Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tells 2020 Democrat John Delaney to 'please sashay away'

[DonViejo]

BY OWEN DAUGHERTY - 06/02/19 10:34 PM EDT

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) blasted 2020 Democratic presidential candidate John Delaney for remarks Sunday at the California Democratic Convention where he said "Medicare for All" is “actually not good policy.”

Delaney, who was booed by the crowd for his comments, said, "Medicare for All may sound good, but it's actually not good policy nor is it good politics."

Ocasio-Cortez, a freshman lawmaker who has championed the progressive policy, said in a post on Twitter Sunday that it is time for Delaney to “sashay away.”

“Since there’s so many people running for President (& not enough for Senate), instead of obsessing over who‘s a 'frontrunner,' maybe we can start w some general eliminations,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “This awful, untrue line got boo’ed for a full minute. John Delaney, thank you but please sashay away.”

Link to tweet

more
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/446566-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-tells-2020-democrat-john-delaney-to-please-sashay

Ain't nothing like a homophobic trope about gay men to inspire Democrats! Right Congresswoman?

[hlthe2b]

1. oops! Sometimes that subconscious gets you in big trouble..

'Best "sashay" to make a corrective apology, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez...

[aidbo]

2. LOL. (That stands for Lots of Love!)

[RKP5637]

3. Really dumb remark she made. Yep, rip your own apart. Really dumb move!!! n/t

[comradebillyboy]

4. AOC has a very inflated view of her own importance.

Last edited Mon Jun 3, 2019, 12:52 PM - Edit history (1)

[Trumpocalypse]

32. I think you mean AOC nt

[comradebillyboy]

52. Thank you. I fixed it.

[mcar]

41. She sure does.

[BannonsLiver]

60. It'll be interesting to see how that plays out over the years to come.

No politician is unbeatable. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if someone in the district eventually primaries her. The decision not to open a district office and the constant attention seeking invites challengers.

[Ace Rothstein]

75. You know she has a district office?

That attack on her for not having it open immediately upon taking office was such a B.S. attack and so many here fell for it.

[George II]

90. Have you called it? As recently as two weeks ago a call to the Jackson Heights office....

...at the number shown on her House website was answered by a recording telling callers to go to her House website. That was four months after taking office (and six months after the election). It's not a "BS attack", it's reality. Every other new member of the House had their District offices up and running within weeks of taking office, if not earlier.

[BannonsLiver]

113. Ah thanks.

So the poster was wrong. It’s not actually open. Figures.

[Ace Rothstein]

118. It is a BS attack because it is 2019 and nearly everyone has a cell phone with long distance.

Does it matter if you're calling an office in NYC or DC?

[George II]

120. Yes it does matter in a relatively poor, elderly district with a large percentage of immigrants....

The median household income (remember, this is in the middle of New York City) is only $58,000. A large number of constituents have no access to the internet or have cell phones.

Many people in urban Districts, if they contact their Representative, want to meet with that Representative or a member of his/her staff to discuss their concerns or problems. It's not easy to do so when the only operating office is in Washington DC.

[George II]

109. My friend in Jackson Heights just called the office, and this is the recording she got:

"Please visit us on the web at ocasio-cortez.house.gov"

You can call it yourself to see. the phone number is listed here:

https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/contact/offices

[BannonsLiver]

112. OH she finally opened one?

Cool. It’s interesting you are so wowed by congresspeople doing things they should be doing. Others aren’t so easily wowed or impressed.

Glad to see she finally got around to opening one, though.

On edit: This appears to be fake news and the office is not actually open.

[DarthDem]

93. Really Good Analysis

I'm reminded of Avenatti with regard to what you identified as well. Of course I'm not directly comparing his loathsome behavior to anything Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has done.

[jcgoldie]

5. I don't understand the critical responses to this tweet

He has a wife and 4 kids there's obviously no implied gay bashing here, so what is it that people find inappropriate other than the tired game of seizing every chance to reprimand AOC for being too big for her britches once again?

[DonViejo]

15. Oh! So gay people pointing out that her use of the term "sashay" in reference

to a man is to use a homophobic trope means nothing to you?

[George II]

17. +1,000,000

[tonedevil]

30. It's the catch phrase...

of a very popular host on a very popular game show. Perhaps my heterosexuality is keeping me from seeing it, but I don't see it as homophobic.

[Loki Liesmith]

66. I'm more concerned that he was shouted down

For an accurate assessment of MFA.

[jcgoldie]

99. Your argument is that using the word "sashay" is inherently homophobic?

Regardless of the circumstances?

