It’s a brave politician who is willing to criticize their own party. The refusal to do so at all costs, as Republicans have proven since the election of Donald Trump, creates sycophants ruled by a dictatorial leader. Criticism is healthy in a political landscape in which the majority of Americans say they want one thing more than any other: change.
Polls show that she’s correct. 69 percent of Americans do not want a border wall. 65 percent of Americans want tougher gun control laws. 71 percent of Democratic voters see immigration reform as a priority in the 2020 elections. 70 percent want Medicare for all and two-thirds back free college tuition. Why are so many Democratic lawmakers willing to vote against their constituents’ wishes?
Historically, Democrats winning over red states have been forced to compromise on issues for which there should be no compromise. Demonizing immigrants and using a government entity formed to guard national security to throw them and their children into detention centers should not be a compromise. Leaving millions of Americans without adequate healthcare coverage to appease a right-wing crowd wins Democrats no support and harms the people they were elected to represent.
Ocasio-Cortez has been harshly criticized by the right as too radical, but she also speaks with the voice of the left’s biggest voting base: millennials. Climate change and a living wage are critical issues for them, not undocumented immigrants or welfare reform. Embracing that growing voting base means changes to the platform, and Democratic leaders need to be listening going into 2020.
Twitter was behind Ocasio-Cortez all the way on this one. Read some of their comments below:
Featured image screenshot via YouTube
