Democrats rush to support Pelosi amidst fight with Ocasio-Cortez

A growing number of Progressive House Democrats, with an ongoing spat between Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiPelosi reportedly told Trump deputy: 'What was your name, dear?' White House withdraws controversial rule to eliminate drug rebates The Hill's Morning Report – 2020 (D-Calif.) And Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezDemocrats rush to support Pelosi fight with Ocasio-Cortez Sanders praises Gen Z for being 'profoundly anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobic' Democratic lawmaker unloads on Ocasio-Cortez, chief of staff for 'using the race card 'MORE (D), are taking the New Yorker to the task of accusing Pelosi of the treatment of women.

The Ocasio-Cortez, the author of the law, has been elected to the Congress of Pelosi of putting on a target of "newly elected women of color" for their far-left policy positions.

The remarks – and the media uproar they've created – led exasperated Democrats to sound off Thursday against the freshman social media sensation, accusing Ocasio-Cortez of harboring unrealistic views about her own influence on Capitol Hill – to the detriment of the Democrats' ambitious policy agenda.

"What a weak argument," said Rep. Wm. Lacy ClayWilliam (Lacy) Lacy ClayThe Hill's Morning Report – 2020 jitters hit parties in the Senate Justice Democrats issues Hillicon Valley: Appeals court rules Trump can not block people on Twitter | Tech giants to testify in Antitrust Investigation House | DHS set for grilling over facial recognition tech | Trade to allow sales to Huawei More (D-Mo.), A member of both the Congressional Black and Progressive Caucuses. "Because you can not get your way and because you're getting pushback? Unbelievable. Unbelievable to me. "

Other liberals, while not so seething, also defended Pelosi, warning of the political dangers of adhering to stringent ideological demands – and airing gripes with other Democrats in public.

"You know how people lose the elections? "Said Rep. Val DemingsValdez (Val) Venita DemingsDemocrats bristles Hicks appears for daylong Capitol Hill Democracy smokes, say Hicks declines to answer questions 2020 Democrats mark three years since Pulse nightclub shooting MORE (D-Fla.), A Congressional Black Caucus member.

Goal Rep. Pramila JayapalPramila JayapalDemocrats struggle to quell infighting Overnight Defense: Dems confident defense bill will pass despite party infighting | GOP chairman's bill would review US, Saudi ties | Senators briefed on sexual assault allegation against top general Democrats voice confidence Pentagon bill will survive party squabbling MORE (D-Wash.), A Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair who is Indian American, said that she could relate to Ocasio-Cortez feeling targeted as a woman of color.

"I can tell you that it happens all the time. It is not usually from just one person. The system is geared in that way, "Jayapal said. "It's just a constant thing we deal with as women of color. It's always harder when it's perceived from your own side,

Jayapal said that she and her fellow Progressive Caucus co-chair, Rep. Mark PocanMark William PocanThe Hill's Morning Report – 2020 jitters hit both sides in the Senate Democrats struggle to quell infighting Pelosi scolds Democrats for public barbs MORE (D-Wis.), Are requesting a meeting with Pelosi to "talk about the general relationship of the progressives to the Democratic caucus."

"I think it's just important that we clear this," Jayapal said.

The seeds of the recent quarrel were planted before the July 4 recess, when Pelosi reluctantly said plans to move to a more conservative Senate-passed bill.

Liberals like Ocasio-Cortez, furious over reports that have been detained on the frontier and under the conditions of the law.

Some liberals accused the moderate Democrats who are pressed for the Senate bill of putting children at risk. Pocan, for instance, equated Democrats in the Problem Solvers Caucus to child abusers. Ocasio-Cortez's top aide, chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti, went a long step further, accusing the centrist members of the Blue Dog and New Democrat coalitions of being racist.

"They certainly seem to be doing something about the old Southern Democrats did in the 40s," said Chakrabarti.

That tweet prompted Pelosi, in an extraordinary closed-door meeting Wednesday, to scold her troops for airing public grievances instead of taking their concerns directly to her – a message she defended Thursday.

