In Call for Unity, Ocasio-Cortez Says She'll Back Biden If He's the Democratic Nominee

[highplainsdem]

https://www.motherjones.com/2020-elections/2020/03/ocasio-cortez-biden/

Bernie Sanders supporters appear to be settling into a familiar fog of conspiratorial anger in the wake of a disappointing Super Tuesday this week, with many refusing to back Joe Biden if the former vice president ends up being the Democratic nominee. (If you’re interested in defeating Donald Trump this fall, that could be a pretty problematic stance! But hey, we’ve been here before.)

-snip-

“A lot of people are saying now that ‘Look we’re basically down to two candidates,’ and everyone’s worried if one wins, will the supporters of the other sort of agree to support the Democratic nominee,” Seth Meyers said on Late Night. “Is it safe to assume that you will support Joe Biden if he is the nominee?”

“Yeah, I’ve said throughout this entire process that what is so important is that we ultimately unite behind who that Democratic nominee is,” she continued, noting that she’s also witnessed the same refusal from Biden’s camp. “I’ve been concerned by some folks that say if Bernie’s the nominee, they won’t support him and the other way around.”

“Right now, November, this is more important than all of us and we really need to make sure that we defeat Donald Trump at the polls.”

[KPN]

1. AOC is spot on.

[KSNY]

49. Yes, and Biden supporters should agree to back Bernie if he is the nominee

[Proud Veteran]

57. Of course Bernie should be supported IF nominee but

538 has Biden at 87.5% of winning outright thus no brokered convention.
Also after next Tuesday and Bernie gets a beat down in Michigan it will be virtually over.

[hlthe2b]

2. Good on you, AOC. After seeing some of Nina Turner's recent appearances, this is

refreshing. Turner appears quite willing to destroy everything if Sanders does not prevail. It is frightening and disheartening.

[calimary]

54. She makes me want to leave the room. So I do.

[NurseJackie]

56. She'll go third party again. (I think that's why she was hired in the first place...

She'll go third party again. (I think that's why she was hired in the first place.) It's clear to everyone that having Nina Turner (a Stein-loving, Stein-supporting, Stein-voting) on staff was yet another backhanded slaps and insults, and a great big "fuck you" message to the Democrats and the Democratic party. Nina Turner is certainly giving her all and earning her salary. She's so toxic and venomous.

[ehrnst]

62. She's certainly proven her fealty...

Link to tweet

[J_William_Ryan]

3. Getting rid of Trump is all that matters.

[Ron Green]

5. All that matters?

Don't you think there are deeper issues that have come to the fore over the past two or three decades? Issues that desperately need attention?

[Moderateguy]

9. If we do not get rid of Trump and Moscow Mitch and his majority

Those issues won't matter

[Perseus]

37. What you said...That, unfortunately, is the prime reason why we need to unite

Our differences between the two candidates must become our strengths, we need to clean up government of the trash that has taken over in the WH.

We may not agree with what has happened, some of us may even be disgusted to some of the things that have happened, but we must put that aside, try to forget about it because four more years of these crooks will be devastating.

Well said.

[democrattotheend]

10. The point is, if we can't get rid of Trump, none of those issues can be addressed

Unless you think Trump is going to do the right thing on any of them. So it doesn't matter how great a candidate's proposals are if he can't win. In that sense, defeating Trump is all that matters.

Sadly, I'm not sure either of our remaining candidates is all that strong against Trump. They both have weaknesses for different reasons.

[moonscape]

36. I'm not worried about our candidate as much as I am

about cheating. Biden can win handily in a fair election, but that's not what we're up against.

[Stonepounder]

44. I've said from the beginning

that the person I considered to be the worst Democrat running for the nomination would get my vote if they got the nomination. ABT!! (Anyone But Trump)

[Butterflylady]

19. Yes there are a great deal of issues, I give you that.

But a good majority can see that getting rid of trump is our main concern. If we don't, all those issues that you are concerned about are moot. There won't be a country or a democracy.

[Perseus]

38. Defeat trump and win the Senate, we need to get a lot of them out of office.

Moscow-Mitch
Barr must be disbarred and indicted for lying to the country
Jordan
Nunes
Graham (He has been quiet as of late)
the trump kids
Kushnar
Pompeo
Investigate, disbar and indict Guiliani
And the list goes on...

[hangaleft]

72. No! We must heal! We must move forward! No looking back, the past is in the past.

[demosincebirth]

29. Gotta beat trump. Don't you understand? If we don't your

Issues won’t matter.

[empedocles]

33. Yep

[Ron Green]

64. "My" issues?

That’s very telling.

