I'm confused about the Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez bashing

[Equinox Moon]

She is a democrat. I have seen a few posts tonight that are putting her down.
DU has rules: Support Democrats.

[caraher]

1. I share your confusion

We're in a battle for Congress that we cannot lose. Who has the time or energy for this right now? Elect Democrats this November. We shouldn't be fighting over who is a "true" Democrat or who should be the next Speaker of the House. The only thing that matters about the next speaker is that it not be a Republican.

[vlyons]

43. Some people think they are above the rules

That the rules don't apply to them. That expressing their criticism is more important than following a "silly" rule (silly from their view). When actually, not following the DU rules, denotes a lack of self-discipline. There are plenty of web sites, where it's not against their rules to bash a Dem. They should go there to express their criticism. That's why we have alerts and juries on posts that break the rules. If you think a post breaks a DU rule, by all means file an alert about it.

In the past month or so, I have filed maybe a dozen or so alerts, when previously I never posted one. Which leads me to suspect that either we have trolls in our midst, or we have some undisciplined egos, or both.

[lagomorph777]

126. Trolls are crawling out from under the bridges now, spouting mythology.

You are not alone in your observation.

[msongs]

2. comment and criticize are not automatically bashing nt

[Equinox Moon]

4. Why even go there? We are fighting for our democracy.

We don't need any negative democrat posts. Times up on that game.

[scarletwoman]

3. Well, she's not the *right kind* of Democrat for some people around here. nt

[Glamrock]

7. Dingdingding

We have a winner! Same thing happening with a certain Muslim Dem from Minnesota tonight.

[Equinox Moon]

12. Say more

[Glamrock]

16. Here's one thread:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210992037

While completely disregarding this one:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210994238

[Equinox Moon]

21. Thanks for the links

It is a bit messy two days before MN primaries with both Ellison and Swanson having fresh scandals. You know the timing of it is what makes all so fishy, even if I don't know the details.

[Glamrock]

22. True

But the media has looked into it repeatedly and concluded there's no there there. Im guessing if he wasn't so close to a certain Senator, there'd be a more vociferous defense being mounted.

[Equinox Moon]

25. Just the whiff of "sexual" and "abuse" will turn voters off.

And people don't take the time to look into it. This will probably cost him the primary.

[Beartracks]

28. But IOKIYAR

It's OK if you're a Republican.

======

[Equinox Moon]

29. Do people really know what this stands for? "IOKIYAR"

I sure don't

[Beartracks]

32. But that's why I spelled it out in the body of my post.

[Equinox Moon]

33. Oh, I see it now.

I guess I need to get out my spy-craft code-breaking book to be on DU.

[Beartracks]

35. We need a Decoder Ring smilie.

=====

[Rhiannon12866]

42. Thank you!

I've seen that before and meant to look it up!

[sheshe2]

39. Love how Sharice Davids was supported here.

Native American, Woman, LGBT.

[Glamrock]

40. How did she get dragged into this.

We're talking about a completely different subject. Let's leave the what-about-ism to fox news, shall we.

[Cha]

41. Yes, he can "drag" the "Muslim Dem" into

it but you can't mention Sharice Davids or that's "whataboutism" and accusing you of being like fox.

See how that works?

[rpannier]

45. The joy (maybe) of being gone for as bit

I will admit to be at a loss about the Muslim Dem and what is up with Sharice Davids?

[Eliot Rosewater]

134. No shit, but dont you dare bring it up, it could ruin an otherwise complete batch

of...never mind

I give up.

Hug your kids, while a certain group DEMANDS we do this and do that, the GOP will retain power and the KGB will start building the camps.

[Equinox Moon]

8. We are a big tent.

I can support all dems, with the exception of republicans running on a dem ticket. That is not the case here.

[R B Garr]

9. Isn't that what she also says?? Not all Democrats are the same.

That comment is even in one of her promo ads.

[scarletwoman]

30. That's hardly an earthshaking statement.

It's really quite an obvious observation.

[R B Garr]

36. Ah, I must have missed the part where her ideas

of the right kind of Democrat are more important than anyone elses. It sounds divisive. Maybe that’s what people notice.

[Madam Mossfern]

78. I will criticize her for that

She should not be divisive - she should be supporting Democrats and bashing Republicans. Because she seems to denigrate Democrats, there are those who speak out against that behavior. I didn't know that there were two sets of rules.

[womanofthehills]

124. She should, she should ..... - god I hate that phrase

She supports the dems she in is tune with. We all have our favorites.

