In a heated exchange on Wednesday, Nancy Pelosi, the former Speaker of the House, confronted a reporter who inquired about the possibility of Republicans negotiating with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.
Y., to resolve the ongoing government shutdown.
The reporter posed the question, "There was a thought from the Republicans that AOC is directing this, and she said that senators are welcome to go to her office directly. Is she driving that?" Pelosi responded sharply, dismissing the notion as "ridiculous."
As reported by Fox News, the reporter's inquiry came on the heels of Ocasio-Cortez's appearance on MSNBC, where she extended an invitation to Republicans, stating, "My office is open, and you are free to walk in and negotiate with me directly."
Pelosi, however, was quick to refute the idea that Ocasio-Cortez is at the helm of negotiations, underscoring that House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., is spearheading the Democratic efforts in the discussions. "Shes wonderful, shes a real team player, and the rest of that," Pelosi remarked, emphasizing that Jeffries, not Ocasio-Cortez, is leading the charge.
She further elaborated, "This takes a lot of experience, a lot of unity from the caucus in terms of the point of view, and thats what this is."
Pelosi acknowledged Ocasio-Cortez as an "articulate spokesperson for her point of view," yet reiterated that Jeffries is the one directing negotiations with the GOP. This incident is not the first time Pelosi has addressed Ocasio-Cortez's influence within the Democratic Party.
In 2019, during a disagreement over a border funding bill opposed by Ocasio-Cortez and other progressive Democrats, Pelosi told The New York Times, "All these people have their public whatever and their Twitter world, but they didnt have any following. Theyre four people, and thats how many votes they got."
Moreover, a report by Punchbowl late last year revealed that Pelosi was "actively working to tank" Ocasio-Cortez's bid to become the leading Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. Pelosi reportedly made calls on behalf of Ocasio-Cortez's opponent, the late Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia.
Ultimately, Ocasio-Cortez's attempt fell short, with the Democratic caucus voting 131 to 84 against her in a secret ballot. This ongoing dynamic within the Democratic Party highlights the tension between its progressive and traditional factions, as the party navigates its internal power struggles.
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