[George II]

19. What would be the reaction, from her and her people, if Delaney told HER to "sashay away"?

[Bettie]

37. She'd say

'No, not going to do that.' And it would be over except for various people telling her she's terrible and evil because that is what they do with her.

A lot of people said they were happy with a bunch of new women in congress, but they have an awful lot of criticism of them as well, apparently because they believe young women are to be seen but not heard. Particularly this one who is desperately hated by a sizable number of Democrats for some reason (perhaps it stems from her winning a primary over an older white man).

In the end, she's not perfect, but then, few humans are. She used a tagline from a popular TV show.

[George II]

38. You haven't been following her on twitter.

[Kahuna7]

55. Exactly! nt

[Hassin Bin Sober]

25. Yeah. This is ridiculous. I don't know how people are turning this in to a homophobic issue.

As a gay man, this is a new one for me.

[DonViejo]

44. I pray you are never walking down the street with a friend, or even alone,

and someone yells, "let's beat the shit out of that fag sashaying down our street"

[Hassin Bin Sober]

53. That's a bit of a stretch.

I live in what’s known as Boys Town near Wrigley field (I’m sure you’ve heard of it). I like to think I’ve heard it all from drunk cubs fans leaving the neighborhood after the games. But I swear to god I’ve never heard anyone yelling out a car window about sashaying.

I’ve heard square dancing callouts for sashaying.

[George II]

56. My brother used to live on Christopher Street in Greenwich Village....

...we used to get together frequently when I lived in Manhattan. Not necessarily using that word, but we were subjected to catcalls several times, thinking we were a "couple".

Here's the definition of "sashay"

"walk in an ostentatious yet casual manner, typically with exaggerated movements of the hips and shoulders."

Who would make that comment to a male candidate, dismissively telling him to drop out of the race?

By the way, that comment was made the day after she cancelled her appearance at the Queens Pride Parade because of a "cold".

[Cha]

80. Wow.. why would she even

use that word?!

[DonViejo]

58. A bit of a stretch? Fly to Boston and I'll introduce you to guys that have

had the term used against them and, I'll introduce you to guys I represented that had the term used against them too.

[qazplm135]

127. but he's not gay

and she didn't say the word fag.

I'm REALLY not a huge fan of AOC, but this criticism is pretty ridiculous.

[sheshe2]

69. Well, I know a gay man that has a wife and three birth daughters.

Just saying.

Fact is the remark was rude and insensitive. She should know better than that. What right does she have to tell one candidate or another to get off the stage? I am serious here. I may not like the crowded field, yet each and every man or woman has the right to run for President and just because you don't like their ideas doesn't negate that fact.

I think she owes MR Delaney an apology.

[RelativelyJones]

6. What? People aren't allowed to hold an opinion different than AOC

without being told to get lost, get off the stage?

[Cha]

7. Really.

[Cha]

13. I know.. not cool.

Aloha Hoa, Me

[Peacetrain]

10. Precisely.. everyone has a right to their opinion.. even AOC.. I don't tell her to get off the stage

when she says something I disagree with..

[George II]

18. And in an obnoxious, homophobic way of being told, too.

[DarthDem]

94. Apparently Not

I'm pretty far left. But I am always prepared to be educated and I recognize that reasonable minds can differ on something as complex and nuanced as MFA.

Haughty dismissals really aren't very productive among fellow Democrats. Just my two cents.

[still_one]

8. If she would have said, you are wrong, and just left it at that, that would have been fine, but

no, she decides to get personal.

This is why I suspect her sphere of influence will not expand much beyond her base, because she has no problem of polarizing people.

[MustLoveBeagles]

74. Agreed

Disagreement is fine but she went further than that. Who is she to tell others to drop out of the race?

[DarthDem]

96. Right On

She's very intelligent and capable of good discourse. But this wasn't it. Not sure why she is empowered to order people to leave the race.

[Indygram]

9. I can't support anyone who supports Medicare for All, I love my employer paid insurance

My cost is about $40 a week. I have serious health issues and it took me a very long time to find providers that I trust and like. I am 100% with Medicare for America. I am VEHEMENTLY opposed to single payer. My LIFE depends on this issue and I'm sure it's very easy for people who do NOT have life threatening illnesses to want to burn it all down and start over, but that will go over about as well as an elephant pissing on a flat rock with the majority of voters.

[brush]

57. Huh? You say you're 100% for Medicare for America but not for Medicare for All?

Explain pls. Medicare for All would cover everyone. Why are you against it? There would be a transition period where those who need to stay on their plan can but once fully instituted Medicare for All would cover everyone like Medicare covers its constituents now.

And it works very well, thank you, which is why repugs have been trying to destroy it for decades.