[Madam Mossfern]

141. This is about the general election

she needs to (is that better?) support all Democrats, not just the ones that she's "in tune with."

[rpannier]

44. There have been annoying ones by others

But at this point it is probably best to move on

For clarification purposes: Joe Manchin and his 'I'm more an independent. But my brand is Democrat.'

[Bettie]

77. That about covers it

I suspect that a lot of them are hoping that either the Republican wins so they can say "I told you so!" or that the guy she won the primary against wins as a third party candidate so they can say "I told you so".

[KG]

123. word.

[Voltaire2]

149. !

[Bradshaw3]

5. Too often here it just goes back to the 2016 primary

She's a Bernie Dem so I look at who is posting and it's the usual suspects. Constructive criticism is fine but it often seems to be taking joy in attacks on her. Do I agree with her on everything - no - and does she need to do better - yes?
But she is, after all, the Democratic nominee. I support her and Joe Manchin and everyone in between who has a D after their name on the November ballot, regardless of who they supported in 2016.

[Power 2 the People]

138. You hit it right on the head Bradshaw

Every day there is an obligatory "Bernie is really corrupt" thread and "AOC is not to be trusted" thread. It's always the same handful of posters gleefully but passive-aggressively promoting the negativity. They need to just concentrate on getting friends,co-workers and associates to VOTE BLUE.

[Bradshaw3]

140. Thanks. That last line is what we all need

That last line is what we all need to remember is the only thing that counts. Taking back at least one branch of government.

[Onyrleft]

6. Repugnantscum rat fucking.

Just as you should never trust anyone who still engages in the Bernie VS Hillary wristcutting hogwash; you should never trust anyone who bashes her.

[Cha]

15. All you have are Ugly Insults.

[Cha]

49. Speaking of "hogwash".. your post

is brimming with it.

[Me.]

153. Whoa...Cha Taking No Prisioners

[Cha]

157. ..

Me

[Me.]

159. ...

[betsuni]

55. ...

[Cha]

150. lol

[kstewart33]

81. 'Rat fucking'?

Don't trust anyone who has an opinion that differs from yours? A bit much, don't you think?

[Eliot Rosewater]

136. Now you're getting it, THAT post is ..well I am not allowed to say, but you know

[stonecutter357]

94. cool story bro !

[Cha]

151. Isn't it just the coolest?

lol

[stonecutter357]

154. Hi Cha I hope all is well with you .

[Cha]

158. Mahalo, stonecutter!

[George II]

100. There is criticism and there is bashing. All I've seen is criticism. I've criticized her...

...not bashed her.

I've been a Democrat since the early 1970s, I resent being called a "Repugnantscum rat fucker"!

[question everything]

10. Her opinions and that of Sanders with whom she travels the county

are being used to scare independents and former Trump voters who have had it with him.

We need these voters and it is too much to explain that she only represents her district.

I wish that she just concentrate on her district. On the way congress work, on what she wants to achieve in small steps. I doubt that she would look at Hillary Clinton and Al Franken as role models. Both were well known with richer track records than she, but both sat quietly in the back benches to learn the ropes.

She is going to find out, soon enough, that in Congress she will just be one of 425 members with no power. And, yes, every stumble of her will be magnified. Not on DU, necessarily, but in the country.

[Equinox Moon]

14. The question is, this is DU and we support Democrats

[question everything]

19. But you ask why so many here question her opinions

Expressing concerns about her dominating the elections is not bashing. I think that those of us that really see the importance of taking the House are worried that instead of convincing independents about the need to replace Republicans Ocacio-Cortez is a distraction that may harm other races that are not 90% Democrats.

I think that many here who are active in campaigns that are not sure would rather she did not dominate the news, here, too.

[Equinox Moon]

27. Fair enough.

Yet, I am not seeing the posts you mention: "Expressing concerns about her dominating the elections is not bashing." I see a lot of energy going into negativity.

[KPN]

34. Oh, so if the GOP is using her to bias voters against

Dems, she should shut the fuck up and stay home. Is that it? Cuz that’s what it sounds like.

Does that hold for Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, Maxine Waters and quite a few other Dems as well?

Is everybody here a Democrat or am I mistaken?

[George II]

121. First, Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters have decades of legislative experience....

...Elizabeth Warren several years. They are long past only winning their first primary and have won a number of general elections. I don't know why you're comparing her to them.

Second, I don't think any of those three have traveled around the country campaigning against other Democrats in the primaries. For the most part, Democrats don't take a position for/against other Democrats in primaries outside of their own districts or states.

