If you were confused by AOC’s seconding of Bernie Sanders’ nomination, worry not – she’s explained what it all means via Twitter:
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
(@AOC)If you were confused, no worries!
Convention rules require roll call & nominations for every candidate that passes the delegate threshold.
I was asked to 2nd the nom for Sen. Sanders for roll call.
I extend my deepest congratulations to @JoeBiden – let’s go win in November. ?? https://t.co/uI92P3UfLn
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Ocasio-Cortez, like so many progressives, traces her political awakening to Sanders 2016 presidential campaign, where she worked as an organizer. A self-described democratic socialist, Ocasio-Cortez was elected to Congress in 2018, unseating the fourth-ranking House Democrat.
Since her shocking victory, she has helped organize and raise money for progressive challengers around the country, including Jamaal Bowman who won the Democratic primary this year, knocking off a 16-term incumbent in a deep-blue New York district.
Many progressives were furious that Ocasio-Cortez, widely viewed as the leader of a next generation of Democrats, was only allotted one minute to speak, while ample time was devoted on Monday night to Republican defectors, including former Ohio governor John Kasich, a staunch opponent of abortion.
Yet her invitation was a testament to influence within the party, rare for a first-term member of Congress.
Ocasio-Cortez, who endorsed Sanders in the primary, giving his campaign a much needed jolt in the uncertain days after the senator’s heart attack, has been critical of Biden’s establishment-minded approach to governing. In an interview last year, she mused that in another country, they would not belong to the same party.
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s nominating speech for Bernie Sanders was a virtual passing of the torch. Sanders briefly led the primary contest earlier this year before falling impossibly behind Biden as fear of the coronavirus began to spread across the US.
Sanders, who nearly eked out a victory in the Iowa caucuses, and then went on to win primary contests in New Hampshire, and Nevada before sweeping California on Super Tuesday, is expected to receive about 1,000 delegates.
In the same way Sanders popularized Medicare for all, she has championed the Green New Deal – both turning the issue into a rallying cry for young Democrats and an easy line of attack for Republicans. Climate is one of the key areas in which Biden has moved left, and she was included in the Biden-Sanders unity taskforces, created to forge a policy consensus between the often-warning progressive and moderate wings of the Democratic party.
Addressing his supporters on Monday, Sanders said their movement had “moved this country in a bold new direction” but he was unequivocal in his endorsement of Biden, warning that the stakes were too high to stay home.
“The future of our democracy is at stake,” he said.
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is without a doubt the most exciting rising star in the Democratic party. But her 60-second speaking slot, which was spent reiterating her support for Bernie Sanders, was all we’ll be seeing of her at the DNC, and many of her admirers aren’t happy:
Molly Jong-Fast?
(@MollyJongFast)Absolutely silly to only give @AOC one minute
Franklin Leonard
(@franklinleonard)Undeniably a waste of @aoc’s extraordinary talents, but I don’t think she needs a convention spotlight to do what she’s going to do short or long term, and there’s a poetry in her giving a somber seconding speech for @BernieSanders. #DemocraticNationalConvention
feminist next door
(@emrazz)It’s a mistake for the DNC to minimize AOC. They were right to give her a slot, but 60 seconds is an insult. She is an incredibly effective political operator, more so than nearly all of them. A convention should be intergenerational and forward looking if you want to survive.
Robert Reich
(@RBReich).@AOC may have been given one minute to speak tonight, but the far-reaching impacts of her leadership can’t be whittled down to 60 seconds.
In just 2 years, she has:
—Championed the Green New Deal
—Confronted the oligarchy
—Unveiled a massive plan to address poverty in America
Ocasio-Cortez was there to second Sanders’ nomination, which is a procedural quirk of the convention that forms part of the roll call. But some viewers have misunderstood her speech, and think she’s suddenly flipped back to Sanders to sabotage Biden. Just to be clear: this isn’t the case.
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Bill Clinton’s appearance at the DNC tonight hasn’t been well received among some of his critics on both the left and right. It comes only a few hours after new photos revealed of him receiving a neck massage from one of Jeffrey Epstein’s personal massage therapists, who was a victim of the disgraced financier’s sexual abuse.
Lisa Goldman
(@lisang)Bill Clinton go home! Two four six eight we don’t wanna hear from Epstein’s mate! https://t.co/QvVvXjo46l
Marlow Stern
(@MarlowNYC)bill clinton… is not a good look for the dems
James C. McHann, PhD
(@JamesCMcHann)Brit Hume: #MeToo movement is ‘going to be suspended’ so Bill Clinton can address @DNC#HypocriticalLeft https://t.co/yjN40twq3n
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