Democrats Reportedly Trying to “Rein In” Ocasio-Cortez

The anti-establishment, democratic socialist isn't playing by the House Democratic Caucus' rules.

Ocasio-Cortez
Member elect Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is ruffling some feathers on her own side of the aisle.(Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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House democrats are apparently so exasperated by newly elected New York Congresswoman, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, that they’re willingly going on record saying they’d like to “rein” her in.

Some lawmakers who have working relationships with Ocasio-Cortez are hoping to coax her into using her huge platform to unite Democrats and turn her fire on Republicans, instead, Politico reported. But others believe Ocasio-Cortez is tweeting her way to an ineffectual career if she continues to treat her own party as the enemy.

“I’m sure Ms. Cortez means well, but there’s almost an outstanding rule: Don’t attack your own people,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.). “We just don’t need sniping in our Democratic Caucus.”

Democratic leaders are mostly upset that the Bronx native railed against their new House rules on Twitter during the first week of the new Congress. They believe the movement behind Ocasio-Cortez to try and help elevate her to a top committee post is undeserved.

“She needs to decide: Does she want to be an effective legislator or just continue being a Twitter star?” said one House Democrat who’s in lockstep with Ocasio Cortez’s ideology. “There’s a difference between being an activist and a lawmaker in Congress.”

“She’s new here, feeling her way around,” added Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.). “She doesn’t understand how the place works yet.”

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