Go girl!!
Run, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, Run
She says the Senate is ‘undemocratic,’ so challenge Schumer.
By The Editorial Board
Dec. 21, 2021 6:47 pm ET
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on Dec.
“It is unconscionable the way the Senate operates. It’s fundamentally undemocratic,” she said Monday after Sen. Manchin had announced his opposition to the Build Back Better Act. “What we really need to do is crack down on the Senate, which operates like an old boys’ club that has a couple of gals in it that have managed to break through.”
If that’s how she really feels, here’s an idea: Run against Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer next year. The New York City Congresswoman has played coy for a year on a potential Democratic primary run. Why not finally drop the pretense and have the courage of her loud convictions?
Some might shudder at the prospect, but what difference would it make it this point? In January we wrote an editorial, “Schumer and His Shadow,” as the powerful Senator seemed to mimic every demand from AOC. He’s echoed her plan to forgive student loans and adopted more or less the entire progressive agenda. He supports blowing up the filibuster rule as does AOC. And he did it again Monday in calling for a Senate floor vote on Build Back Better as Ms. Ocasio-Cortez commanded.
She’s already the shadow Majority Leader, so she might as well try and make it official. If the Senate is so awful, run to win and clean it up. Let’s see if New York voters agree.
As an added benefit, if Mr. Schumer managed to defeat her, he’d finally be free to be his own man again. Go for it, AOC.
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