Ocasio-Cortez Threatens 'List' for Democrats Who Support Republicans
AOC warns she will help progressive activists unseat moderates in the Democratic Party
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned moderates within the Democratic Party they are "putting themselves on a list" by voting with Republicans, according to reports.
The radical socialist Congresswoman also warned moderate Democrats she will help progressive activists unseat them in their districts in 2020 if they fail to tow the party line.
AOC (D-NY) reportedly sounded the alarm during a closed-door meeting on Thursday after over two dozen moderate Democrats broke from their party's progressive wing and sided with Republicans on a legislative amendment on Wednesday.
The infighting was prompted by new legislation to expand federal background checks for gun purchases, the Washington Post reported.
26 moderate Democrats sided with Republicans over the bill due to a key provision requiring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to be notified if illegal immigrants attempt to purchase firearms.
According to WaPo, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted the wayward center-leaning Dems, warning them:
"We are either a team or we’re not, and we have to make that decision.”
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But, according to Fox News, Ocasio-Cortez reportedly took Pelosi's warning a step further.
She said she would help progressive activists unseat those moderates in their districts in the 2020 elections, the report said.
Her spokesman Corbin Trent told the paper that she made the "list" comment during the meeting.
“She said that when activists ask her why she had to vote for a gun safety bill that also further empowers an agency that forcibly injects kids with psychotropic drugs, they’re going to want a list of names and she’s going to give it to them,” Trent said, referring to ICE.
Ocasio-Cortez has vehemently denounced ICE since bursting onto the political stage -- but has also raised concerns among fellow Democrats that she's picking fights with her own party.
“I’m sure Ms. Cortez means well, but there’s almost an outstanding rule: Don’t attack your own people,” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., told Politico earlier this year.
“We just don’t need sniping in our Democratic Caucus.”
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Her star status and outsize influence bringing Democrats on board with controversial policies like the Green New Deal have rankled some long-time members.
But the freshman congresswoman appears unfazed by the pushback, often hitting back at her critics on Twitter.
In response to criticism earlier this year from former Sen. Joe Lieberman, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted a snarky: “New party, who dis?”
The gun bill on the floor earlier this week would expand the scope of background checks and require nearly all gun buyers to undergo one – including if they bought at a gun show, online or in a private transaction.