[The Mouth]

59. Medicare for anyone who wants it

is how I take that.

The *ONLY* thing that is going to fly is for medicare, or a medicare type plan to be available to those who don't have a plan that works for them but leaves alone those who have what they like.

anything else is a non starter and an election loser.

all citizens should have healthcare, period. But mess with people who like what they have and it could be deadly for 2020.

[brush]

95. I agree. I do think though once Medicare for all who want it is installed...

and word gets around how well it works, the others will come around.

[The Mouth]

98. Maybe

I have Kaiser and am pretty happy with it.

[Indygram]

67. Medicare for America is an actual proposal

It allows Medicare for anyone who wants it without putting the complete screws to people like myself or union members who agreed to far less pay in order to get employer paid insurance. I oppose single payer but support Medicare or Medicaid as a public option available to all who want it. I'm all for CHOICE...with my body and with my medical insurance.

[stonecutter357]

11. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and homophobic tropes are not a good look ....

[George II]

33. Not good at all, especially coming only a day after she bailed on the Queens Pride Parade....

....with a "cold".

[ehrnst]

107. Indeed. (nt)

[TruckFump]

14. Love it!

[link:|

[George II]

16. Who is she to tell ANY Democrat what to do? "Sashay away"? GMAFB!!!!

[Hortensis]

34. So agree. And I'm ashamed of the no-nothings who boo

without learning what it is they boo and cheering without finding out just what they're supporting.

Also politicians who feel ignorance benefits them far more than an informed, not-stupid electorate. That way is the wrong way.

[wellst0nev0ter]

76. Imagine if she tried running for president

[Hortensis]

88. Well, the Sanders zealots who've been booing all Democratic

candidates out in California might cut her a break. Might. We don't know what the mood of the antagonistic populist types would be by then, though, and who they might be supporting. Putin's planning to unite LW and RW populists under one leader against Democrats.

Of course Putin might shoo them along to Trump again, easiest I imagine given that roughly half of them voted for him last time. But shouldn't rule out some other RW creep becoming the "Our Leader" of the new united group.

[mcar]

42. Right?

[Chin music]

20. Most of us here are at least twice her age.

I don't agree w everything she says, but, a lot of the younger generation are watching politics bc of her. Words are words. Nobody owns the meaning of any of them.
Grand scheme of things, she's just a kid. New to all of this, with lots of demands. I'm glad she's on our side.
I'm also glad, I'm not just now growing up w all this 'connectedness' on phones and online.
Lot's to criticize w the trumps.
I saw on another thread that we aren't allowed to ask about all the "investigations" bc doing so was bashing dems, but, we do this?
Can dems save thier ammo for what really counts? Unfortunate choice of words by a young lady doing her best.
If only we were perfect.
ps....Happy Monday.

[DonViejo]

21. Yep, a lot of the younger voters are involved because of her...

all the more reasons the Congresswoman, from NYC no less, shouldn't be using homophobic tropes in her public utterances. And no, I will not save my ammo but, it's good to know you don't think using homophobic tropes is anything to get excited about. Do you also feel the same way towards racist Dems in VA, the Governor of Louisiana for signing into law the outrageous abortion bill last week? We're supposed to ignore all these as well as other incidents because they're Democrats? Not in my lifetime.

[George II]

22. From what I hear from my Democratic friends in the 14th District, they may wind up telling her to...

...."sashay away" next year. It's bound to get stronger, but there's already a movement to primary her like she did Crowley.

[Chin music]

27. Maybe so.

That's politics I guess. I'm not a huge fan of hers, but, I think she does better than 100% of the repubs. Just opinions here. I'm not trying to be offensive myself. Happy Monday...groan.

[Chin music]

26. Yes. I've used sashay before

and it being related to being homophobic was the furthest thing from my mind. If it is some word that is being used to put anyone down, it's not good. Pretty tame in comparison to the trump behavior we have everyday.
Im not apologizing for her, just asking for a little leeway. trumps are destroying our country, but, sashaye has folks un a dander? Twilight zone imho.
I think I referenced being older generation, I've never heard sashay being a slam. She's new to this. Pretty sure she's learning. Hope so.
Remember too...I NOTED it was an opinion. I'm not trying to piss off the morning crew here on DU.
Happy Monday.

[wellst0nev0ter]

77. It's almost like people have given up

making good faith arguments any more. I'm more interested in hearing how union-covered health care is better than M4A.

[George II]

23. Perhaps, but there are two sides to that, watching because of her is not necessarily positive thing.

[Chin music]

28. Yes. Beats looking at the trump family though.

SO damn sick of those grifters.

