# AOC has a formidable primary challenger in journalist Maria Caruso-Cabrera **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 5, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148 "2020-04-05T20:55:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/41 "2020-04-07T22:57:59Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Sometimes, it feels like older Democrats want young progressives, also known as _the fucking future of the Democratic party_, to just disappear. I’d prefer to nail them down and ensure they become Democrats for life. Not at all. But they do want them to stop\* attacking\* other Democrats. You can say Bernies M4A plan is the bestest _evar_, and that’s great. But when you pay for millions of $ of TV ads claiming falsely that Biden wants to cut SocSec, you are doing nothing but helping trump. See the difference? I dont know why the progressives can’t get that. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/42 "2020-04-07T22:58:29Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Back in '07, Obama was about as close to the center of the party as AOC is now. Sure, Obama turned out to govern a lot more moderately than his rhetoric, but that’s what we’re talking about – rhetoric. This is silly. And false. Obama wasnt touting economy killing nonsense like a green new deal. Obama was educated and had lots of public policy experience. AOC is a William Jennings Bryan type of huckster. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/43 "2020-04-07T23:00:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not at all. But they do want them to stop\* attacking\* other Democrats. > > You can say Bernies M4A plan is the bestest _evar_, and that’s great. But when you pay for millions of $ of TV ads claiming falsely that Biden wants to cut SocSec, you are doing nothing but helping trump. See the difference? The hottest fire forges the strongest steel. That’s what primaries are for – to test the candidates, and see who emerges strongest. If Biden emerges strongest, then attacks like that will have helped. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/44 "2020-04-07T23:04:57Z")
Just the fact that we’re all talking about her is evidence of her level of political skill. Agree or disagree with her positions, but she’s definitely good at what she does. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/45 "2020-04-07T23:05:41Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > This is silly. And false. Obama wasnt touting economy killing nonsense like a green new deal. Obama was educated and had lots of public policy experience. AOC is a first term Rep. Who knows where she’ll be, or what she’ll be advocating for, in 5 or 10 years. But she’ll have learned a lot more by then. Assume she’s good for the Republicans at your own peril. I remember thinking the same thing about Trump in '15. I won’t be making the same mistake again, but hopefully Republicans like you will! > [@](#): > > AOC is a William Jennings Bryan type of huckster. Somehow I’m unconvinced by the judgment about a young progressive from someone with obvious disdain for progressives. We’ll see, but as a progressive and a Democrat, I see an enormously talented young politician – the most talented politician in her 20s I think I’ve ever seen. We’ll see if her abilities pan out like I hope they do, but right now I’m very excited she’s in my party. You’re kidding yourself if you weren’t wishing that there was a 20-something politician, with similar political positions to your own, who had already developed national recognition and popularity. That doesn’t happen just by chance. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/46 "2020-04-07T23:08:36Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Back in '07, Obama was about as close to the center of the party as AOC is now. Sure, Obama turned out to govern a lot more moderately than his rhetoric, but that’s what we’re talking about – rhetoric. There is a slight difference. Back in 2004 at the Convention, Obama announced himself with that famous speech about there not being a blue America or a red America but a United States of America. Obama was pitching himself as a uniter. AOC and her ideological colleagues (the Sanders wing) have spent the last four years trying to divide the party they want to lead. Now AOC seems to be reining it in from her end which is wise. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/47 "2020-04-07T23:10:11Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > There is a slight difference. Back in 2004 at the Convention, Obama announced himself with that famous speech about there not being a blue America or a red America but a United States of America. That was the right message for the time. Now, that just seems quaint. > [@](#): > > Obama was pitching himself as a uniter. AOC and her ideological colleagues (the Sanders wing) have spent the last four years trying to divide the party they want to lead. Now AOC seems to be reining it in from her end which is wise. We’ll see if she has the talent I hope she does – if so, her messaging will evolve as the times do. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2020, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/48 "2020-04-07T23:46:20Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > That was the right message for the time. Now, that just seems quaint. > > We’ll see if she has the talent I hope she does – if so, her messaging will evolve as the times do. I think she knows she will be expected to take on the baton from Bernie Sanders as the next leader of the democratic socialist movement. But she also knows the high chance she’ll have to work with President Biden for four years. She could stand by and scold him for _only_ pursuing a Public Option and not Medicare For All which appeases the people who already support that idea. Or she could work with him in getting the votes for a Public Option, getting it on his desk and enacted and having something to put on her resume of delivering results, not rhetoric. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/49 "2020-04-08T02:21:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > In safe blue districts, this is a great thing, and strengthens the party. Also, if it helps boot the Democrats who are shitty at winning elections, like Crowley. I want a party full of politicians who are very highly skilled at winning elections, and the younger the better. Imagine if every presidential primary candidate (or hell, just 1 or 2) this cycle had the charisma and talent of AOC, and just a bit of her youth! We should be ENCOURAGING young progressives to primary Democrats in safe blue districts! The skilled older Democrats will brush them aside with ease, but the ones with poor skills and effort (like Crowley) will lose and be replaced by _more talented Democrats_. > > Why would anyone prefer a lazy, less skilled old dude over an energetic and talented young person? Oh fer heaven’s sake. Now you have to demonize Joe Crowley to make it OK for AOC to primary a progressive Democrat who by all accounts was good for the party and good for the country? Jeebus. We’d be better off dusting off Hillary and running her again than running someone like Hillary. