AOC goes after Dem House leadership for backing incumbent Cuellar

[LonePirate]

Link to tweet

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez @AOC

On the day of a mass shooting and weeks after news of Roe, Democratic Party leadership rallied for a pro-NRA, anti-choice incumbent under investigation in a close primary. Robocalls, fundraisers, all of it.

Accountability isn’t partisan. This was an utter failure of leadership.

She is referencing the support and campaigning which Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn offered Rep. Henry Cuellar in his TX-28 primary runoff today against progressive challenger Jessica Cisneros. The race has not been called as of yet although Cuellar is leading as of this writing.

[Fiendish Thingy]

1. She's right, you know.

Good for AOC for speaking up.

[JohnSJ]

7. She had no problem supporting someone who refused to vote for the Democratic nominee in 2016, when

the Supreme Court was a stake

[Hortensis]

42. She's wrong. Until replaced, Cuellar is the choice of the people, 9 times.

Representative government is a core, bedrock principle of our government. Our party leaders accept the choices the people send to congress, in all but the most impossible cases.

Those who don't believe the will of the people should prevail don't believe in representative democracy.

That some among the self-labeled "Progressives" have a problem with the representative democracy is understandable given those are significantly less than 10% of the population. Others should not be fooled into imagining that is a principled position. Anti-democratic tactics are common among zealots democracy doesn't work for, such as attempting to continually slandering Democrats, attempting to subvert the popular vote, and voting for the opposition, as many did for tRump, to spite and defeat Democrats.

And as JohnSJ says.

Cuellar's anti-abortion position, if not shared by a majority of his voters now, may finally make the difference. He's been holding onto a lead by a nose.

[walkingman]

2. I'm hoping Cuellar is defeated. He reminds me of Manchin.

[PBC_Democrat]

3. As of 11:54

Henry Cuellar * 23,735 50.5%
Jessica Cisneros 23,234 49.5

89% of vote counted

[Joenobody]

4. Judging from where there is still votes to be counted...

Cuellar will expand his lead.

[Celerity]

21. Actually it shrank, now under 180, with a lot of mail ins to be cured.

[Demsrule86]

14. We need the seat...seriously?

And let me just say that Manchin is 1000 % more than any Republican.

[question everything]

5. "House leadership" always back sitting members

[womanofthehills]

11. House leadership backing anti-union, anti-abortion man not a good look

"At every turn, my congressman has stood in opposition to the Democratic Party agenda from being anti-union to being anti-choice," said Cisneros. "With the House majority on the line, he could very much be the deciding vote on the future of our reproductive rights and we cannot afford to take that risk."

[Demsrule86]

17. Can I just say that Nina Turner and Sen. Sanders backed Heath Mello for Mayor of

of Nebraska. He sponsored and voted for pro-life legislation when in the Nebraska legislature. They both campaigned for him...and Nina informed us we were just going to have to accept Mello and get over identity policies. So what is different now?

'...but Senator Sanders drew some fire from those on the left and within the Democratic party, particularly from women because Mello is a pro-life, otherwise known as anti-choice candidate, and he supported a 20-week ban on abortion while serving as state Senator in the Nebraska state legislature..."

'...Nina Turner: Yeah. For me, again, it goes to the individual, but I’m not going to vilify folks just because they don’t necessarily agree with me. I’m going to go hard [inaudible 00:10:27] my issues. For me, my issues are income and wealth inequality, which some of these pro-choice women don’t understand that making sure, and people in general, that making sure that we have strong elected officials who are standing, not only standing up, but pushing policies that help to empower people in the economics space, in the income space, especially because African Americans and Hispanics and other people of color are disproportionately disadvantaged in that space. For them to sit up there and say that income and wealth inequality doesn’t matter, only choice does is wrong
We need the seat. I am not convinced a progressive can win this very conservative seat.

[question everything]

43. But perhaps this is what the district wants

We have had too many primaries when someone too much on the left won only to lose in the general. The most recent example was the Florida gubernatorial and we know how that ended.