[IluvPitties]

64. I am a Millennial, like she is

and her ego is a bit too much. Not much of a team player.

[still_one]

24. Both Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren made it clear they are DEMOCRATS, not Democratic Socialists

https://www.apnews.com/1d5789a50f854a5ab897292015343810

https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/09/politics/elizabeth-warren-bernie-sanders-south-by-southwest/index.html

I wonder if Representative Casio-Cortez will start going after them also?

[Chin music]

29. Good point.

But, I hope we don't start beating each other up out of frustration that the trumps get away w everything.

[still_one]

35. I hear you Chin. Disagreeing with candidates on their positions is fair game, but suggesting

someone drop out because you disagree with them goes beyond that in my view

It may not have much for one candidate, but continuing that line against all candidates you disagree with only serves to divide Democrats between each other which isn’t a good thing

Which is what you are saying I think

[Chin music]

46. Thanks.

[George II]

45. Sanders supporters have now gone after Warren in a big way on twitter:

Link to tweet

[still_one]

54. It is unfortunate. They don't debate her on the issues, but instead choose to personally attack her

not good

[Cha]

72. omg.. they've learned NOTHING.

the more they attack the higher their attackees polls GO!

I guess that's not a word.. but oh well you get the idea, right?

[NYC Democrat]

123. These people have literally no idea how to coalition build.

Yeah go attack your closest ideological ally in the race because ANYONE who is a threat to Bernie MUST be evil and CRUSHED. It's amazing how bad at basic politics some people are.

[emmaverybo]

39. I do not like her flip attitude. It's either on the bus or off the bus with her. Primal Donna comes

to mind. She is not only dismissing Delaney, but millions who like their plan.

[George II]

43. Yes, like they're not smart enough to know what they want.

[emmaverybo]

103. Ah. There in lies the problem. It's attitudinal. But sudden fame for the young must be difficult. nt

[mcar]

40. Wow!

We do not need this.

[George II]

47. Delaney responds:

Link to tweet

[RelativelyJones]

49. So much better than her "too cool for school" crap

[Cha]

71. Great Response from John Delaney!

Thanks, George

[highplainsdem]

86. Delaney's response to her was mature and intelligent, which her tweet definitely wasn't.

[Cha]

100. +1!

[DarthDem]

97. Awesome Response

Mature and intelligent. And measured. Unlike the original tweet.

[dsc]

48. At best it is cultural appropriation and at worst it is homophobic

She should have said this differently.

[moose65]

50. Interesting

When I first saw the title of this, my first response was "Who??" in relation to Delaney. He's not even on my radar, so I think he's definitely in Some Dude territory.

On the other hand, I don't see "sashay away" as homophobic. And I'm a gay man who watches RuPaul's Drag Race all the time. I've told people to "sashay away" before, and to me it has the same general meaning as "leave me alone" or "get lost." I think it's quite a stretch to call it homophobic.

[Raven123]

51. Dismissive and disrespectful at a minimum

As she has proven in the past, AOC can hold her own and then some when she articulates policy disagreements. IMO this was not a good moment for her.

[ecstatic]

61. Every aspect of this controversy,

from start to finish, seems a little silly. From AOC's harsh, unnecessary rebuke of a candidate who raised a fair point, to the over the top reaction to her rebuke. All silly. Just my opinion, of course.

[Celerity]

84. this is my exact feeling as well

[DanTex]

101. Exactly! The whole thing is silly.

It wasn't homophobic, but it was excessively dismissive of a fair point Delaney was making. But then calling AOC homophobic because she quoted RuPaul is just silly.

[TreasonousBastard]

105. Yup. A distraction, possibly an intentional one. Far easier to make a point of this than...

get involved in a real discussion of health care.

[IluvPitties]

62. Her ego will be her downfall.

She reminds me of Bernie.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

63. That was my thought

Poor choice of words AOC.

[Marengo]

65. Growing weary of her. The reality isn't living up to the hype.

[irisblue]

70. Good thing you used the sarcasm emoji

[George II]

73. Perhaps she should "sashay" over to Delaney's website and read his climate change plan:

https://www.johndelaney.com/issues/climate-change/

[wellst0nev0ter]

78. But she's talking about M4A

And it looks like Sister Soulja'ing the proposal is not winning candidates a lot of fans

[George II]

91. Sorry, I copied the wrong link (was looking at several of his proposals on his site) - here it is:

https://www.johndelaney.com/issues/health-care/

"John Delaney believes that health care is a fundamental right. He is proposing a universal health care plan that will provide high-quality care to everyone and replace our outdated system of employer-sponsored insurance."