[John Fante]

53. Defeating Trump is all that matters.

[empedocles]

4. Maybe AOC learned something in the 2020 primaries

[democrattotheend]

6. This is what I like about her.

Unlike other radical progressives in the past, who have hurt the party by either running as a Green or primarying moderates in swing states/districts, she's going about trying to effect progressive change the right way - by being disruptive and challenging the party leadership when necessary but not when it's going to help Republicans. She's a thorn in Pelosi and the DCCC's side and not shy about calling the party leadership out for policies that favor centrists over progressives or give corporate lobbyists too much access, but she's not willing to burn the house down to do it. I like that she supports progressive challengers to incumbent House Democrats but only in safe districts that should have a more progressive representative.

I'm hoping that she has enough credibility with at least a large chunk of Bernie's supporters to bring them along if he doesn't get the nomination. Although she might have been in a better position to do so if she'd waited until the end of the primaries or until Bernie dropped out to say this.

Also, good on her for calling out those who said they wouldn't support Bernie when it looked like he might be the nominee. I saw at least as much of that in February as Bernie supporters in 2016 or 2020 saying they wouldn't support the nominee if it wasn't Bernie.

[RobertDevereaux]

39. Yes, indeed, you have captured her correctly here.

[Turin_C3PO]

7. I like her a lot.

She has a big future in our party. I wouldn’t be surprised if she ran for President some day.

[TexasTowelie]

8. I think AOC realizes that if she doesn't support Biden

then her career will end.

[Turin_C3PO]

11. I just think

she realizes that Biden would be miles better than Trump. She’s actually a pretty practical progressive. She supported Pelosi for the House Leadership when many far lefters were urging her not to.

[empedocles]

35. Pragmatic progressive at her personal level at least

[Moderateguy]

13. I think it's more about what she has learned in 15 months that Sanders' hasn't in 30 years

The progressive agenda is going no where until we have power. Burning down the party only gives power to to other side and that does not help the progressive agenda

[StarfishSaver]

25. Ot maybe she thinks Biden would make a good president

And that, while she'd prefer Bernie, even if her first choice doesn't make it, she's fine with Biden in the White House.

[TexasTowelie]

30. That could be the case too,

but I'm more inclined to think of the golfer that throws up a bit of grass into the air to determine which direction the wind is blowing.

AOC has two things to consider--the first is that she has to survive her own primary in April and the second is that her district isn't carved unfavorably for her since New York is projected to lose one seat after the census. If she doesn't show some flexibility then she becomes a vulnerable target.

I do consider it to be a shrewd move to make this statement.

[Ace Rothstein]

78. Doubt it.

She is popular in her district and has raised some serious cash. She's not going to lose her seat.

[still_one]

12. Anything else would have been political suicide, and that goes for any politician who refuses to

vote for the Democratic nominee, whoever it is in my opinion

[oasis]

14. No more debates with Bernie. What can be gained?

[democrattotheend]

18. Votes in more than half the states that haven't voted yet?

Refusing to debate would be pretty balsy for a candidate who not only was left for dead a week ago, but also has earned less than 1/3 of the votes he needs so far to win the nomination.

We have yet to have a one-on-one debate between the two candidates who will be the only choice (or the only choice with any chance whatsoever of getting the nomination) for more than half of the primary voters. I think those of us in later states, who already got screwed by the media's "two lanes out of [state]" and "must consolidate the moderate wing" crap pushing so many candidates out of the race, deserve to at least have the opportunity to see the two choices we have left in a one-on-one debate or two before we have to decide between two candidates who were not the first choice for many of us.

I haven't decided who I'm voting for now that Warren is out, but if Biden acts like it's over and refuses to debate Bernie almost 2 months before my state's primary, and/or can't be bothered to campaign in my state, then Bernie's getting my vote for sure.

[oasis]

21. Go ahead and vote for Bernie. I don't expect he'll move an inch

from any of his past grandiose proposals. Biden can forge ahead an tally up votes without being sullied by the same old Bernie attacks about the Iraq War, big donor contributions etc..

Trump voters don't give a damn about anything Bernie will have to say against Joe.

[Progressive2020]

46. No

We need a debate. A lot of people are still Undecided. Exit polls on Super Tuesday showed that many people made up their minds at the last minute. We have not had one real debate between the two leading candidates.

A two person debate is completely different from having 12 people up on the stage. Anyway, we have a debate scheduled March 15th. People have a right to see both of their candidates make their case and question each other.

[William769]

15. Kick & recommended.

[barbtries]

16. the ratio of Biden supporters saying they won't vote for Bernie

compared to the other way around is miniscule. On the other hand, 2 of my sons and the girlfriend of one are for Bernie, and they both already said they'll vote for Biden if he's the nominee. they were insulted that i asked actually, probably because none of them are active on twitter.

[still_one]

20. link? I will vote WHOEVER is the Democratic nominee, including Sanders, without hesitation.

The Supreme Court if nothing else

[barbtries]

61. on twitter.

there is also a poll out there, you can google it.

[Sympthsical]

24. I've seen Biden supporters say it on this board.

If we have to hash out every random tweeter, one should aspire to be fair about it.

[barbtries]

27. i haven't, but will take your word for it.

no doubt there are those as well. i don't get either side, considering the alternative.

