Latest news with #AlexandriaOcasio-Cortez
USA Today
22 minutes ago
- Politics
- USA Today
The far left says AOC didn't go far enough against Israel. That's concerning.
The far left is so far gone that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is somehow seen as not anti-Israel enough. On July 18, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia, introduced a defense appropriations amendment that would strip Israel of funding for its Iron Dome missile defense system. The amendment garnered just six votes in support. One of the surprising votes against the amendment came from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, who is not an ally of Israel. Ocasio-Cortez has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and voted against all other funding for Israel's offensive capabilities. So voting against stripping Israel of Iron Dome funding might seem like a switch for her. It's not. She ultimately voted against the larger legislation to help Israel. Still, her vote on the failed amendment was met with backlash from the far left because she wasn't aggressive enough in her denunciation of Israel. That criticism of AOC makes it clear that even just opposing Israel's offensive in Gaza is not enough for the anti-Israel left, who demand that you also support stripping Israel of its defenses. They are not interested in peace; they are interested in more dead Jewish far left and far right have something in common there. AOC's position on Israel isn't enough for the far left 'Marjorie Taylor Greene's amendment does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza,' said Ocasio-Cortez on X. 'What it does do is cut off defensive Iron Dome capacities while allowing the actual bombs killing Palestinians to continue.' While I disagree with Ocasio-Cortez's characterization of Israel's campaign in Gaza, her position makes sense from her perspective that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Opinion: What does antisemitism look like in America? A grandmother killed in the street. AOC eventually voted against the final defense spending bill itself, which authorized an additional $600 million in aid to Israel. However, that wasn't enough for the far left. The Democratic Socialists of America, by whom AOC was once endorsed, demanded she go further against Israel. They are upset that AOC didn't also support the amendment. 'An arms embargo means keeping all arms out of the hands of a genocidal military, no exceptions,' wrote the Democratic Socialists of America in a statement. 'This is why we oppose Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's vote against an amendment that would have blocked $500 million in funding for the Israeli military's Iron Dome program.' The Iron Dome is Israel's only defense against rocket attacks from any of its hostile neighbors. About 30,000 projectiles have been fired into Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks, which started the latest war between Israel and the Hamas terrorist organization that controls the Gaza Strip. Democrats remain divided on Gaza Those who are against funding for the Iron Dome aren't trying to limit Israel's ability to continue its military campaign in Gaza. They are trying to strip Israel of its defensive capabilities, leading to its destruction. The very same can be said about the Republicans who voted in favor of Greene's amendment. Opinion: America's mental health field is overrun with antisemitism. It's dangerous. In 2024, the issue of Gaza isn't why the Democrats lost, but it certainly did not help. People have theorized that it contributed to why Vice President Kamala Harris chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz over Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro as her running mate in her presidential campaign, and it probably contributed to Harris losing the swing state of Michigan. The anti-Israel left is not the dominant wing of the Democratic Party, but they certainly have influence. AOC is learning this now, and it's something she needs to navigate if she has aspirations to higher office as a Democrat. The far left demands complete agreement on their slate of issues, and that makes them a difficult group to navigate for Democrats, even for someone like AOC. They must figure out how to win without these voters, or how to weave them back into the fold if they want electoral success. Dace Potas is an opinion columnist for USA TODAY and a graduate of DePaul University with a degree in political science.
USA Today
15 hours ago
- Politics
- USA Today
Ocasio-Cortez's office vandalized amid 'multiple threats' to her life, campaign manager says
WASHINGTON — New York Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's campaign office in the Bronx was vandalized on July 21 amid 'multiple threats on the Congresswoman's life' in recent days, according to her campaign manager Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben. Multiple images on social media show her New York campaign office splattered with red paint and a sign that says, 'AOC funds genocide in Gaza.' 'Our office is a hub in the community and we want it to be a safe space for all of our neighbors,' Hidalgo-Wohlleben wrote in a July 22 tweet. He added that, 'In the past few days, we also have received multiple threats on the Congresswoman's life and we are treating this seriously with our security partners to make sure she, our staff, and volunteers are safe.' It wasn't immediately clear who threatened the progressive lawmaker or vandalized her office. Ocasio-Cortez recently voted against against an amendment to a defense bill that would have cut off $500 million for Israel's missile defense programs. She faced backlash over the decision from some fellow figures on the left. The lawmaker has defended herself on the vote, saying on X that the amendment, authored by conservative Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, 'does nothing to cut off offensive aid to Israel nor end the flow of US munitions being used in Gaza.' 'I have long stated that I do not believe that adding to the death count of innocent victims to this war is constructive to its end. That is a simple and clear difference of opinion that has long been established,' she shared. Ocasio-Cortez did vote against the defense bill as a whole, which includes $122.5 million for U.S.-Israel cooperative development programs, according to the House Appropriations Committee. The bill passed the House mostly along party lines by a vote of 221-209 on July 18.
