Since she began running for Congress, most Republicans have considered Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., as nothing more than a joke. Her gaffes when talking to the press have become legendary. The fact she was elected and installed as the youngest member of the House of Representatives as a “Democratic Socialist” should be noted. She may seem to be naive, but she is being warmly received by liberals as the savior of her party.
Her latest gaffes have gone viral, particularly her assertion the world is coming to an end in 12 years if we do not address climate change and her proposal to tax people up to 70 percent for earnings above $10 million, representing a bold redistribution of the wealth, which would likely upset the economy. Whereas the Right giggles at her statements, the Left takes her seriously, and this is what should concern Republicans.
A new poll produced by Axios/SurveyMonkey contends 74 percent of Democrats would consider voting for Ocasio-Cortez for president if she were eligible (you have to be at least 35 years old to run for president, she is only 29). The poll also claims she is more popular than Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and almost as popular as Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Axis was just founded in 2016 by former employees of Politico, which has shown sympathies to the Left for quite some time, so it is difficult to assess the accuracy of this poll.
Her meteoric rise in popularity is remarkable when you consider she hasn’t produced anything of substance other than serving on the 2016 presidential campaign for Sen. Bernie Sanders. The freshman representative possesses no prior experience in government and has not passed any legislation. The Left is quick to point out President Trump also had no political experience prior to his election, which is true, but as a businessman he was able to build a substantial empire involving real estate holdings and entertainment, and in the process put thousands of people to work.
In contrast, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has only delivered speeches and attended rallies preaching the Socialist gospel and has been active on social media. What she lacks in experience and know-how, she makes up for by youth and her communication skills, which somehow appeal to naive millennials. All of this has made her a darling of the mainstream media, who are grooming her for the future of the Democratic Party.
Even if Rep. Ocasio-Cortez fails to pass a single piece of legislation, the news media will broadcast her voice, provide coaching, cover up her faux pas, and keep her relevant until she is of age to run in six more years. In other words, the news media have made her “The Chosen One.” They have finally found a candidate they can easily program to suit their agenda, and this explains why we should all take her very seriously.
Tim Bryce, author of “The Bryce Is Right!” blog, is a writer and the managing director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor and has more than 40 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb1557@gmail.com.
