General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Ocasio Cortez is going to be a problem for our party just watch. [View all]DFW
(56,953 posts)She obviously is no idiot, so it boils down to a question of ego. Does she want to be what Justice Sotomayor so aptly called a "wise Latina," or does she just want to be a headline grabber for the sake of glory and attention?
It's not too late for someone to invite her to a cup of coffee and explain how things really get done in Washington. You can quietly build a consensus, find allies, become a force to be reckoned with and build a reliable faction, or you can make noise and make an ass of yourself. You can be Gabby Giffords or you can be Bella Abzug. Both were women of prominence in the House, but for very different reasons. AOC can still make the choice, and chalk her initial rabble-rousing to learning the ropes. Or, she can continue to do just what she is doing now, and become an idol to the 1% that likes the shouting and that sort of thing, and have her initiatives (if she gets any through to committee) ignored as coming from "that troublemaker." There are 435 House members. This is not a talent show starring "Alexandra and the Reps."
The window of time is closing, but she can still contain any damage. Whether she wants to or not is a different question entirely. Why a freshman congresswoman who is not even sworn in yet would think it a better strategy to pick fight with Democrats instead of Republicans is beyond me. Just who does she perceive as the enemy here? If it's the people sitting next to her on the House floor instead of the ones sitting on the other side of the aisle, then yeah, she will be a problem. But not a huge one. People get used to noise after a while.