A Longtime Political Organizer in AOC’s District Says She’s the Real Deal

US politics are hyper polarized and she's a great face for the Dems and she's often in the spotlight becuase if it by both sides. I've brought this up in conversation with someone that "hated" her and I really felt like I got to him how skewed our views are by media bubbles.

This is a terrible take. There is plenty she says that conservatives disagree with. She does not have the same policy goals as conservatives...obviously. She would say the same thing.

Examples:

She has called Capitalism "irredeemable" which many capitalists would disagree with.

She supports single payer Healthcare when others believe competition builds a better system overall, or believe Healthcare isn't an appropriate role of government.

She believes in a federal job guarantee when some think the government can encourage employment and welfare in other ways more effectively, or believe that isn't the role of government.

She believes in canceling all outstanding student loan debt when others believe there are more effective ways to help the needy more specifically, or believe those with college degrees should be low on the priority list for assistance, or believe people should be on the hook for loans they took out.

Obviously there are arguments for all of her positions, YOU might agree with all of them, but the idea that no conservative can give any examples of things they disagree with her about is absurd and laughable.

I've seen "center-right" conservatives call her the MTG of the left. Their idea of the political spectrum is completely bunkers.

U.S politics is so fucking to the right that Biden (actual center-right), AOC (socialist), Hillary (neoliberal), and Bernie (social democrat), are all considered "radicals" by a base of morons. The actual radicals (e.g : communists, anarchists, libertarian) are not even in the picture. Right-wing radicals is absolutely in the picture though, so I guess they need to manufacture a reason to exist.

Not a conservative, but that's not particularly hard, so I'll play Devil's advocate.

AOC is idealistic, but sometimes naive and ill informed.

She referred to a statue of Father Damian as an example of white supremacist culture. Damien spent the last 16 years of his life ministering to a leper colony on Hawaii, acted as a doctor, dug graves, eventually contracted leprosy, and died as a consequence of it. Lili'uokalani herself honoured him. He is honoured to this day in Hawaii.

Calling a statue honouring a man who died helping non-white people, in the anything but enlightened 19th century, an example of white supremacy comparable to statues of racist leaders of the confederacy is absurd. Lincoln was more of a white supremacist than someone like Damien. If anything, if people followed Damien's example, the world would be a better and less racist place. It's also a self-own, that was widely reported on in right wing media, helping them to support their narrative that it's wrong to remove statues of bonafide racists. "See! They call all white men racists!"

The not wearing a mask thing and crossing state lines in the middle of an epidemic, then contracting covid? Also not a good look. Once again, widely reported on in right wing media. "See, she isn't a wearing a mask either. She's a hypocrite!"

I personally also find AOC's self lack of knowledge or clear positions on foreign policy troubling, if unsurprising. IRC she also voted against seizing the assets of Russian oligarchs, which I found troubling. Her excuse for that, something about civil forfeiture, also seemed to suggest she hadn't properly read the bill, as it only applied to non-US nationals, and not Americans like she claimed.

Republicans don’t really have ideas, so little surprise you struck out there. I suppose, okay, that’s not fair, they have some concepts of broad principles, but are generally completely unable to explain them in terms of history, logic or details.

What accomplishments has she had that you're particularly excited about? I know people love her but people love populists, and when I think of AOC that's what I see. Maybe I'm missing something but I don't see her as an effective legislator. Just someone who says things the base likes to hear. Very unpopular here but I feel that way about Bernie too. Makes great points but doesn't know how to actually navigate Congress and get any of it accomplished. Put up bills that are only supported by a small minority and make no efforts to actually build proper coalitions to get things passed. The best leaders in legislature are often not the most well known or vocal, but the ones who can put up policy, build a coalition around it, and get things passed. Despite what people might think of Biden, he's someone who knows how to do that. Talk is cheap and being a populist is easy.

Right? It's like getting objective truth from a subjective source as though anyone who doesn't already know it will be convinced. "Philly resident says the Eagles are going to have a good team this year. Ryan Gosling's mom thinks he's a catch."