[Sympthsical]

59. I voted Warren

I’ll vote for whomever we pick. Trump should be impetus enough for everyone.

[BeckyDem]

17. The Republican field must be wiped out of the Senate.

McConnell is JUST AS DANGEROUS IF NOT MORE SO THAN TRUMP.

[totodeinhere]

31. Agreed, but it will take time since as you know the Senate only elects one third every

two years.

[BeckyDem]

32. We need to imo, cut a different course through these states and be much more

pro-active on the ground. But I agree, it takes time and we should use it wisely to get our message across and build trust.

[StarfishSaver]

22. Sounds like somebody got co-opted by the Establishment

[questionseverything]

71. nothing is more uninviting than a poor winner

exactly what do you gain by belittling her?

especially since she is working for democratic unity

[StarfishSaver]

73. Do you understand what the sarcasm tag means?

[Alex4Martinez]

23. I'm sure Joe Biden will back Sanders if he is the nominee, as well.

It's still a tight race with remaining primaries.

Let people vote.

[beachbumbob]

26. a rational wake up call. Trump MUST be the focus not sad feelings of not getting

your man or woman.

otherwise we are doomed

[ancianita]

34. That statement might be a big deal to a lot of progressive Bernie supporters. Just sayin'.

[democrattotheend]

41. I'm sure some of the most extreme will throw her under the bus

But hopefully most won't. I looked at JPR yesterday and didn't see any threads bashing her after she said this.

[ancianita]

42. See? She stepping up for liberals who've already stepped up for her.

[brutus smith]

40. I've said it before and I'll say it again, AOC is a gift to the Democratic party.

[Botany]

43. A.O.C. can see the writing on the wall and that is Bernie is toast

I might be wrong but Bernie is going to lose Michigan & Mississippi on 3/10 and then
get hammered on 3/17 in Florida after which he will drop out.

[deurbano]

50. I's say MS and FLA are for sure, and MI most likely.

Whether he'll drop out is another story...

[Botany]

52. If he loses all 3 the pressure on Bernie to drop out would be massive

If he stays in it would just be for vanity, ego, and a nice pay day from Vlad (only kidding on #3)

[deurbano]

55. Given the history, vanity and ego should not be underestimated.

In a world that was really "Not Me. Us.", the guy who had a heart attack (while campaigning at 88!) would have gracefully withdrawn to enthusiastically throw his support behind the candidate with the most similar ideology--who also happens to be much more competent and practical (while still moving the ball forward), and with a better track record of accomplishments. (IMHO.)

[Botany]

58. Bernie was told that Russia was helping his campaign 1.5 months before that news came out and ....

... he didn't say shit aka he took the help and kept his mouth shut. Just my thoughts on the subject.

BTW when the news came out about Russia helping Bernie's campaign didTrump get upset
with Russia? Oh hell no he got upset and fired the good Americans who found out about it
and told the American people.

[deurbano]

63. That was also infuriating. Some defended Sanders by saying it must have classified,

but he didn't say that when finally forced to cop to it-- by the paper he then accused of revealing it for political reasons. He just said he gets a lot of briefings. (Nothing about that one stood out?) Meanwhile, Biden kept getting smeared by the Russian/Trump attack.

[Celerity]

66. Campaigning at 88?

[democrattotheend]

70. Maybe the poster got Bernie's age wrong?

He's 78, not 88.

[deurbano]

74. Oops! 78.

[Cha]

75. That's what I was thinking about your first

sentence, Botany.

[Moderateguy]

45. She might have just saved her political career with this...

What the M$M does not tell you is that she is in real danger of losing her primary. She has done very little for her constituency while trying to be a thorn in Pelosi's side--not the wisest thing to do for a 1st term congressperson

[Squinch]

51. It's going to take a lot more than this. She has not made herself beloved at home.

[H2O Man]

47. Of course she will.

That has never been a question.

[Happy Hoosier]

48. Pleased to see this.

Idealism is great. But we must keep our eyes focused on the immediate objective as well.

[Cha]

60. Good on AOC

[Blue_Tires]

65. I'm impressed -- She's learning...

Greenwald and Walker Bragman are going to absolutely lose their shit

[democrattotheend]

69. Learning?

What has she had to learn? I don't think she's ever indicated she wouldn't support the eventual nominee.

[NCProgressive]

67. If AOC does support Biden and campaigns for him

she will have earned my respect.

On edit, I hope she means it and is not saying it because she is terrified of Biden's juggernaut in her primary election les Biden endorse Michelle Caruso Cabrera who has a phenomenal shot at winning NY-14.

https://michellecc2020.com/

[wyldwolf]

68. Is she still organizing primaries against sitting (D) house members in red and swing districts?

[BeyondGeography]

76. She's formidable

More evidence of such.

[bluedye33139]

77. The biggest danger is people sitting out because of negative emotions.

Conflict within the party gets heated, but no matter what happens, we remain Democrats.