[KPN]

130. That's a pretty broad statement. It doesnt

match my general recollection. All of this is very perplexing — why Dems here attack other Dems. The idea that it isn’t an attack is also nonsense.

[George II]

135. In response to a respectful answer to a simple question from Jake Tapper:

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1013540404879396865&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fhomenews%2Fcampaign%2F395104-ocasio-cortez-responds-to-duckworth-saying-policies-too-far-to-the-left


If you look at the primary results in Michigan and Kansas, perhaps Tammy Duckworth was correct.

[KPN]

144. I dunno. I think given Bernie's performance in those States, she and perhaps you are

reading too much into the primaries. Welder and El-Sayed had respectable showings in KS and MI. Their presence moved the goalpost for Dem candidates in those States as did Bernie's in 2015-16. That's good enough for me. Progressives are gaining. That's the objective. I'm happy.

[nini]

11. I'm confused why she bashes her own party

[R B Garr]

13. Yes, it's very confusing. nt

[Equinox Moon]

17. You are not being helpful

We need to be supporting dems and save our democracy.

[nini]

18. But she doesnt have to?

Fuck that crap.

[Equinox Moon]

20. Email, tweet or call her with your comments.

[Cha]

23. Exactly.

[oberliner]

57. Lots of Democrats talk about how to improve the party

[Adrahil]

118. hear! hear!!!

The OP's "confusion" is disinenuous, IMO.

[Eliot Rosewater]

137. I'm not. To openly discuss why is dangerous to do, however.

[radical noodle]

24. I've seen nothing here that indicates

any poster here doesn't support her candidacy.

I DO think she'd be better off to pay attention to her own district right now. Show them that Democrats care about their constituents and want to know what can be done to benefit them. She should meet with them, have town halls to get opinions and learn their issues.

She's new, people will be watching her because of the media attention she got.

[oberliner]

58. Hasn't quite reached Gabbard and Gillibrand levels

[CentralMass]

82. Who goes out if there way create threads bashing Gillibrand ?

From what I see negative comments about her are usually made as replies when someone pushes her for President. It seems to be due to her leading the charge against Al Franken, and possible the opportunistic manner in which she seems to obtain her political goals.

I maybe wrong but it seems that Gabbard us being attacked by the anti-Sanders faction.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

125. +1

This

[Beartracks]

31. Interesting. I hope the electorate is more enlightened than 12 years ago.

Cuz, yeah, we need to win as many seats as possible. Period.

======

[oberliner]

59. Is this for real? Nominated too many females?

[PatrickforO]

37. I second that.

Are we all going straight blue in November or what?

[Lunabell]

46. Apparently it's ok to bash some Democrats

You know the kind. Progressive.

[dansolo]

56. Tell that to Bernie

When he bashes ALL Democrats.

[Lunabell]

93. I was talking about Democrats.

Not Bernie Sanders, who is not Democrat.

[oberliner]

60. Kirsten Gillibrand

Seems to be a popular target.

[CentralMass]

76. You don't see any adhoc attacks on her or any other of the insider candidates here.

However there are pretty much daily attack on Sanders and candidates that align with him.

[betsuni]

79. ...

[oberliner]

80. You don't see any adhoc attacks on Gillibrand?

Pull up any thread where she is mentioned.

[CentralMass]

86. Perhaps I stated that wrong. People aren't posting negative stories here about these insiders.

However there is a backlash effect. Some people who like and support Al Franken have developed a dislike or distrust of Gillibrand. However they aren't going out of their way to post their own stories
bashing her.

[Autumn]

107. She is criticized for her her actions over Franken, that's all.

Last edited Mon Aug 13, 2018, 10:33 AM - Edit history (1)

And rightfully so but she is still supported. AOC takes a breath, misspeaks and is piled on. She's tainted you know.

[NurseJackie]

109. ...

[George II]

116. Cortez criticized Gilibrand too. She wasn't piled upon.

[CentralMass]

131. There have been regular negative Cortez posts here.

[Midnight Writer]

47. Her first election for her first office. Cut her some slack. Remember your own early career moves.

She is just one (potentially) of 435 House Members, for a brief two year term. Either she will learn, adapt and move forward, or not.

I don't understand the bright spotlight or the harsh criticism.

She is a talented rookie player for my team, and she has my support in this, her first year as a player.

