https://truthout.org/…/aocs-revolt-against-dccc-is-exactly-…
News
Politics & Elections
AOC’s Revolt Against DCCC Is “Exactly What We Need,” Say Progressive Democrats
by Jon Queally
January 13, 2020
Common Dreams
PHOTO: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez chants with housing and environmental advocates before a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on November 14, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
For bucking a key arm of the Democratic Party establishment that has
stood in the way of attracting and supporting progressive candidates,
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) received applause over the weekend
after she announced the launch of a new political action committee
designed to directly challenge the power of the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee by helping insurgent, left-leaning challengers like
herself take on both Republican incumbents and centrist Democrats.
“The rumors are true,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Saturday. “Today we’re announcing the Courage to Change PAC — and we need your help. We are pushing the envelope in D.C. by rewarding those who reject lobbyist money, fight for working families, and welcome newcomers.”
According to the PAC’s first fundraising push:
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ✔
@AOC
I give quite a bit to fellow Dems - we’ve fundraised over $300,000 for others (more than my “dues”), w/ over 50% going to swing seats.
DCCC made clear that they will blacklist any org that helps progressive candidates like me. I can choose not to fund that kind of exclusion.
https://twitter.com/marisa_schul…/status/1215652173683531776 …
Marisa Schultz @marisa_schultz
SCOOP: @AOC withholding $250,000 in "dues" from the Democratic party in protest and building her own grassroots fundraising for progressives instead
AOC riles Dems by refusing to pay party dues, bankrolling colleagues' opponents
https://fxn.ws/39Q2bzg #FoxNews
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12:22 PM - Jan 10, 2020
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In an interview with Fox News, Ocasio-Cortez further defended her decision by saying, “I don’t see the sense in giving a quarter-million dollars to an organization that has clearly told people like me that we’re not welcome.”
AOC’s efforts to stand up the DCCC was championed by many of her fellow progressives:
Brand New Congress ✔
@BrandNew535
🔥🔥The DCCC requires outrageous "dues" while actively undermining primaries and working against grassroots progressive candidates. We've seen it firsthand. @AOC's candor and honesty is exactly what we need to see more of in Congress!
#BlueNoMatterWhoWontDo
#BrandNewCongress https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1215730737900638208 …
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ✔
@AOC
I give quite a bit to fellow Dems - we’ve fundraised over $300,000 for others (more than my “dues”), w/ over 50% going to swing seats.
DCCC made clear that they will blacklist any org that helps progressive candidates like me. I can choose not to fund that kind of exclusion. https://twitter.com/marisa_schul…/status/1215652173683531776 …
585
2:37 PM - Jan 10, 2020
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188 people are talking about this
James J. Zogby ✔
@jjz1600
Many reasons @AOC is right not to “pay dues” to the DCCC. 1. It’s decisionmaking is opaque & undemocratic. 2. It’s a “pay for play” scam -the more Members give, the better their assignments) 3. They punish consultants who support challengers & only give “jobs” to their buddies
View image on Twitter
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10:55 AM - Jan 11, 2020
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181 people are talking about this
The Washington Post reported Sunday afternoon that Courage to Change had raised more than $150,000 after approximately 24 hours of fundraising, money that would go directly to help progressive House candidates in the 2020 primaries and general election.
“There is a robust infrastructure set up to maintain and defend the Democratic majority, and to support moderate Democrats, and often that infrastructure is running against progressive in blue districts,” Corbin Trent, a former staffer for Ocasio-Cortez and now a spokesperson for the new PAC, told the Post. “So what we’re looking to do is to make sure that progressive candidates and incumbents have the support that they need to back policies that are going to improve the lives of everyday Americans.”
In a tweet on Sunday, Ocasio-Cortez said, “Thank you to everyone contributing to this effort so far — this is a big deal. Help us build a war chest to support progressive red-to-blue seats, bold incumbents, and newcomers to Congress alike.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jon Queally is senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.
