Members of the Democratic Socialists of America are thinking seriously about a national presidential campaign for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2028 that would reach millions of working people and have the potential to transform American politics.
I really disagree with DSA’s AOC obsession, especially given how not reciprocated it’s been ever since her initial endorsement. I obviously understand the desire to endorse a candidate you agree with because you think they’re going to win, but I don’t think AOC has a viable path to winning the nomination, much less the presidency.
I also understand the appeal of endorsing a candidate doomed to lose because their a good messenger for your beliefs and you want to work on shifting the Overton window, but I don’t think AOC (almost certainly a social democrat) is a good messenger for socialist politics. Her vote to fund the Iron Dome and staged crocodile tears afterwards immediately disqualify her tbh. Plus, now there’s the new revelation that she’s dialed back on her willingness to confront the Democratic establishment, which makes a lot of her recent endorsements (or lack thereof) make more sense.
She’s in the bad-messenger and doomed-to-lose quadrant of possible candidates. The biggest red flag (and not in the good way).
And I know people are going to say to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and I get that. I’ll happily vote for her in the primary and general. But a DSA endorsement is a huge time and effort commitment that could be better used on candidates in other races that are openly socialist and/or viable.
I really disagree with DSA’s AOC obsession, especially given how not reciprocated it’s been ever since her initial endorsement. I obviously understand the desire to endorse a candidate you agree with because you think they’re going to win, but I don’t think AOC has a viable path to winning the nomination, much less the presidency.
I also understand the appeal of endorsing a candidate doomed to lose because their a good messenger for your beliefs and you want to work on shifting the Overton window, but I don’t think AOC (almost certainly a social democrat) is a good messenger for socialist politics. Her vote to fund the Iron Dome and staged crocodile tears afterwards immediately disqualify her tbh. Plus, now there’s the new revelation that she’s dialed back on her willingness to confront the Democratic establishment, which makes a lot of her recent endorsements (or lack thereof) make more sense.
She’s in the bad-messenger and doomed-to-lose quadrant of possible candidates. The biggest red flag (and not in the good way).
And I know people are going to say to not let the perfect be the enemy of the good, and I get that. I’ll happily vote for her in the primary and general. But a DSA endorsement is a huge time and effort commitment that could be better used on candidates in other races that are openly socialist and/or viable.