[NurseJackie]

91. Rookie indeed. She's neglecting her own campaign. I won't be surprised if she loses.

[womanofthehills]

129. Everyone knows who she is now - most people have never heard of Pappas

Dems outnumber Republicans 6-1 in that district - so you think all those dems are going to vote for an old Republican white guy who is barely campaigning over a women who is big time out there?

[UCmeNdc]

48. Yes this is Democratic Candidate bashing. Why is it tolerated now?

[OnDoutside]

50. Others have put it better but there is a concern that her shooting from the lip is giving ammo to

the Republicans e.g. "Let's abolish ICE" has already been used against all Democrats. Whether you agree with her statement or not, we are always told that words matter. It's just that in this case, words matter negatively. And there is the added ire that someone who has yet to even get inside the doors of Congress is going around the country stumping for others, including trying to take incumbent Dems down. People tend to get their backs up over that sort of thing.

[oberliner]

64. Abolishing ICE was literally one of the planks of her primary campaign

She won the primary. Throughout the primary (that she won) she promoted the idea of abolishing ICE. After she won the primary, she was given a variety of public platforms. Why would she not continue to promote the ideas that she promoted during her primary campaign? It's what she believes in. It's one of the reasons she ran a primary challenge to a Democratic incumbent in the first place.

[OnDoutside]

98. Because it's not going to happen, and something that is not going happen is being used to beat

the entire Democratic Party with. It's not about her, it's about the Democratic Party, in the most consequential election of your and my lifetime.

[oberliner]

101. People used to say that about gay marriage

[OnDoutside]

113. All before November ? Wow.

[oberliner]

114. Ocasio-Cortez ran and won on this issue

She is not going to abandon it now, nor should she.

“It’s time to abolish ICE" was literally at the top of her campaign website.

ICE has only existed since 2003 (created by Bush).

[OnDoutside]

115. And Republicans are already hitting the Democratic Party on it, using her words. Not that she will

change, as you say. It's one thing saying it in her local district, but she's taking it national, and that is what we all should be objecting to, if one has the best interests of the Democratic Party at heart.

[oberliner]

117. Republicans will always find some crap to hit Democrats on

No matter what we say or do, they will come up with some nonsense.

The best approach is for Democrats to say what they believe and stick to their values and principles as AOC is doing.

[OnDoutside]

120. Democratic Socialist values perhaps, not the Democratic Party, but they get tarred with the same

brush.

[SkyDancer]

51. The bashing is

done by the same people who thought she didn't stand a chance in her primary & called her a long shot & what not.

Pay no attention to them, they are a dying breed, literally.

[Tarheel_Dem]

52. I'm even more confused about AOC running from one end of the country to the other, bashing....

good incumbents. I guess it's a confusing time?

[Squinch]

53. This.

[oberliner]

62. Except that was the whole point of her Democratic primary candidacy in the first place

[Squinch]

66. Edited. Nevermind. Not helping your ceaseless efforts to divide.

[oberliner]

70. The logic of criticizing someone who beat an incumbent Democrat in a primary for helping others

who are trying to do the same thing is bizarre.

[stonecutter357]

95. +1000

[NurseJackie]

54. "bashing.... good incumbents." ----- Yes. This. Exactly.

bashing.... good incumbents.

Yes. This. Exactly. Bashing good incumbents and giving ammo to the GOP.

There are many here in this thread who cite the threat from the GOP as justification for everyone to "LEAVE ALEXANDRIA ALONE!!!" Those individuals tell us that the threat from the GOP is so great that everyone should just give AOC some leeway and stop criticizing her. Uh, yeah right.

If the threat from the GOP is so great, then why isn't AOC going after the GOP candidates with the same "fervor" instead of bashing good incumbents.

All I'm saying is that her "strategy" is not one that seems at all geared toward actually WINNING more seats for Democrats, and it serves no good purpose for anyone to put vanity and egos and pride ABOVE the main objective of regaining our majority. I wish she was on the same page and saw the importance in that. That's all.

[oberliner]

63. She ran against a good incumbent and defeated him in the primary

I don't understand why anyone would be surprised that she would want to help other candidates similar to her do the same thing.

[R B Garr]

132. What's difficult to believe is that you missed the part

where other incumbent Democrats are in districts not like her Bronx district, which is about 80% Democrat.

No worries, though. Democrat Crowley is still on the ballot, so a Democrat will take that seat either way —-phew!

[oberliner]

143. Crowley is not running

He is supporting AOC.

[R B Garr]

145. The Bronx is not like Kansas. nt

[oberliner]

61. She challenged a long-standing Democratic Party incumbent in a primary and won

So why wouldn't she want to help other like-minded candidates do likewise?

