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left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
Thu Jan 23, 2020, 11:47 AM Jan 2020

AOC criticises Democratic Party: 'We don't have a left party in the United States'

New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explained that the Democratic party does not represent the political left in the United States, calling the organisation a “center or center-conservative” party that “can’t even get a floor vote” on nationalising health care. She said: “We can’t even get a floor vote on Medicare for All — not even a floor vote that might get doubled down.”

In an interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates during an event honoring Martin Luther King Jr Day, the progressive politician said there are “left members inside the Democratic party” — including freshman congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, among others — ”who are working to try to make that shift happen”.

But the establishment party’s ideology remains firmly within the economic realities of capitalism as a means to address systemic issues like poverty in the US, she explained, saying, “We don’t have a ‘left party’ in the United States.” She said: “There are a lot of true believers that we can ‘capitalism’ our way out of poverty. If anything, that’s probably the majority.”

Ms Ocasio-Cortez said she agreed with the late civil rights leader, who warned in speeches and in interviews that there is “something wrong with capitalism” and questioned the economic status quo and whether a broader distribution of wealth could begin to repair its failures.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/aoc-criticises-democratic-party-don-153214095.html

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AOC criticises Democratic Party: 'We don't have a left party in the United States' (Original Post) left-of-center2012 Jan 2020 OP
Sorry, but she needs to tone it down during the impeachment. grumpyduck Jan 2020 #1
If I remember correctly she was one of the ones who tried to keep Pelsoi from the Speakers Chair Peacetrain Jan 2020 #2
Your memory failed you on that. These are the ones who voted against Pelosi and how they voted. Autumn Jan 2020 #6
Gotta love AOC... a strong woman unafraid to speak her mind!! InAbLuEsTaTe Jan 2020 #3
That's true. PatrickforO Jan 2020 #4
"left" and capitalism aren't mutually exclusive. TwilightZone Jan 2020 #5
She's Sanders' mini me. LakeArenal Jan 2020 #7

grumpyduck

(6,240 posts)
1. Sorry, but she needs to tone it down during the impeachment.
Thu Jan 23, 2020, 11:49 AM
Jan 2020

She'll have lots of opportunity for commentary when it's over.

Peacetrain

(22,877 posts)
2. If I remember correctly she was one of the ones who tried to keep Pelsoi from the Speakers Chair
Thu Jan 23, 2020, 11:51 AM
Jan 2020

Her judgement plays almost nothing in my world.

Autumn

(45,107 posts)
6. Your memory failed you on that. These are the ones who voted against Pelosi and how they voted.
Thu Jan 23, 2020, 12:19 PM
Jan 2020

Anthony Brindisi of New York: Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr.Jim Cooper of Tennessee: Present

Jason Crow of Colorado: Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.

Joe Cunningham of South Carolina.: Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill.

Jared Golden of Maine: Bustos.

Ron Kind of Wisconsin: Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.

Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania: Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass.

Ben McAdams of Utah: Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fl.

Kathleen Rice of New York: Stacey Abrams.

Max Rose of New York: Duckworth.

Kurt Schrader of Oregon: Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio.

Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey: Bustos.

Elissa Slotkin of Michigan: Present.

Abigail Spanberger of Virginia: Bustos.

Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey: Present.

https://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/pelosi-elected-speaker-15-democratic-defections

PatrickforO

(14,578 posts)
4. That's true.
Thu Jan 23, 2020, 11:53 AM
Jan 2020

There is in fact something wrong with capitalism, and we really don't have a 'left' party in this country. That's on purpose of course. Since the Republicans adopted the 'southern strategy' and Reagan slithered into the WH, they have driven the political dialog further and further to the right, until the GOP is basically a right-wing fascist party, and the Democrats have center right to center left.

And, with two parties only, that isn't likely to change.

Look what's happening with the primary. We're being pounded, pounded, pounded over the heads, article after article, post after post, by people who say that we cannot win with a progressive candidate, only a centrist.

So.............................cui bono?

TwilightZone

(25,471 posts)
5. "left" and capitalism aren't mutually exclusive.
Thu Jan 23, 2020, 12:01 PM
Jan 2020

Elizabeth Warren considers herself a capitalist and I think most people would consider her to be on the left, certainly so on the US scale of politics.

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