When the Democratic National Convention schedule was announced last week, many were intrigued by the announcement that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio–Cortez of New York would be given only a minute to speak.
That mystery became clear when “AOC” was given the honor of seconding the nomination for runner-up Bernie Sanders as her platform.
She offered her support to Sanders with “fidelity and gratitude to a mass people’s movement working to establish social and human rights” while referring to “the unsustainable brutality” of the US economy.
Ocasio–Cortez was not shy on her race-baiting, even suggesting that America was guilty of colonialism.
If you thought @AOC‘s reference to “colonization” was odd, think about all those delegations in the roll call from territories, not states
— Peter Beinart (@PeterBeinart) August 19, 2020
The indignity seemed to reflect tensions between the freshman “Squad” member and the party establishment.
Some seemed to pick up on that fact.
gonna be fun when the entire Democratic establishment blames AOC for four more years of Trump https://t.co/lrcgwSiPWI
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) August 19, 2020
To add insult to injury, the evening’s keynote speech featured a number of other recently elected politicians who, like AOC, became involved during the 2018 midterm election.
A reminder of the 17 “rising stars” appearing in this keynote address right now at the @DemConvention @staceyabrams@SenAkbari@ColinAllredTX@RepBrendanBoyle@YvannaCancela@KathleenClyde@RobertGarciaLB@malcolmkenyatta @nikkifried@KimpsonForSC@ConorLambPA@MariManoogian
— Johnny Verhovek (@JTHVerhovek) August 19, 2020
Those legislators and municipal leaders were led by failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams who accused President Donald Trump of “cowardice” while touting the call to serve.
“In a democracy, we do not elect saviors,” she said. “We cast our ballots for those who struggle and pledge to serve.”
Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg and her son, Jack—the grandson of former President John F. Kennedy — also spoke.
“In this election our future is on the ballot,” Jack said. “For my generation, it will define the rest of our lives.”
