New book reveals Pelosi and AOC’s intense feud: ‘She was furious with me
New Book Reveals Intense Feud Between Pelosi and AOC: ‘She Got So Mad at Me’
What appeared evident to the public was reportedly even more so behind the scenes: There was bad blood between former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Ryan Grim, a reporter with The Intercept, documents in his new book, “The Squad: AOC and the Hope of a Political Revolution,” how things between Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez started out on a better note.
In the summer of 2018, Pelosi called to congratulate the then 28-year-old on her upset victory over Rep. Joe Crowley, who was then chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and was said to have designs on ousting Pelosi as party leader, The Guardian reported.
Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez first met in person in July 2018 in a restaurant in San Francisco.
Pelosi completely dominated the conversation, according to Saikat Chakrabarti, AOC’s chief of staff at the time.
“She just keeps talking; it’s a fascinating thing,” Chakrabarti recalled. “We were eating, and she just talked the entire time without even taking a break. And I wasn’t sure exactly what she was saying, but I was like, ‘Huh, OK.’”
One topic that came up was Ocasio-Cortez’s call to “Abolish ICE,” the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. It was a key issue the New Yorker ran on when unseating Crowley.
Pelosi told her the phrase had been injected into American politics by the Russians, and AOC needed to drop it.
When the Democrat leader showed up in New York during AOC’s general election campaign, the candidate dodged requests for a meeting.
Then, shortly after being elected in November 2018, the congresswoman-elect participated in a sit-in regarding climate change in front of Pelosi’s Capitol Hill office.
In 2019, after Democrats took control of the House and Pelosi became speaker for a second time, Ocasio-Cortez and the other “Squad” members, Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, voted against a bill Pelosi backed that included funding for border enforcement.
It was compromise legislation between Republicans and Democrats, when the GOP controlled the Senate.
Pelosi responded at the time that AOC and the Squad “have their public whatever and their Twitter world. But they didn’t have any following. They’re four people, and that’s how many votes they got,” The New York Times reported.
In the fight over immigration policy, the then-speaker observed, “Some of you are here to make a beautiful paté, but we’re making sausage most of the time,” according to Politico.
In a closed-door Democratic Caucus meeting in July 2019, Pelosi chided members, including the Squad, for going public over their disagreements with House leadership.
“[Y]ou got a complaint? You come and talk to me about it. But do not tweet about our members and expect us to think that that is just OK.”
At another caucus meeting in 2021, Ocasio-Cortez “confronted” Pelosi over the infrastructure bill Democrats were looking to pass, saying it needed more social spending, including measures combat to climate change, according to Grim’s book.
Then, in a rare phone call between the two women, AOC told Pelosi that her Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee vendors “sucked.”
Ocasio-Cortez said “that it was strange that after I beat Crowley not a single person bothered to ask how I beat him … and how I think we should pay attention and ask questions when that happens, to spot weaknesses. She got so mad at me.”
Grim cites texts from Ocasio-Cortez throughout his book, including one from her to him regarding Pelosi saying, “The amount of times she told me that stupid ‘I have protest signs older than you in my basement’ s***. Like, yeah, but mine don’t collect dust.”
Ocasio-Cortez told the author that since Rep. Hakeem Jeffries has taken over as leader of the House Democrats her life has improved drastically.
“I thought a lot of my misery was due to leadership more broadly having a thing against me. But … my life has completely transformed. It’s crazy. And it’s that that made me realize it was kind of just [Pelosi] the whole time.”
The post New Book Details Bad Blood Between Pelosi, AOC: ‘She Got So Mad at Me’ appeared first on The Western Journal.
What specific accusations did Ocasio-Cortez make against Pelosi in her interview with The Washington Post?
Lic with their disagreements and for using social media to criticize fellow Democrats. The feud between Pelosi and the Squad seemed to escalate when Ocasio-Cortez accused Pelosi of targeting young women of color during an interview with The Washington Post. Pelosi dismissed the accusation, stating that she respects everyone and that “our caucus has been very respectful of every opinion,” according to Politico.
The tension between Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez reached its peak during the 2020 Democratic primary season. Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for president, while Pelosi publicly supported former Vice President Joe Biden. Ocasio-Cortez criticized Pelosi’s endorsement, arguing that it represented the old establishment and did not align with the progressive movement.
Despite their differences, Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez have also found common ground on certain issues. They both supported the passage of the For the People Act, a bill aimed at strengthening voting rights and reducing the influence of money in politics. They have also collaborated on climate change initiatives, with Ocasio-Cortez praising Pelosi’s leadership on the issue and Pelosi acknowledging the need for bold action.
Grim’s book offers an inside look at the personal dynamics between Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez, shedding light on the intense feud that played out both publicly and behind closed doors. It highlights the challenges of navigating ideological differences within the Democratic Party and the struggle for power and influence.
The feud between Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez reflects broader divisions within the Democratic Party between the establishment and progressive wings. It raises questions about the future direction of the party and the ability to find common ground and unity. As the Democratic Party continues to evolve and grapple with its own internal dynamics, the feud between Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez serves as a reminder of the complex and contentious nature of politics.
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