PHOTO: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez chants with housing and environmental advocates before a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on November 14, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
News
Politics & Elections
AOC’s Revolt Against DCCC Is “Exactly What We Need,” Say Progressive Democrats
by Jon Queally
January 13, 2020
Common Dreams
PHOTO: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez chants with housing and environmental advocates before a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on November 14, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
For bucking a key arm of the Democratic Party establishment that has
stood in the way of attracting and supporting progressive candidates,
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) received applause over the weekend
after she announced the launch of a new political action committee
designed to directly challenge the power of the Democratic Congressional
Campaign Committee by helping insurgent, left-leaning challengers like
herself take on both Republican incumbents and centrist Democrats.“The rumors are true,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Saturday. “Today we’re announcing the Courage to Change PAC — and we need your help. We are pushing the envelope in D.C. by rewarding those who reject lobbyist money, fight for working families, and welcome newcomers.”
According to the PAC’s first fundraising push:
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ✔
@AOC
I give quite a bit to fellow Dems - we’ve fundraised over $300,000 for others (more than my “dues”), w/ over 50% going to swing seats.
DCCC made clear that they will blacklist any org that helps progressive candidates like me. I can choose not to fund that kind of exclusion.
https://twitter.com/marisa_schul…/status/1215652173683531776 …
Marisa Schultz @marisa_schultz
SCOOP: @AOC withholding $250,000 in "dues" from the Democratic party in protest and building her own grassroots fundraising for progressives instead
AOC riles Dems by refusing to pay party dues, bankrolling colleagues' opponents
https://fxn.ws/39Q2bzg #FoxNews
80K
12:22 PM - Jan 10, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
20.3K people are talking about this
In an interview with Fox News, Ocasio-Cortez further defended her decision by saying, “I don’t see the sense in giving a quarter-million dollars to an organization that has clearly told people like me that we’re not welcome.”
AOC’s efforts to stand up the DCCC was championed by many of her fellow progressives:
Brand New Congress ✔
@BrandNew535
🔥🔥The DCCC requires outrageous "dues" while actively undermining primaries and working against grassroots progressive candidates. We've seen it firsthand. @AOC's candor and honesty is exactly what we need to see more of in Congress!
#BlueNoMatterWhoWontDo
#BrandNewCongress https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1215730737900638208 …
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ✔
@AOC
I give quite a bit to fellow Dems - we’ve fundraised over $300,000 for others (more than my “dues”), w/ over 50% going to swing seats.
DCCC made clear that they will blacklist any org that helps progressive candidates like me. I can choose not to fund that kind of exclusion. https://twitter.com/marisa_schul…/status/1215652173683531776 …
585
2:37 PM - Jan 10, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
188 people are talking about this
James J. Zogby ✔
@jjz1600
Many reasons @AOC is right not to “pay dues” to the DCCC. 1. It’s decisionmaking is opaque & undemocratic. 2. It’s a “pay for play” scam -the more Members give, the better their assignments) 3. They punish consultants who support challengers & only give “jobs” to their buddies
View image on Twitter
552
10:55 AM - Jan 11, 2020
Twitter Ads info and privacy
181 people are talking about this
The Washington Post reported Sunday afternoon that Courage to Change had raised more than $150,000 after approximately 24 hours of fundraising, money that would go directly to help progressive House candidates in the 2020 primaries and general election.
“There is a robust infrastructure set up to maintain and defend the Democratic majority, and to support moderate Democrats, and often that infrastructure is running against progressive in blue districts,” Corbin Trent, a former staffer for Ocasio-Cortez and now a spokesperson for the new PAC, told the Post. “So what we’re looking to do is to make sure that progressive candidates and incumbents have the support that they need to back policies that are going to improve the lives of everyday Americans.”
In a tweet on Sunday, Ocasio-Cortez said, “Thank you to everyone contributing to this effort so far — this is a big deal. Help us build a war chest to support progressive red-to-blue seats, bold incumbents, and newcomers to Congress alike.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Jon Queally is senior editor and staff writer for Common Dreams.
PHOTO: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez chants with housing and environmental advocates before a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol on November 14, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