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/50 "2020-04-08T02:34:49Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Sometimes, it feels like older Democrats want young progressives, also known as _the fucking future of the Democratic party_, to just disappear. I’d prefer to nail them down and ensure they become Democrats for life. I really really hope the justice Democrats are not the “_the fucking future of the Democratic party_” We will end up with a SCOTUS full of Samuel Alitos. Why do we want to nail down these AOC types, where the fuck are they going to go? The Republicans? If they could have split off to some other fucking party they would have done it already, the entire reason Justice Democrats are running as Democrats is because they know they can’t win a goddam thing running as green or socialist or whatever. And based on how Bernie has been doing, they don’t vote any more than previous generations of young people. Their theory seems to be that we need their support to win elections, so we should give them even MORE leverage to hijack the party. We don’t need them as much as they need us. If we turn our backs on them, there may be votes in the middle we can pick up. If they turn their backs on us, where the fuck can they go, to Jill Stein? They need us to have any chance in hell of advancing their agenda, they admit as much. If they have good ideas that won’t cost us elections, we should listen to them; but if they try to throw their weight around with pelosi again, then I think we can just put them in a corner table at the far end of the tent. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/51 "2020-04-08T02:42:06Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Ha! So was Obama in '07. What a joke! > > AOC may not have the talent of Obama (but then again… she’s a lot further along than he was at 29), but being “a godsend to Republicans” was pretty much exactly the same what they (Republicans) said about Obama in '07. We’ll see. I’m very pleased to have her in the party. In what way was Obama as wingnutty as AOC in 2007? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/52 "2020-04-08T02:44:15Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Just the fact that we’re all talking about her is evidence of her level of political skill. Agree or disagree with her positions, but she’s definitely good at what she does. We talk about Trump a lot too. Is he good at what he does? ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/53 "2020-04-08T02:47:10Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The hottest fire forges the strongest steel. That’s what primaries are for – to test the candidates, and see who emerges strongest. If Biden emerges strongest, then attacks like that will have helped. So this is Biden’s chance to learn how to deal with bold faced lies? I suppose that is good practice for the general election. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/54 "2020-04-08T05:18:17Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > The hottest fire forges the strongest steel. That’s what primaries are for – to test the candidates, and see who emerges strongest. If Biden emerges strongest, then attacks like that will have helped. Biden already won. It’s over, the fat lady has sung. Biden had already won when Bernie paid big bux to spread those lies- and the only possible reason to do so is to help trump. Yes, that’s right- I am saying Bernie is deliberately helping trump win. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/55 "2020-04-08T09:34:24Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Oh fer heaven’s sake. Now you have to demonize Joe Crowley to make it OK for AOC to primary a progressive Democrat who by all accounts was good for the party and good for the country? Jeebus. Saying that Crowley lost due to his own failures isn’t demonizing him. I’d prefer Democrats who take elections seriously over Democrats who blow them off. > [@](#): > > We’d be better off dusting off Hillary and running her again than running someone like Hillary. What? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/56 "2020-04-08T09:41:10Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > Why do we want to nail down these AOC types, where the fuck are they going to go? We want them (young progressives) because there are millions of them. If they become solid Democrats, then that’s millions of solid Democratic votes for decades. If we don’t nail them down, but rather antagonize them by shutting down young progressives for the sake of protecting older, less progressive Democrats, many could become apathetic non voters. And there’s no risk, not for safe districts. Encouraging young progressives to challenge older Democrats in safe districts is very healthy for the party. Let the cream rise to the top. Lazy incumbents might lose, but that’s okay - they’ll be replaced by energetic progressives with more talent. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/57 "2020-04-08T09:42:58Z")
> [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > We talk about Trump a lot too. Is he good at what he does? Trump is president, not a first term House Rep. And yes, he is good at lying, praising himself, cronyism, corruption, self promotion, appealing to racists, etc. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/58 "2020-04-08T09:44:59Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yes, that’s right- I am saying Bernie is deliberately helping trump win. That’s just delusional. Do you have any evidence that these ads have hurt Biden for the general election? If not, it’s just fantasizing about your hatred of Bernie. He’s not the devil. If he doesn’t go all out in the general to help the nominee, then I’ll agree with you, but it’s ridiculously early to be making such a claim. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/59 "2020-04-08T13:34:35Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > Ha! So was Obama in '07. What a joke! > > AOC may not have the talent of Obama (but then again… she’s a lot further along than he was at 29), but being “a godsend to Republicans” was pretty much exactly the same what they (Republicans) said about Obama in '07. We’ll see. I’m very pleased to have her in the party. I think she is incredibly talented, much more talented than Obama. Obama did not have the name recognition that she does until he ran for President. The fact that any freshman congressman has the name recognition and fundraising ability that she does speaks volumes about her talent. This is difficult stuff that all politicians find challenging. But she is not experienced. There is a difference between talent and experience and sometimes it shows. She has made rookie mistakes in her messaging that any moderately experienced politician would’ve dodged. But it’s all about fundraising, and she’ll do fine. Even if she loses her primary, she’s not going away. I think she’s going to be an influential force for the next couple of generations. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2020, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148/60 "2020-04-08T13:52:24Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > I think she is incredibly talented, much more talented than Obama. Obama did not have the name recognition that she does until he ran for President. The fact that any freshman congressman has the name recognition and fundraising ability that she does speaks volumes about her talent. This is difficult stuff that all politicians find challenging. > > But she is not experienced. There is a difference between talent and experience and sometimes it shows. She has made rookie mistakes in her messaging that any moderately experienced politician would’ve dodged. > > But it’s all about fundraising, and she’ll do fine. Even if she loses her primary, she’s not going away. I think she’s going to be an influential force for the next couple of generations. Luckily, she’s got plenty of time, and she’s just a House Rep. I think she’s smart, and she’ll just keep getting smarter with time. Hopefully you’re right about how talented she is – if so, imagine where she’ll be in 20 years! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aoc-has-a-formidable-primary-challenger-in-journalist-maria-caruso-cabrera/851148.md?page=4)