Rep. Alexander Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is not happy with a new rule from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee that penalizes pollsters, strategists and other campaign vendors for working for candidates challenging Democratic incumbents.
The proud democratic socialist offered an unconventional plan in response.
Her solution to the DCCC issuing rule changes that don’t meet her approval is to take to Twitter to call on followers to donate to causes other than the committee that works to elect Democrats.
And she tagged the DCCC to ensure they see her directive.
“The @DCCC’s new rule to blacklist+boycott anyone who does business w/ primary challengers is extremely divisive & harmful to the party. My recommendation, if you’re a small-dollar donor: pause your donations to DCCC & give directly to swing candidates instead. Some great ones:” she tweeted, following up with several references to individual candidates.
The @DCCC’s new rule to blacklist+boycott anyone who does business w/ primary challengers is extremely divisive & harmful to the party.
My recommendation, if you’re a small-dollar donor: pause your donations to DCCC & give directly to swing candidates instead.
Some great ones:
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 30, 2019
The freshman class of young radical progressives have been consistent in standing up for each other, as they stumble headlong from one controversy to another, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., did her part, criticizing the DCCC for a rule that she said “threatens to slam the door” on women and people of color.
Our diversity is our strength. When a candidate takes the risk to run, Democrats should not be in the practice of creating litmus tests or roadblocks that have a chilling effect on new candidates or those who would invest their sweat equity in support.
END
— Ayanna Pressley (@AyannaPressley) March 30, 2019
Both Ocasio-Cortez and Pressley beat incumbent Democrats — former Reps. Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., and Michael Capuano, D-Mass, respectively. The defeated incumbents shared another commonality, with both being white males.
Other Democrats who oppose the rule, according to The Hill, include Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., Mark Pocan, D-Wis., and Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash.
For what it’s worth, House majority whip Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., an African-American, defended the policy, telling the National Journal it was “wrong” for the DCCC to give money to firms that would work with candidates who would challenge Democrats in primaries, The Hill reported.
And let’s not forget at a closed-door meeting of House Democrats early this month following a vote on a gun safety bill, Ocasio-Cortez threatened to put colleagues who vote with the GOP “on a list” for primary challenges.
With the Democratic National Committee all but throwing the 2016 primary to Hillary Clinton over Sen. Bernie Sanders, another self-described democratic socialist, progressives have little faith in the party’s apparatus.
A good example of how Ocasio-Cortez's use of social media isn't just millennial nonsense, but actually builds a power base outside of the traditional levers. Without it, this DCCC power move likely goes unnoticed or unchallenged https://t.co/gg7Tcyki05
— Astead (@AsteadWesley) March 30, 2019
Of course, having more Democrats in office like the Bronx freshman can prove to be a good thing for the right.
AOC is exactly correct here. Send your money to primary challengers like her. I'm fully endorsing this. https://t.co/CKDC776p87
— Jazz Shaw (@JazzShaw) March 30, 2019
Nonetheless, the reaction online to Ocasio-Cortez’s bold response suggested a “DNC vs AOC grudge match” could be in the offing, though it is the DCCC she singled out.
Here’s a sampling of response from Twitter:
Wow. @aoc is telling donors not to give to @dccc —>> https://t.co/Nh3Z64I8pD
— Sheryl Gay Stolberg (@SherylNYT) March 30, 2019
IT.
IS.
— Drew McCoy (@_Drew_McCoy_) March 30, 2019
— Pradheep J. Shanker, M.D., M.S. (@Neoavatara) March 30, 2019
I can’t wait to see the DNC vs AOC grudge match.
I might need to buy popcorn futures after all.
— Bert Difig (@BertDifig1) March 31, 2019
She doesn’t even know any of these people. Her handlers are peddling more kooks.
— Albert Dreyfusworthy (@spongeworthy2) March 30, 2019
Cool, @AOC is burning all her bridges in the @DNC and at home. She’ll be a one-termer for sure. https://t.co/snJJPx6g5M
— ??#IAmTheNRA Rosenblum (@StevenRosenblum) March 31, 2019
Not a good image for the party.
— Ryan For Arizona (@RyanForArizona) March 30, 2019
Talk about divisive – how about creating division Within the Democratic Party? Hope you never want money from @dccc. The fresh face gets a lot of attn but you’ll be establishment soon – then what? #UNITEblue
— Raine LaChance (@rainelachance) March 30, 2019
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