SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Progressive primary challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez debated Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) on June 15, 2018. (Photo Xavier Perez/Twitter)
Praise for Progressive 'Torchbearer' Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Takedown of 'Career Politician' Joe Crowley
"The contrast between them couldn't be more stark and Crowley seems scared. She's fierce."
Jun 16, 2018
Progressives praised U.S. House primary candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez--"a torchbearer for the progressive movement"--for her performance Friday night in a debate against Rep. Joe Crowley, a powerful player in the Democratic Party's establishment and longtime representative of New York's 14th District.
"Not all Democrats are the same, and I am proud to be the only Democrat in this race that rejects all corporate money, and champions and advances improved and expanded Medicare for All, a federal jobs guarantee, tuition-free public college, and the abolition of ICE," she said in her opening remarks. "In a district that is 85 percent Democrat, overwhelmingly working class, and 70 percent people of color, we deserve a working-class champion."
Supporters turned to social media to celebrate Ocasio-Cortez as "a champion for her district" and condemn Crowley--chair of the House Democratic Caucus--as "a career politician who has long been out of touch [with] the majority of the constituency."
#NY14 is in for the greatest gift imaginable: a radical young woman of color, a working class NYer, a torchbearer for the progressive movement, a kind person with zero ego and razor sharp wit, a champion for her district. Goodbye @repjoecrowley. The people choose @Ocasio2018. pic.twitter.com/jlSLbGZubP
-- Simone Norman (@whysimonewhy) June 16, 2018
Those who tuned in to the debate, which was aired locally on television, commented on the "passion that [Ocasio-Cortez] showed on every issue," concluding, "You can tell she's experienced these problems first hand and deeply wants to fight for change."
Journalist Jeremy Scahill--who recently interviewed Ocasio-Cortez on his podcast Intercepted--remarked: "The contrast between them couldn't be more stark and Crowley seems scared. She's fierce." Ocasio-Cortez is the first primary challenger the congressman has faced in 14 years.
Ocasio-Cortez is campaigning on a long list of progressives stances, including: mobilizing against climate change, improving the federal government's failed response to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, advancing LGBTQIA+ and women's rights, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency that has been widely denounced for terrorizing immigrant communities and separating asylum-seeking families at the nation's Southern border.
The New York district's primary race has garnered national attention as Ocasio-Cortez has picked up endorsements from groups such as the Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
The activist-turned-candidate is also winning over New York City-based groups. Late Friday, she picked up an endorsement from a Democratic club in Queens--which is quite a feat, considering that her opponent's nickname is reportedly "the King of Queens."
"Ocasio-Cortez is a better representative of our neighborhood," William Salgado, chairman of the Pan-American Democratic Association, told the New York Post. "She's more progressive. She's not behind the banks, insurance companies, and Wall Street."
New Yorkers head to the polls for the statewide primary election on June 26.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, It’s been nearly 30 years since I co-founded Common Dreams with my late wife, Lina Newhouser. We had the radical notion that journalism should serve the public good, not corporate profits. It was clear to us from the outset what it would take to build such a project. No paid advertisements. No corporate sponsors. No millionaire publisher telling us what to think or do. Many people said we wouldn't last a year, but we proved those doubters wrong. Together with a tremendous team of journalists and dedicated staff, we built an independent media outlet free from the constraints of profits and corporate control. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. Building Common Dreams was not easy. Our survival was never guaranteed. When you take on the most powerful forces—Wall Street greed, fossil fuel industry destruction, Big Tech lobbyists, and uber-rich oligarchs who have spent billions upon billions rigging the economy and democracy in their favor—the only bulwark you have is supporters who believe in your work. But here’s the urgent message from me today. It's never been this bad out there. And it's never been this hard to keep us going. At the very moment Common Dreams is most needed, the threats we face are intensifying. We need your support now more than ever. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. When everyone does the little they can afford, we are strong. But if that support retreats or dries up, so do we. Will you donate now to make sure Common Dreams not only survives but thrives? —Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
alexandria ocasio-cortezdemocracydemocratic partydemocratic socialists of americaelection 2018jeremy scahilljustice democratsmedicare for allnew yorkus house
Progressives praised U.S. House primary candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez--"a torchbearer for the progressive movement"--for her performance Friday night in a debate against Rep. Joe Crowley, a powerful player in the Democratic Party's establishment and longtime representative of New York's 14th District.
"Not all Democrats are the same, and I am proud to be the only Democrat in this race that rejects all corporate money, and champions and advances improved and expanded Medicare for All, a federal jobs guarantee, tuition-free public college, and the abolition of ICE," she said in her opening remarks. "In a district that is 85 percent Democrat, overwhelmingly working class, and 70 percent people of color, we deserve a working-class champion."
