Rep. Ocasio-Cortez's message to Democratic leaders has become even more potent: lay out a clear vision that progressives can rally behind.
AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has been a key progressive ally of President Joe Biden, working with the White House to move consequential bills across the finish line while also pushing the commander-in-chief to the left on myriad issues from student-debt reform to foreign policy.
And with the 2024 presidential election approaching, Ocasio-Cortez's message to Democratic leaders has become even more potent: lay out a clear vision that progressives can rally behind.
During a Sunday interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," the New York Democrat said just that after she was asked whether Biden is doing enough to make the case for his reelection bid against former President Donald Trump.
"I think we can certainly do more to be advancing our vision. And I believe that we have a strong vision that we can run on," Ocasio-Cortez said. "For what it's worth, the president has said, 'If you give me the House, and if you give me the Senate and reelect me to the presidency, we will codify abortion rights and the right to choose in this country. We'll codify reproductive rights.' I think we can do more."
Ocasio-Cortez then reiterated her belief that public universities should have free or reduced tuition, and pointed out that Biden has already moved forward student loan forgiveness for some borrowers who took out SAVE loans of $12,000 or less.
"I do believe that advancing that affirmative vision is going to be very, very important as well as really laying out and showing, between now and November, through our governing decisions, when we have that power in the White House, what we are willing to do with it," the congresswoman said.
Ocasio-Cortez's comments come as Democrats continue to struggle with many young voters ahead of November, with a major reason being the Biden administration's response to the Israel-Hamas war.
Scores of young voters have called for a cease-fire in Gaza, a proposition that's been rejected by many top Democratic leaders. Since the conflict began last October, 25,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
And recent comments made by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reflect the continued fissures that Democrats face headed into November.
Pelosi on Sunday said that she believed some of the protestors calling for a cease-fire might be tied to Russian President Vladimir Putin and called for the FBI to launch a probe into the matter.
"For them to call for a cease-fire is Mr. Putin's message," the California lawmaker said during an appearance on CNN. "Make no mistake, this is directly connected to what he would like to see."
"I think some of these protesters are spontaneous and organic and sincere. Some, I think, are connected to Russia," she added.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations in a Sunday statement criticized Pelosi over her remarks.
"Rep. Pelosi's claim that some of the Americans protesting for a Gaza ceasefire are working with Vladimir Putin sounds delusional and her call for the FBI to investigate those protesters without any evidence is downright authoritarian," the civil rights and advocacy group said.
