DSA unendorsed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

[brooklynite]

Status of DSA National Endorsement for Rep. Ocasio-Cortez

On Sunday, June 23rd, the DSA National Political Committee (NPC) voted to endorse Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) so long as she fulfills the following conditions:

Publicly opposes all funding to Israel, including the Iron Dome

Participates regularly in the DSA Federal Socialists in Office Committee

Publicly opposes all criminalization of Anti-Zionism, such as bills advancing the IHRA definition which conflates criticism of Israel with anti-semitism

Publicly supports BDS (Boycott, Divest, and Sanction) to end Israeli settler-colonialism

This initial endorsement request was considered upon request of New York City DSA’s Steering Committee (NYC-DSA SC). Earlier this week, the NPC received a request from NYC-DSA SC to withdraw the endorsement because it took place after the New York Democratic Primary and they did not expect a conditional endorsement or feel it was strategic. Because we have not seen evidence of AOC meeting these conditions, and at the request of the NYC-DSA SC, the NPC is withdrawing our conditional endorsement of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, although she will remain endorsed by our New York City chapter.

In the last several months, thousands of DSA members provided input about the prospect of a national endorsement through town halls, meetings, and engaging in their chapters’ discussions, and AOC was invited to speak at a member forum. Many members have supported national endorsement while at the same time demanding that AOC demonstrate a higher level of commitment to Palestinian liberation, self-determination, and the immediate end to the heinous genocide in Gaza committed by Israel that aligns with DSA’s positions and expectations of socialists in office.

We recognize that AOC has taken many courageous positions on Palestine such as co-sponsoring several House Resolutions (3103, 786, 496), naming Israel’s genocide as well as opposing House Resolution 894. However, members have raised their concerns regarding a number of her votes, including a vote in favor of H.Res.888, conflating opposition to Israel’s “right to exist” with antisemitism. AOC also co-signed a press release on April 20, 2024, that “support[s] strengthening the Iron Dome and other defense systems”

Finally, AOC recently hosted a public panel with leaders from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, lobbyists for the IHRA definition of antisemitism. On this panel, she conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism and condemned boycotting Zionist institutions. This sponsorship is a deep betrayal to all those who’ve risked their welfare to fight Israeli apartheid and genocide through political and direct action in recent months, and in decades past.

A national DSA endorsement comes with a serious commitment to the movement for Palestine and our collective socialist project. We must endorse candidates who enthusiastically seek a relationship with DSA, and the National Political Committee as the highest body of the organization between conventions is responsible for setting the criteria we establish for national endorsements. Chapters have a responsibility to make this clear to their endorsed candidates when applying for a national endorsement. The NPC is committed to ensuring that all of our elected officials are unabashed in their support for Palestinian freedom. To build a socialist movement that’s capable of defeating capitalism, we must demand more from leaders in our movement.

https://www.dsausa.org/statements/status-of-dsa-national-endorsement-for-rep-ocasio-cortez/

Observation: the last sentence contains "to build a socialist movement that’s capable of defeating capitalism". So much for trying to redefine what socialism is.

[The Magistrate]

1. The Lady Is Well Shut Of Them, Sir

[Freethinker65]

2. So the un-endorsement might actually be more helpful to AOC

[Mossfern]

14. Absolutely!

They did her a favor.

[Just_Vote_Dem]

3. AOC rocks

Good riddance DSA

[orange jar]

4. She doesn't need them, anyway.

They're all a bunch of ridiculous loonies. AOC is too rational for them.

[onandup]

5. Do they have any sway or value?

Seems not to me.

[gab13by13]

6. Is this thread supposed create a debate of AOC?

We need more AOC's she is more proof that a Democrat doesn't have to be a moderate to get elected. our tent is big enough for Democrats of all persuasion.

[brooklynite]

9. This thread is supposed to report that AOC lost the the endorsement of DSA.

[Takket]

7. If AOC isn't progressive enough for you, maybe you are the problem, not her.

[spanone]

8. Go AOC!!!

[DeepWinter]

10. DSA

The DSA is a minefield. Mostly mines, little field. AOC is better off steering clear.

(FYI - Longtime lurker (15-ish years?), first time poster.)

[Celerity]

11. welcome to DU

[Mossfern]

15. Welcome to DU

I was a long time lurker before I posed.
Glad to see that you 'took the plunge.'

[LetMyPeopleVote]

24. Welcome to DU

[DFW]

12. They want us to stop funding the iron dome?

In other words, they want every rocket and missile sent at Israel to explode inside Israel. Shukhran!

OK, what else should one expect from a party with the same name as the East Germans whose official policy it was to murder its own citizens at the Berlin Wall for a quarter century? During the time when the Russians owned the place, their party was the SED, or Sozialistische Einheitspartei Deutschlands, or “Socialist Unity Party of Germany.” After the collapse of the Soviet Union, they renamed themselves the PDS, die Partei des Demokratischen Sozialismus, or “Party of Democratic Socialism.” That party contained the elite of the old SED, so it dissolved fairly quickly without its Russian funding and backing. If our version of that party is pissed because AOC is seeing a larger vision of the world than they do, that is to her credit.

[yardwork]

18. It gets better.

In another thread on this, somebody posted a tweet about this. Turns out AOC was excommunicated because she hosted an online discussion forum with actual, practicing Jewish people talking about antisemitism.

DSA really revealed themselves with this one.

[bottomofthehill]

13. Earth one to DSA

Fuck off you useless sacks of sad.

The NPC is committed to ensuring that all of our elected officials are unabashed in their support for Palestinian freedom. To build a socialist movement that’s capable of defeating capitalism, we must demand more from leaders in our movement.

[ColinC]

16. How do you get socialism without capitalism?

Asking for a friend.

[Sympthsical]

17. When AOC isn't pure enough for you

You might just be a little bit nutty.

Finally, AOC recently hosted a public panel with leaders from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, lobbyists for the IHRA definition of antisemitism. On this panel, she conflated anti-Zionism with antisemitism and condemned boycotting Zionist institutions.

Yeah, I hope she wears this one as a badge. That's the thing about wacky ideologues. Sure, they'll put the Jews against the wall first.

But they'll put those who are only 95% pure against the wall second. There is no riding monsters in the hopes they will eat you last.

So it has always been in history.

[ColinC]

20. These are the same ideologues that would probably abandon AOC to team up with national socialists.

Cause you know, those are REAL socialists, right?

[obamanut2012]

19. Good for her

I mean that sincerely. This will help her.

[LeftInTX]

21. This is gonna help her in the long run!

Go AOC!

[lees1975]

22. Good for her.

Victory for AOC in this news.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

23. Fawk em

[betsuni]

25. They're always mad at somebody, that seems to be the point.

[emulatorloo]

26. DSA is trash. She's much better off without their 'support.'

[LymphocyteLover]

30. exactly

[Wounded Bear]

27. They say that like it's a bad thing...

[regnaD kciN]

28. I have a friend, who's been in the DSA for decades...

…who has expressed his disgust with what he called the “Baby Bolsheviks” who joined the organization over the last few years and immediately started to try to purge anyone older who they deemed ideologically “problematic.”

Frankly, I’m in favor of most of DSA’s demands, but there’s no justification for making one of the most prominent progressives in D.C. an “uncandidate” for not toeing their line 100%.

[Salvador Dolly]

29. I don't suppose they'd vote Republican instead? n/t