside from the group sounding like Ocasio-Cortez is their Manchurian candidate, this was hardly the first eyebrow raising thing that she has taken part in.
While in Washington, D.C., last week for orientation, the socialist darling stormed the office of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for a protest, complained that everyone is confusing her an intern or spouse, and was captured in a photo standing alone and being excluded from a conversation between several older Democrats.
On Wednesday, a photo of Ocasio-Cortez standing all by herself like a child waiting for her parents to finish talking scorched across Twitter.
Incoming congressmen discuss the upcoming term, while Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez looks on. pic.twitter.com/vNsKSJeTim
— The Nick Report™️🇮🇱 (@muscadyne) November 15, 2018
Prior to that, the socialist complained that she kept being mistaken for an “intern or spouse” while touring Capitol Hill.
She vented her frustrations in a series of tweets on Wednesday, lashing out because people aren’t aware of who she is or giving her special treatment.
“People keep giving me directions to the spouse and intern events instead of the ones for members of Congress,” she tweeted.
People keep giving me directions to the spouse and intern events instead of the ones for members of Congress 🤦🏽♀️
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 14, 2018
On Tuesday, Ocasio-Cortez 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.
Ocasio-Cortez joined dozens of protesters who took over 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.”
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
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.
Earlier this week, 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 that she isn’t ready to endorse Pelosi for Speaker.
“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.
It looks like Ocasio-Cortez is ready to cause a major shake-up, including campaigning against members of her own party who don’t submit to her socialist ideas.
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