Supporters turned to social media to celebrate Ocasio-Cortez as "a champion for her district" and condemn Crowley--chair of the House Democratic Caucus--as "a career politician who has long been out of touch [with] the majority of the constituency."
#NY14 is in for the greatest gift imaginable: a radical young woman of color, a working class NYer, a torchbearer for the progressive movement, a kind person with zero ego and razor sharp wit, a champion for her district. Goodbye @repjoecrowley. The people choose @Ocasio2018. pic.twitter.com/jlSLbGZubP
-- Simone Norman (@whysimonewhy) June 16, 2018
Those who tuned in to the debate, which was aired locally on television, commented on the "passion that [Ocasio-Cortez] showed on every issue," concluding, "You can tell she's experienced these problems first hand and deeply wants to fight for change."
Journalist Jeremy Scahill--who recently interviewed Ocasio-Cortez on his podcast Intercepted--remarked: "The contrast between them couldn't be more stark and Crowley seems scared. She's fierce." Ocasio-Cortez is the first primary challenger the congressman has faced in 14 years.
Ocasio-Cortez is campaigning on a long list of progressives stances, including: mobilizing against climate change, improving the federal government's failed response to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, advancing LGBTQIA+ and women's rights, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency that has been widely denounced for terrorizing immigrant communities and separating asylum-seeking families at the nation's Southern border.
The New York district's primary race has garnered national attention as Ocasio-Cortez has picked up endorsements from groups such as the Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
The activist-turned-candidate is also winning over New York City-based groups. Late Friday, she picked up an endorsement from a Democratic club in Queens--which is quite a feat, considering that her opponent's nickname is reportedly "the King of Queens."
"Ocasio-Cortez is a better representative of our neighborhood," William Salgado, chairman of the Pan-American Democratic Association, told the New York Post. "She's more progressive. She's not behind the banks, insurance companies, and Wall Street."
New Yorkers head to the polls for the statewide primary election on June 26.
Progressives praised U.S. House primary candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez--"a torchbearer for the progressive movement"--for her performance Friday night in a debate against Rep. Joe Crowley, a powerful player in the Democratic Party's establishment and longtime representative of New York's 14th District.
"Not all Democrats are the same, and I am proud to be the only Democrat in this race that rejects all corporate money, and champions and advances improved and expanded Medicare for All, a federal jobs guarantee, tuition-free public college, and the abolition of ICE," she said in her opening remarks. "In a district that is 85 percent Democrat, overwhelmingly working class, and 70 percent people of color, we deserve a working-class champion."
Supporters turned to social media to celebrate Ocasio-Cortez as "a champion for her district" and condemn Crowley--chair of the House Democratic Caucus--as "a career politician who has long been out of touch [with] the majority of the constituency."
#NY14 is in for the greatest gift imaginable: a radical young woman of color, a working class NYer, a torchbearer for the progressive movement, a kind person with zero ego and razor sharp wit, a champion for her district. Goodbye @repjoecrowley. The people choose @Ocasio2018. pic.twitter.com/jlSLbGZubP
-- Simone Norman (@whysimonewhy) June 16, 2018
Those who tuned in to the debate, which was aired locally on television, commented on the "passion that [Ocasio-Cortez] showed on every issue," concluding, "You can tell she's experienced these problems first hand and deeply wants to fight for change."
Journalist Jeremy Scahill--who recently interviewed Ocasio-Cortez on his podcast Intercepted--remarked: "The contrast between them couldn't be more stark and Crowley seems scared. She's fierce." Ocasio-Cortez is the first primary challenger the congressman has faced in 14 years.
Ocasio-Cortez is campaigning on a long list of progressives stances, including: mobilizing against climate change, improving the federal government's failed response to hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico, advancing LGBTQIA+ and women's rights, and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a federal agency that has been widely denounced for terrorizing immigrant communities and separating asylum-seeking families at the nation's Southern border.
The New York district's primary race has garnered national attention as Ocasio-Cortez has picked up endorsements from groups such as the Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
The activist-turned-candidate is also winning over New York City-based groups. Late Friday, she picked up an endorsement from a Democratic club in Queens--which is quite a feat, considering that her opponent's nickname is reportedly "the King of Queens."
"Ocasio-Cortez is a better representative of our neighborhood," William Salgado, chairman of the Pan-American Democratic Association, told the New York Post. "She's more progressive. She's not behind the banks, insurance companies, and Wall Street."
New Yorkers head to the polls for the statewide primary election on June 26.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.