Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic freshman from New York, is attempting to gain notoriety from the public eye, but many consider her efforts to be inconsistent. Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal was completely shut down by the Senate, causing her to receive an incredible number of ethics complaints, as well as, feuds within her own party.
Regardless of all that, Ocasio-Cortez still seems to be enamored by the media, causing her to be treated like some sort of political rock star. As expected, the other members of her party aren’t too happy with all of the attention that she has been receiving.
According to the Washington Post, some of the people who voted for Ocasio-Cortez to be their representative feel like they’re not properly being represented, and many of them are turning their backs on her and her liberal ideology.
“I see her on TV a lot but not in the neighborhood. You are supposed to come to the people without the media. You are one of us. You worked in a bar. You are not a princess,” said waitress Barbara Nosel in an interview with The Times.
Regardless of her shortcomings, 29-year-old Ocasio-Cortez still has plenty of people in the 14th Congressional District standing behind her. She may have their support, but many of them don’t necessarily agree with her style, causing them to turn against her in some form or another.
“I admire her oomph. She’s Puerto Rican. She’s fighting for middle America. I just don’t like her being too fast, in your face. Go a little slower, and she could do a lot,” said retired teacher Iris Acosta in an interview with The Times.
There are many people who believe that her lack of experience could stop her from rising to the top of the political totem pole. In an interview with The Times, lawyer and Democrat Manuel Fabian said: “People are billing her as a superstar. I think she doesn’t have enough experience.” He also explained that he has severe doubts that America is willing to become a socialist country.
“The Green New Deal looks good on paper, but I’m reluctant to give the government so much power, and I don’t think this country is ready to embrace a socialist platform and I don’t think we ever will be. But I’m willing to give her a chance. She’s got to learn the ropes,” said Fabian.
Michael Miller, a political science professor, explained that Ocasio-Cortez’s spotlight might just be too much, too soon.“Most members of Congress toil in relative obscurity, so voters may never learn that the member has done something disagreeable. But with the spotlight on her and every action scrutinized, of course, it is more likely that the typical voter finds something to nitpick,” said Miller.
Members of Ocasio-Cortez’s party are extremely concerned about her too far-left mentality. According to a national poll released by Quinnipiac University, opinions about Ocasio-Cortez vary from different sides of the spectrum. Associate director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, Tim Malloy, said: “All is definitely not A-OK for AOC. Most voters either don’t like the firebrand freshman Congresswoman or don’t know who she is.” Only time will tell if the members of her party will vote her back in during re-election in 2020.
