As reported by the Washington Post, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) called out Democrats earlier this week for dividing the party — and though she didn’t mention any names, her comments were likely directed at “the Squad,” the four progressive freshmen Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (New York), Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), Ayanna Pressley (Massachusetts) and Rashida Tlaib (Michigan).
This is one of various remarks that Pelosi has made over the last few weeks that have been dismissive of the so-called “squad’s” moves, such as their progressive environment proposals and their opposition to the emergency border aid package.
AOC criticized the House Speaker for isolating and targeting the four freshmen women of color, each of whom has online followings and represents a real and potentially growing demographic of progressives on the left.
The squad has not shied away from using their followings on Twitter — for example, AOC’s chief of staff has made denigrating comments about moderate Dems.
Pelosi said she had to defend the more moderate members of her party. Her supporters say she is trying to keep together her party in order to oust Trump in 2020 and to preserve the Democratic majority.
Much like the Freedom Caucus within the GOP, this emerging tensions between factions within the Democratic party raise questions about how to create unity, whose goals to highlight, who best represents the desires of the base and what choices will lead to favorable outcomes for Dems in 2020.
GUESTS:
Matt Rodriguez, Democratic strategist and founder and chief executive officer of Rodriguez Strategies. He is also a former senior Obama advisor in 2008; he tweets @RodStrategies
Nicole Boucher, vice president of Way to Win, a national donor and organizer network that works for progressive causes