[Squinch]

67. This is catnip to you, isn't it?

[oberliner]

68. I admire her greatly

She has been terrific.

[Squinch]

69. Bla bla bla, divide, divide.

[oberliner]

71. She's a Democrat. She's great. I admire her. I support her.

She helps campaign for like-minded Democratic primary candidates, which makes sense.

When the primary ends, she praises the Democratic winner (even if it's not the candidate she supported) and expresses her strong support for that person in the general election.

Example:

Link to tweet

(Congratulations, @sharicedavids! Your win is an incredible inspiration to so many, myself included.)

Sounds like whatever the opposite of division is to me.

[Squinch]

72. I'll grant you this: you have been very successful at your objective.

[MuseRider]

108. To add to this....

Welder, who was supported by Bernie, also threw his full support behind Sharice who beat him. There were some wonderful stories going around about that but I do not remember them well enough to be able to state them acurately at the moment.

EDIT to add: The point of posting this was to support the idea that winning or losing this does not look like dividing the party to me either.

[oberliner]

111. Yes, and I also remember Bernie campaigning for Hillary in the general

Which people also seem to have forgotten about.

Nothing wrong with fighting it out in the primary and then coming together in the general.

[Power 2 the People]

139. Be careful Oberliner. You're not allowed to point out good things Bernie has done supporting Dems

Only the criticisms. It's safer to just keep chanting "he's not a Democrat...he's not a Democrat."

[RhodeIslandOne]

133. Too bad she fucked up on Lacy Clay

Thankfully he won easily. I’m sure it was a bitter pill for you.

[treestar]

73. The Hillary bashing was confusing too

It was just helpful criticism, but helpful criticism of Bernie is always "bashing."

[betsuni]

87. +1

[avebury]

74. I have no problem with strong democrats running for office.

My concern is when it appears that some democrats might act like their version of what is a democrat should be is the only valid version of a democrat.

We are in a fight for the very existence of this country. The last thing we need is for democrats to turn on each other and eat our own. United we stand a chance, divided we will just play into the hands of the Rethugs and all might be lost.

Democrats, as a whole, must provide a united front. Democrats are sometimes their own worst enemies. Rethugs have mastered the concept of swallowing whatever it takes to achieve their end game and it has proven successful over time, hence the times that we are currently living in.

Our goal needs to be to do whatever it takes to get the Rethugs tossed out.

[Kaleva]

75. Some of the people now attacking Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez used to attack Hillary

I find that to be interesting.

[NurseJackie]

84. Nobody is doing that.

Some of the people now attacking Alexandria

Nobody is doing that. But, if by chance someone starts to call her the "candidate of the one-percent" or if someone accuses her of being "ideologically bankrupt" or "feeble"... then let me know... because THAT would definitely be an attack. Until then, ennnnh.

[Kaleva]

104. What would you call a post that calls a Democrat candidate "unhinged"?

[CentralMass]

90. I don't get that sense. I would say it is just the opposite.

[Kaleva]

102. Read the archived threads from early 2008.

Look at the threads attacking Hillary and then compare them to the more recent ones attacking Bernie, AOC and OR endorsed candidates.

[mcar]

83. Democrats and the Democratic Party are bashed here on a daily basis

Under the guise of "constructive criticism."

Calling Democrats "corporatist, Turd Way establishment shills" are some of the phrases seen here regularly. And let's not forget the constant attacks on strong Democratic women like Pelosi. She needs to step aside, some say, because she's....? Have you spoken out about those attacks?

I find it amusing that you think AOC is the only Democrat worthy of DUs rules.

[NurseJackie]

88. Amusing and sad...

I find it amusing that you think AOC is the only Democrat worthy of DUs rules.

Amusing and sad at the same time.

Have you spoken out about those attacks?

I still recall the time that someone accused the Democratic party of being the party of the one-percent, and that Democrats were not longer the worker's party. Other times, Democrats had been accused of being "ideologically bankrupt" and "feeble" and even "corrupt". Yet nary a word of protest from the ones who now wail so loudly whenever AOC is justifiably criticized for the things she does, or fact-checked for the things she says.

All I'm trying to say is that the answer to your straightforward question is "no" and "clearly not". Considering how LITTLE time she's spending at home, and the neglect she's showing for her own campaign, I wouldn't be surprised if she lost. What a shame that would be, when we should be focused on defeating the GOP.

[mcar]

92. We should be focused on defeating the GOP

This!