[JohnSJ]

6. "Accountability isn't partisan" Then why were you supporting Nina Turner against Brown? Remember

Nina Turner, who not only refused to vote for Hillary in 2016, but encouraged others to do likewise. That is when it really counted. THE SUPREME COURT and ROE WAS AT STAKE in 2016, and you supported someone who didn't think the SC was that important to vote for the Democratic nominee. Remember Nina Turner who compared President Biden to a bowl of s**t. How about accountability there Representative Ocasio-Cortez?

I am really getting tired of her divisionary rhetoric. I don't recall her having any problems when
Bernie Sanders supported anti-choice Democrat Heath Mello in Nebraska.

The only thing at this point in time that I care about is that whoever wins that runoff, be it Cisneros or Cuellar, that we win against the republican in the general election, because it would be nice to maintain the majority in the House.

[betsuni]

16. +1

[womanofthehills]

19. What I find very disturbing are the super pacs deciding our candidates

Look at the money AIPAC spent against Summer Lee - 2- 3 million. And almost two million against Cisneros. Is this ok? I love AOC - she’s right to be pissed off at this shit - Let alone Cuellar’s anti-union, anti women’s rights stance.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/may/17/pro-israel-lobby-defeat-democrats-palestinians-2022

“

The entire establishment in Washington – from Speaker Pelosi to (the American Israel Public Affairs Committee) – has supported an anti-choice extremist and tried to stop Cisneros every step of the way,” Justice Democrats communications director Waleed Shahid said. “This election is about sending a message to Washington that South Texas deserves a representative who isn’t beholden to the corporate donors, super PACs and powers that be.”

Cuellar has been boosted by nearly $2 million alone from the United Democracy Project, which is funded by AIPAC.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/23/politics/texas-house-runoff-henry-cuellar-jessica-cisneros/index.html

[JohnSJ]

22. Sorry it isn't the "Jewish Money", that tired old DSA theme. It is the people in that district that

decide who they want

Nina Turner pushed the same crap, even though she received her own PAC money.

In fact, Turner outraised Brown more than two-to-one. The race for Rep. Fudge's seat didn't come down to the Better funded candidate, it came down to who people in that district wanted.

That is what it always comes down to.

If Cuellar wins or loses in her district, it will be what that district wants.

By the same token, Summer Lee won, because people in that district wanted.

[betsuni]

27. +1

[betsuni]

23. AOC is backed by a superPAC.

How do superPACs "decide" candidates? Do they rig elections so votes don't count or what?

[Nixie]

35. Whatever you want to call it, Cisneros had outside money.

That’s the uselessness of labeling the money being spent to unseat incumbents and the spreading of purity where it’s not wanted. Just a quick look shows that Cuellar fits his district which looks to be a fairly conservative family-oriented Hispanic area more concerned about fighting Trump’s wall than anything. Cuellar has valuable experience that Washington needs.

[Demsrule86]

52. The support flows from the believe that He can win and she won't...and futhermore I tire

of the subtle antisemitic postings I often see on this site. We need to hold the seat and hold Congress. It is that simple. And by the way, Wasserman says Cuellar will win and while I do not like his politics particularly...his warm body can help hold our majority. Winning is everything.

[question everything]

44. Thank you. Forgot about that.

[Hortensis]

46. +100. In spite of everything, Ocasio-Cortez KNOWS Dem leaders support her

own reelection -- even if she doesn't share Democratic Party principles on this subject and speaks out against them. They do because she's a member of their Democratic caucus, chosen by the voters of her district to represent them.

To have a principle, you first have to understand it. Then you have to agree with it. Then..., then..., then...

[JohnSJ]

48. We need to maintain the majority in the House. No doubt this is a strategic decision I suspect, in

who they think has the best chance to win against the republican in that district in November.

The point you make is excellent though. For the House it is the voters in their specific districts that decide, and those voters may not align with most of the Democratic caucus

[Hortensis]

51. Right. Also, supporting the rights of local voters to choose is hugely strategic.

This district leans blue, but being seen as throwing national party weight against local autonomy is a proven way to lose seats.

