Ocasio-Cortez, Democratic rock star of New York at the dawn of power | World



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Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reacts to actress Kate Mulgrew's presentation at a campaign event at Sabor Latino restaurant in Queens, New York, November 3, 2018 - Reuters pic
Democratic congressional candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reacts to actress Kate Mulgrew's presentation at a campaign event at Sabor Latino restaurant in Queens, New York, November 3, 2018 – Reuters pic

NEW YORK, Nov. 5 – Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Democratic superstar about to make history as the youngest woman elected to Congress, is a child of the left and an outburst of women belonging to a minority.

At 29, with a telegenic appearance, a charisma and a youthful idealism, he is both a darling of the media and a lightning rod for criticism.

She defended her working-class and Puerto Rican roots as a maid's daughter and father in her forties, embodying another generation of politicians. It also avoids donor companies.

"Women like me are not supposed to run for elections," she said in a campaign video that helped her defeat a ten-term Democratic party hotspot in her first run. politics at a primary in New York in June.

Overnight, Ocasio-Cortez went from the unknown to the toast of the American coast, according to Vogue, invited to nocturnal chats and conquering the country, thus lending his rock star status to d & # 39; other insurgent candidates.

Tomorrow, she will be virtually certain to be elected to Congress – an amazing feat for a woman who was working this year as a barmaid – in a secure democratic seat in various Queens and the Bronx.

Ocasio-Cortez has previously worked for the late Senator Ted Kennedy while studying economics and international relations at Boston University. She has worked with women entrepreneurs in Africa and in the education sector.

When she beat Joe Crowley, she was at the bartender. "It's really one of the most remarkable stories I've ever heard," talk show host Jimmy Kimmel said in a breathless introduction.

There is no doubt about her talent, her appeal, her idealism and her passion for grassroots campaigns, driving what she hopes to be a mid-wave blue wave to finally overwhelm Donald Trump.

'Hurt America'

"It's getting harder and harder to hate, which is why it's so important to go door-to-door," she said to applause last month at an event organized by the LGBT community.

"I'm like," hey, we're fighting for universal care, for a public tuition-free college, we're fighting for a living wage, "and you see that sort of defense mechanism somehow. ;collapse."

But in America in general, such a policy is pretty radical. She is a Socialist Democrat in the same way as Bernie Sanders, presidential candidate of the 2016 missed.

Ocasio-Cortez compared the fight against climate change to the fight against Nazi Germany during the Second World War, calling it a "major existential threat" and compared the election of Democrats to the end of slavery.

The right has called its policy "dangerous" and has also been criticized, former Senator Joe Lieberman said his first victory seemed "likely to harm Congress, America and the Democratic Party" .

Only time will tell if the progressive democratic wing that it embodies represents the future or whether it is a spin-off of the Tea Party, while the Traditional liberals are struggling to find a way to contain Trump.

"No matter what day comes, no one can agree if she is the next Sarah Palin, the next Obama or a Venezuelan dictator," Vogue summed up.

She has proved to be an attractive speaker during the election campaign.

"Inspirational"

"She was very good at social media, she worked very, very hard for every vote she had … and she is a very good candidate with a good political instinct," says Jeanne Zaino, a political scientist at Iona College.

"But we can not forget the most important forces, there is real frustration … with the establishment," she added. "I'm not sure that she would have won if her opponent was not a Democratic party leader."

The pragmatists say that she will eventually have to compromise her ideals. A debt-free university and universal health care seem attractive, but are expensive proposals.

Neither do we know what kind of power she and the other progressives will give in the years to come.

"Much depends not only on what will happen in 2018, because we will not see a lot of elected progressives in power, but in 2020-2022. These movements take a lot of time, "warned Zaino.

Ocasio-Cortez would live in a modest South Bronx apartment with her boyfriend. She rents dresses that she wears during the campaign.

"Moving from bartender to congressional candidacy is inspiring," said 25-year-old Kaitlyn Richter.

"She will definitely be a small fish in a big pond," Richter added. But she hopes that Ocasio-Cortez will "tell herself". – AFP

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