"They took offense because of the address of the members of the membership of the United States, which is one of the most influential news agencies in the world," Pelosi said at a Thursday press conference, referring to the tweet from Ocasio-Cortez's top help. "Our members took offense at that. I addressed that. How they are interpreting and carrying it to another place is up to them. "

Rep. Terri SewellTerrycina (Terri) Andrea SewellNew CBO report fuels fight over minimum wage How to fight the vote remove Centrist Democrats (D-Ala.), A New Democrat Coalition Vice President who is African American, issued a statement on Thursday criticizing the comparison to segregationists.

"I personally experienced Dixiecrats' bigoted policies growing up. So, to be insinuated that I, or any other member of the New Dems, would like to consider that they are racist and hateful or that they would be negatively impacting communities of color. .

There were early signs that Pelosi's entreaty not to air dirty laundry in public has yet to sink in.

Ocasio-Cortez told The Washington Post on Wednesday that she felt Pelosi was targeting her and three other progressive freshman women of the "known" squad: Reps. Rashida TlaibRashida Harbi TlaibOcasio-Cortez accuses Pelosi of 'persistent singling out' of women of color: It's 'outright disrespectful' Pressley's clap back at Conway is 'what we have to see more from Democrats', Democratic strategist says Democrats struggle to quell infighting MORE (Mich.), Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarCarlson responds to Omar: It's not about race Ocasio-Cortez accuses Pelosi of 'persistent singling out' of women of color: It's 'outright disrespectful' Pressley's clap back at Conway is 'what we have to see more from Democrats', Democratic strategist says MORE (Minn.) And Ayanna PressleyAyanna PressleyOcasio-Cortez accuses Pelosi of 'persistent singling out' of women of color: It's 'outright disrespectful' Pressley's clap back at Conway is 'what we have to see more from Democrats', Democratic strategist says Democrats struggle to quell infighting MORE (Mass.).

"When these comments first started, I would like to keep in mind what I understood," Ocasio-Cortez told the Post. "But the persistent singling out … it got to a point where it was just outright disrespectful … the explicit singling out of newly elected women of color."

Ocasio-Cortez maintained in an interview with CNN on Thursday that she thinks the progressive freshmen are being singled out rejected Pelosi has racial animus.

The flare-up comes on the heels of Pelosi's interview last week with the New York Times, when it is noted that the liberalization of the United States is more controversial. , even with their considerable social media presence.

"All these people have their audience whatever and their Twitter world," Pelosi said. "But they did not have any following. They're four people and that's how many votes they got. "

Progressive Rep. Jan SchakowskyJanice (Jan) Danoff SchakowskyDemocrats voice confidence Pentagon bill will survive party squabbling Dem tensions snag defense bill Hillicon Valley: Appeals court rules Trump can not block people on Twitter | Tech giants to testify in Antitrust Investigation House | DHS set for grilling over facial recognition tech | Trade to allow sales to Huawei More (D-Ill.), While stressing she is friendly with both Pelosi and the freshmen, echoed the Speaker.

"I think it's really not accurate to call them 'squad,'" Schakowsky said. "It's not like they, you know, they see themselves as a whole and get together and say, 'Now, what's our next move?'"

Rep. Gwen MooreGwen Sophia MooreThe Trump administration's plan to change the poverty line. (D-Wis.), Another progressive, praised both Pelosi – who has a life-long track record fighting for racial justice and women's rights – and the rabble-rousers freshmen, who have infused the party with a wave of energy and fresh ideas .

"We admire them; they energize us; they're eager, "Moore said. "And of course they have the luxury of – it is a luxury – just to be able to represent [their] district and to be strident.

"Nancy, of course, is the leader, so she has to represent all of us."

But Moore also said the influence of freshmen like Ocasio-Cortez in the end.

"They'll learn. It's all about the 218 in this game, "said Moore, who is African American. "You can be a star if you want to be, but it's all about the 218."

Jonathan Easley contributed.