Far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez praised progressives who opted not to vote for President Biden in Democratic primaries due to his handling of the Israel-Hamas war, saying they could have easily given in to cynicism but instead chose to participate in the political process. Biden faced backlash when over 100,000 Michiganders voted “uncommitted” in the Democratic primary to protest his support of Israel following a deadly attack by Hamas. Similar trends were observed in other battleground states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, where thousands marked their ballots as “uncommitted” or “uninstructed.”
Despite the dissatisfaction with Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, Ocasio-Cortez acknowledged that many progressives understand the threat of a Donald Trump presidency and will likely support Biden in the November election. She emphasized the importance of bringing all members of the Democratic Party together as a coalition to prevent another Trump administration. Ocasio-Cortez highlighted the significance of acknowledging people’s concerns and ensuring they feel seen and heard before attempting to unite everyone for the upcoming election.
Biden has adjusted his stance on Israel in response to growing criticism, expressing concern over the country’s war efforts and calling for a temporary cease-fire. However, the administration proceeded with a planned weapon transfer to Israel involving billions of dollars worth of bombs and fighter jets. Ocasio-Cortez has been vocal in her criticism of Israel’s actions, even accusing the country of carrying out a genocide in the Gaza Strip. She highlighted the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region, drawing attention to the plight of innocent children and adults facing famine and devastation.
The progressive congresswoman defended her strong rhetoric on the Israel-Hamas conflict, citing personal experiences and discussions with a friend who survived the Rwandan genocide. Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the need to humanize victims of mass atrocities and prevent a potential mass famine that could result in the death of nearly a million people. She described Biden as a man of empathy and expressed optimism about the increased urgency he has shown on the issue. Ocasio-Cortez and other members of the “Squad” like Reps. Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, and Ilhan Omar are facing primary challengers influenced by the conflict in Israel.
On March 28, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” to discuss the Israel-Hamas war and the Democratic Party’s response to the situation. She praised progressives for participating in the political process and voicing their concerns through the primary elections. Ocasio-Cortez emphasized the importance of unity within the Democratic Party to prevent another Trump presidency. She acknowledged Biden’s efforts to address the conflict but also criticized the administration’s decision to proceed with a weapon transfer to Israel. The congresswoman defended her stance on the crisis and called for immediate action to prevent further humanitarian catastrophe in the region.