The Hill
18 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Ocasio-Cortez receives death threats, campaign office vandalized, aide says
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.)'s campaign headquarters in The Bronx was vandalized on Sunday with an anti-Israel message and red paint splashed across a photo of the progressive lawmaker's face, according to her campaign and independent social media posts. Ocasio-Cortez campaign manager Oliver Hidalgo-Wohlleben said the New York Democrat has also has faced death threats in recent days. The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed to The Hill that officers responded to a 911 call regarding a 'criminal mischief incident' at the campaign office early Monday morning. 'Upon arrival, officers observed the facade of the location defaced with red paint. There are no arrests and the investigation remains ongoing,' an NYPD spokesperson said. Hidalgo-Wohlleben wrote on social platform X later Monday that the lawmaker's team was in the process of cleaning the mess. 'Our office is a hub in the community and we want it to be a safe space for all of our neighbors,' he wrote. 'In the past few days, we also have received multiple threats on the Congresswoman's life and we are treating this seriously with our security partners to make sure she, our staff, and volunteers are safe.' The Hill has reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's campaign office and Congressional office for additional details. Photos of the vandalism posted online show red paint splashed across the office facade and a sign hung that reads: 'AOC funds genocide in Gaza.' An anti-Israel group known as the 'Boogie Down Liberation Front' claimed responsibility for the vandalism, according to an X post that included a photo of the offenders in action. Ocasio-Cortez has not directly responded to the vandalism or threats, but she has pushed back on claims about her votes on defense spending. 'Google is free. If you're saying I voted for military funding, you are lying,' she wrote Monday on X. 'Drag me for my positions all you want, but lying about them doesn't make you part of the 'left.'' 'If you believe neo-nazis are welcome and operating in good faith, you can have them!' she added. Ocasio-Cortez recently voted against Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.)'s effort to cut U.S. funding for Israel's missile defense system, while other progressives in 'The Squad' — Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) — voted for it. The amendment was quashed in a 422-6 vote.
Sky News AU
a day ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
‘F**k AOC': Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Bronx headquarters vandalised
US Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's headquarters in the Bronx, New York, was vandalised by anti-Israel protesters. AOC's office was attacked after the far-left 'Squad' member voted against cutting US funding for Israel. On Sunday, the headquarters was seen splattered with red paint and adorned with signs accusing Cortez of funding "genocide in Gaza". Cortez's decision to vote against stopping the Jewish state's missile defence funding went against her fellow Squad members' votes. The group Boogie Down Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the attack, according to reporter Ashoka Jegroo.
Newsweek
a day ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
AOC Reacts After Bronx Campaign Office Vandalized with Red Paint
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has responded on X after her Bronx campaign office was vandalized over the weekend. "AOC funds genocide in Gaza" was written in red paint by the vandals. In addition, the entrance to the office was splashed with red paint. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democrat from New York, has faced backlash from some of her supporters after voting against a bill that sought to reduce funding for Israel's aerial defense system. Ocasio-Cortez posted, "Google is free. If you're saying I voted for military funding, you are lying. Receipts attached. Drag me for my positions all you want, but lying about them doesn't make you part of the 'left.' If you believe neo-nazis are welcome and operating in good faith, you can have them!" In her post, she shared her "nay" vote for the Department of Defense Appropriations Act last month. The legislation that seemed to trigger the vandalism was an amendment to the bill. The progressive representative also posted on Blue Sky, "People exploding this false messaging that I voted for a bill + funding that I quite literally voted NO on. The threat environment this morning is scary. Doesn't help anyone. Drag me for the position if you disagree but don't lie. It's out of control. Saying I voted for this funding is false." This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