[betsuni]

96. +1

[betsuni]

89. +1

[Cha]

148. Yeah, the double standard is Glaring.. Glad

her brand of politics didn't work in Michigan's primary for Governor, Kansas' District 3, or Missouri District 1.

Mahalo, mcar.

[Snotcicles]

85. To do list for your Ignore list. nt

[Equinox Moon]

112. Not seeing what is happening, I don't believe is helpful.

Off topic: I don't understand the "ignore" feature. I have zero posters on 'ignore'.

[George II]

97. Perhaps it's because within days of the June Primary....

....she bashed Crowley (who she defeated), Tammy Duckworth, Kirsten Gilibrand, and others.

ALL Democrats.

[nycbos]

103. The thread you are speaking of...

... says many of the statements she is making are not factually true.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210994189#post36

Fact checking isn't bashing.

[betsuni]

105. +1

[berni_mccoy]

106. Except that OP goes way beyond fact-checking

It calls her statements "False", which they aren't. The article linked in that post doesn't call them false, it calls out inaccuracies in some of the details indicating that the candidate needs to sharpen their message.

The OP makes it much more than that.

As others pointed out, inaccurate details in policy statements are common among all members of Congress and making a mountain out of a molehill by the OP is indeed, bashing a Democratic candidate.

[DFW]

110. I don't see her as the big deal some do, and certainly not worth the energy of posting about nonstop

But if one compares the number of Republicans she has traveled to campaign against to the number of Democrats she has traveled to campaign against, I can understand why the strength of her credentials as a Democrat have been perceived to be wobbly at times. Her solidarity with the Party whose nomination she won might increase in credibility if that ratio were reversed.

[Adrahil]

119. Let's see what she does in Congress.

It's easy to be a ranting gadfly. It's harder to be an actual leader (see, Sanders, Bernie).

[ecstatic]

122. I was souring on her, but I caught her on Chris Cuomo's show

She did a good job. She chose her words carefully. She wasn't divisive, which was my main fear with regard to her candidacy. If she continues that way, she'll be fine. Cautiously optimistic for now.

[elleng]

127. She's friends with Bernie, isn't she?

That appears to be good enough for some.

[AlexSFCA]

128. she is a democrat who won primary.

this means DU must 100% support her. She may help GOTV.

[shanny]

142. I'm just gonna say, "I'm not" and leave it at that.

[Saboburns]

146. Lots of popular Democrats get bashed here.

It's always been the case.

But I sure have noticed a helluva lot more bashing since the 2016 hacking.

Stories that start, and reinforce, a hurtful narrative on Democratic politicians.

Look around. The Pelosi dashing threads are nearly always the most popular threads here. Same with Ocasio-Cortez threads. She gets more bad press here, more hurtful comments here, than positive ones.

Same with Michael Avennati. That dude has been roasted here Looooooooong before he said he was running last week. DUers couldn't wait to pile on him. Even back when all he did was bash Donald Trump everyday.

It's good we have healthy debate on our party, and our party's candidates. It's good to state your opinions, that's what DU is here for.

But I happen to believe there are provocateurs among us. There are attempts to sully reputations and plant ideas among us that get regurgitated and and become 'commonly knowledge'.

[Equinox Moon]

147. I agree with you.

"I happen to believe there are provocateurs among us." They often are the ones with 20 - 40 thousand posts, for example. They are not new to DU. Are they troll sleeper cells?

[aikoaiko]

152. Some people think she is too "uppity"...

...wth a healthy dose of misplaced Bernie hate.

[Jim Lane]

155. I'm confused about only one thing: the basis for your confusion.

A former Bernie Sanders organizer won a primary against an establishment incumbent.

What the hell did you expect to see on DU? Unequivocal support for the Bernie Sanders associate, just because she's now the Democratic nominee? HAHAHAHAHA. You poor naive innocent child.

BTW, here's a thought experiment for you: Suppose that, with Ocasio-Cortez receiving requests for help from Democratic candidates across the country, she had instead rejected them all and stayed solely within her district. In this scenario, she has sudden media prominence but chooses not to use it to help anyone else.

What would be the reaction of some of the people who are now criticizing her for leaving her district? Would they be criticizing her for "selfishly" not leaving her district?

We can never know for sure, but I have my dark suspicions.

[Tiggeroshii]

156. At this point if they are a general election candidate, criticism should be completely off-limits.

Even if there are two Democrats competing in the general election.

[fallout87]

160. I'm confused by the fact that ANY

Criticism of her words and actions is being called "bashing".

Are you advocating for an echo chamber here?