Most elections, of course, many solid Democratic candidates strategically focus local and avoid mention of national party issues and people, sometimes very ostentatiously refusing "outside interference."

Speaking of, national figure Ocasio-Cortez made the NBC national poll of "least popular candidate positions":

A candidate endorsed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 22% more likely, 39% less likely (-17)

https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/keeping-tabs-most-popular-unpopular-candidate-positions-nbc-poll-n1295554

[tirebiter]

8. Cuellar reminds me of Bob Casey

[bottomofthehill]

9. Casey Beat Rick Santorum

It is clear that PA and the United States were better off with Casey than Santorum.

[JohnSJ]

24. Yes, however it is not a fair comparison, since a Senate seat is a statewide election, not a

district election, and with that in mind, Texas is not Pennsylvania

[Demsrule86]

13. Hell of an upgrade from Frothy. We need to hold that seat period.

[JohnSJ]

47. Yes he is. Frankly, I have my doubts we will be able to even keep that seat no matter who

wins this runoff against the republican in November.

[Celerity]

49. For the 1st time ever, Cuellar faces a fellow Latino in the general, Cassy Garcia, ex Ted Cruz aide

https://www.lmtonline.com/local/article/Garcia-wins-GOP-nomination-for-Texas-District-28-17197033.php

[JohnSJ]

50. oh wow, I wasn't aware of that. I wonder how what happened in Uvalde, Texas, will effect the

dynamics of the various general election in Texas, especially the Governor's race.

From what I see Abbott has made such a mess of things there on almost every issue across the board.

[Celerity]

54. the new TX-28 is slighter Bluer that it was (it's now D+7, based off 2020, so at least we have that)

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/redistricting-2022-maps/texas/

[JohnSJ]

56. You are very well informed Celerity

[JohnSJ]

60. +++

[Polybius]

66. Casey is clearly not anti-choice

His father was, and maybe he used to be, but he sure as heck isn't any more.

[bottomofthehill]

10. Want a Circus, Elect a Clown.

[Lancero]

36. Considering how often we love to tout that we're a big tent party, a clown is fitting.

[Demsrule86]

12. We need the seat. It is a conservative district. It is Texas and I think she should not

be attacking Democratic leadership.

[betsuni]

15. +1

[Demsrule86]

18. Thank you!

[womanofthehills]

20. I think it's fine for her to attack Dem leadership

When Dem leadership has no problem with super pacs screwing over progressive women and spending millions against their campaigns. Since when is it ok for dems to spend millions against progressive women?

[betsuni]

26. AOC is supported by a superPAC.

Justice Democrats. Cary Committee, hybrid of PAC and SuperPAC, accepts dark money.

[JohnSJ]

28. Thanks for that information

[betsuni]

29. Don't know why this is a big mystery, it's true.

[bottomofthehill]

34. Even funnier, AOC has her own PAC

She has also spent 8 million dollars in this cycle from her campaign funds and has 7 million in cash on hand for a safe New York House seat. Good for her, but her seat is not the rest of the country. She can say and do a lot of things that don’t sell in TX, PA, KS, FL, NC,AZ and other places we need to hold seats to hold the House and have any chance to pass good legislation.

[betsuni]

41. +1

[Demsrule86]

64. She had a super pac

[Noahv]

31. Even if he fired a woman for asking for pregnancy leave?

Who stands up for the fired woman?

[JohnSJ]

37. I would have thought the woman in question could have sued for wrongful termination?

Does anyone know what happened?

I found this from the Washington Post in 2018:

"Former aide to Texas congressman files complaint saying she was fired over pregnancy

A former senior aide to Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar has filed a complaint with a special congressional office, claiming that she was fired, in violation of federal law, for being pregnant.

Kristie Small submitted a request for counseling Monday with the Office of Compliance, the body that handles discrimination and harassment complaints in Congress, after she was terminated as Cuellar’s acting chief of staff last week.