[Kurt V.]

79. I'm glad he takes it seriously but that plan is a not a good one. Corporations will gladly pay the

carbon tax. it tells you something when the oil and gas industries are forit. also the NET is no where nearly developed to be of consequence. and he doesn't mention regreening the planet and nuclear power which be the most effective.

[Honeycombe8]

81. Another objectionable thing said by Cortez. The lines are adding up.

I don't think she'll be around long.

[George II]

92. Couple that comment with her cancelling her appearance at this weekend's Queens Pride Parade....

...due to a "cold" (she was out tending bar the day before https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142323324 ), she certainly didn't make friends in the LGBTQ community.

[guillaumeb]

82. So better policy and politivs is to keep the current, massively dysfunctional system?

Sorry Mr. Delaney. Actual fact, and the examples of the many single payer countries refute your attempt at analysis.

[Recursion]

116. No, but "Medicare for all" polls at about 30% positive

Any plan that ends private employer-provided insurance alienates about 60% of the electorate.

[guillaumeb]

119. And that proves the power of advertising to convince people

that a healthcare system ranked 37th needs no real change.

[Recursion]

121. Not really. If you have good private insurance the American system is really good

The problem is the inequality.

[guillaumeb]

122. I disagree.

The US system is good if you rarely use it, and you have no serious conditions.

[Celerity]

85. definitely not homophobic, but also definitely a stupid thing for AOC to go on full blast

Delaney's healthcare programme is actually not bad, it is the public option, more or less.

One of AOC's fairly rare mistakes (she is often mis-represented by some), but this was not a good look.

I am sure she will learn from it.

Also, Delaney would hardly be a disaster as POTUS, he is more than capable, we are such a DEEP, TALENTED field!!!!

[DonViejo]

87. Are you a gay man? eom

[Celerity]

89. lesbian woman of colour, cis-gendered

[ehrnst]

108. It's as homophobic as the graphic in the article about Sanders' wealth was

'anti-semitic.'

No one, not even AOC, gets to have it both ways.

[Celerity]

110. That is a ridiculous logical fallacy.

Good bye.

[ehrnst]

111. No it's not.

Good bye.

[sheshe2]

124. Boom! nt

[NastyRiffraff]

102. For some reason she thinks what she says is important

It's not, really. At least no more important than anyone else's. And the way she's going it's soon going to be a lot less important. She's pissing off even some people who generally agree with her. She thinks she's cute, and she's not.

For the record, I disagree strongly with Delaney's statement. But AOC is getting on my last nerve.

[empedocles]

104. We desperately lneed to hold on to those 20 red seats we picked up in 2018

That should be painfully obvious to all, except those that . . .

[ehrnst]

106. Didn't she rant about a graphic in an article about Bernie's wealth being "anti-semitic?"

And how offensive it was?

And now she drops "sashay away" into a rant about a fellow Democrat?

[Orangepeel]

114. She made a video taped appearance on the finale of RuPauls Drag Race last week

That’s where that phrase comes from, so it must have been on her mind.

[Recursion]

115. And yet he's right. It polls terribly and is an awful idea.

The problem is "Medicaid for most, capitation budgeting for providers" isn't a sexy bumper sticker, even though it's the only actually workable solution.

[ismnotwasm]

117. It's a horrible idea,

People don’t understand Medicare. They think it’s a workable program that’s easily expanded with the right amount of funds. That’s not what’s going on. It’s a dysfunctional healthcare system that is rather fragile, and in some cases, clinics, healthcare providers and workers are dependent on its reimbursements. Medicare chronically under reimburses hospitals.

I’m sure something workable could be hashed out, but Medicare as it is, isn’t enough. Hasn’t been for some time.

[Eliot Rosewater]

125. When Dean Obeidallah had him on his show I heard him say this and I immediately tweeted

to him that keeping for profit insurance companies in the mix is not workable as to basic healthcare.

But he explained everyone would get basic HC from the govt and you could add to that with insurance.

Now I dont like that either much as I think it should be ALL government but he was suggesting something like Canada but MOSTLY what he was saying was if we go with MAKING HEALTH INSURANCE ILLEGAL, which the Medicare for all bill does, as our platform for 2020 we will lose many elections we need not lose, and THAT is where he and I agree.

Way too many of us like our private, employer paid plans and this would scare them. So I say get the NAZI out of the WH first, then risk scaring voters.

[elfin]

126. We have had ENOUGH of rude

AOC tone it down. Say what you have to say without being rude to fellow Democrats, even if you disagree with them.

Disagree with the policy, not the person. In other words, grow up and mind your manners.