- Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez insisted that Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should no longer lead the party.
- “We need new leadership in the Democratic Party,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a new podcast with The Intercept on Wednesday.
- The criticism comes as the stimulus talks between Democratic leaders and their Republican counterparts continue.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez insisted that Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should not lead the party during a new broadcast with Objection Wednesday.
“We need new leadership in the Democratic Party,” Ocasio-Cortez told host Jeremy Scahill.
The criticism comes as incentive talks have escalated between Democratic leaders and their Republican counterparts, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, in recent days. the parties Show near To finalize a deal that will provide much-needed relief to Americans amid the coronavirus pandemic.
“We, the Democratic Party, have given up a lot of influence,” Ocasio-Cortez said of the CARES Act passed in March. The legislation was “whatever the Republican Party wanted.”
“I knew that if we gave up the farm then, we would have little leverage to bring them back to the negotiating table after that,” she added. “I fear that this is the situation we are dealing with right now.”
Congressional leaders have suspended providing additional aid to Americans for the past eight months, while unemployment rates remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, and millions face food insecurity and are at risk of eviction.
Isn’t that a reason to take a stand and say, ‘No, I’m sorry,’ Scahill asked. Shouldn’t Nancy Pelosi be the speaker, and shouldn’t Chuck Schumer be the leader? “
The Progressive Democrat from New York agreed, although he argued that replacing them was not an easy task. She blamed the party’s left wing, as well as its more moderate members, who had neglected building a new generation of leadership.
“The internal dynamics of the House of Representatives made it a very small choice for succession,” she said. “The spokeswoman indicated that she might be looking at moving and leaving at some point, and the left isn’t really making a plan for that either. It’s something we need to think about.”
House Democrats have nominated Pelosi to take over as spokesperson next year and is likely to retain her first place. However, the California congressman indicated that she would step down after a two-year period.
“It’s easy for someone to say, ‘Well, why don’t you run?’” Said Ocasio-Cortez. “ But the house is extraordinarily complicated. I am not ready. I couldn’t be myself. I know I can’t do this job. “
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