Small said that when she asked the Texas lawmaker to meet to discuss plans for her maternity leave, he told her she was on a 90-day “probation period” and set two new markers for her performance that he later claimed she had failed to meet.

“I knew I was doing an excellent job,” Small said Wednesday in a phone interview. “All of this started happening in response to my maternity-leave email. It’s 100 percent clear to me that had I not been pregnant, I would still be in this job.”

.........

The dispute highlights the latest claim of gender-related discrimination on Capitol Hill since a series of explosive #MeToo allegations raised concerns about male lawmakers’ treatment of female aides. Eight House members have resigned or chosen not to seek reelection because of employment or sexual misconduct scandals since last October."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/former-aide-to-texas-congressman-files-complaint-saying-she-was-fired-over-pregnancy/2018/10/25/c43ed560-d6d8-11e8-a10f-b51546b10756_story.html

It appears this is not the only time where discrimination of this type has occurred.

I do not know if this was ever taken to court or other proceeding, but this should have been brought up during the campaign, which I have to think it was.

This would seem to be a definite case of unlawful discrimination

To answer your question, "who stands for the fired woman?". It should have been the courts, and in the public arena, it should have been this election. I am not from Texas, so I have no idea how conservative that district is, but whatever the outcome of this election is, I suspect this seat will be a tough one against the republican challenger in November, since the closeness of this race indicates it is effectively a dead heat, and that indicates very divided Democrats in that district, which I don't think bodes well for November, no matter who wins this race.

[Demsrule86]

62. Yes even then. a Gop win for the seat would be worse,.

[Noahv]

30. Cuellar fired a woman because she asked for pregnancy leave

These are not our party values.

[JohnSJ]

38. No they are not, along with other issues too. However, the question remains which candidate has

the best chance to win in the general election against the republican?

The very closeness of this race indicates that Democrats are very divided in this district, and no matter who is the Democratic candidate, I don't think that bodes well for us to hold that seat in November, though because Cuellar is an incumbent, that might give him some advantage

[Demsrule86]

53. At this moment I don't care...we need to hold the seat period.

[Patton French]

32. I'd rather not lose the seat. (N/T)

[Emile]

33. and I would rather have a pro choice with Democratic values democrat.

[JohnSJ]

39. I think you are right. However, the closeness of this race indicates a very divided Democratic

party in that district, and that may indicate a tough general election for the Democrats against the republican in that district.

I am not sure Cisneros supporters would support Cuellar as the Democratic candidate in November, and vice versa.

[JohnSJ]

40. That may actually happen, no matter who wins this primary

[Hortensis]

45. Note: @20% of Democrats oppose abortion all or most of the time.

Just something to keep in mind as we wait for a narrow majority to prevail in TX-28. Which will be scrutinized closely to see how much this issue affected the outcome.

The actual percentage varies in each of the 435 districts, of course. I don't know what it is in TX-28, but likely to be somewhat higher. Btw, just a few years ago it was close to a quarter of Democrats; so a significant number have changed party or position.

Bottom line for elections, though: For the more than 80 million active Democratic voters who do NOT live there, what they want is irrelevant. REPRESENTATIVE government means TX-28 voters get to choose for themselves.

And "AOC" should not be calling for our party leadership to interfere with their decision. She certainly wouldn't like it if they refused to support her, much less tried to get rid of her!, but in spite of her behavior here she knows they won't do that.

[OnDoutside]

55. It smacks of sour grapes on her part. Do better next time. As odious as Cuellar is, if he wins the

primary it's because there's a vote for his "style" of politics unfortunately, in that district.

[gulliver]

57. This should be of great comfort to the NRA and Republicans

[Me.]

59. Last Week It Was Sean Patrick Maloney

Now this. Does she criticize the cons equally?

[Demsrule86]

61. The answer to that question is no.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

63. Not equally. She's harder on the cons.

Follow her social media. She eviscerates the cons.

[Demsrule86]

65. When?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

67. Congressman Cuellar's statement on election results

Link to tweet