Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., recently addressed comments regarding the far-left language used by her and other socialist politicians. Conservative opposition was quick to reject the downplay of these past statements.
During an appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” host Jon Karl questioned Ocasio-Cortez about statements by Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong. Hong, who previously called for canceling Thanksgiving and abolishing prisons, is now striving for the Democratic nomination. Ocasio-Cortez remarked, “I have a local city councilman that has this saying, ‘Woke 1 was crazy’,” emphasizing the importance of evaluating current stances.
This comment swiftly drew criticism. Tim Graham, Executive Editor of NewsBusters, noted, “It sounds a little desperate to claim that you can’t hold a politician accountable for something wacky they said less than six years ago.” He mentioned Hong’s past critiques of several holidays, including Christmas and Halloween, as examples of radical ideas still remembered by voters.
Jesse Arm, Vice President and Pollster at the Manhattan Institute, highlighted key questions for Democrats. He asked which aspects of past “Woke 1” views are now seen as misguided, including issues like biological men in women’s sports and decriminalizing theft.
Arm argued that politicians have not renounced past extremist positions. He cited Ocasio-Cortez’s 2019 prediction that the world would end in 12 years due to climate change, contrasting it with her current plans to start a family in the 2030s.
Conservative voices on social media also chimed in. Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, criticized efforts to minimize the past, pointing to policies perceived as divisive. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis remarked, “Now, we have a prominent leftist acknowledging that Florida was right to reject the woke mind virus.”
Critics argue that former radical positions, like recent “Woke 1” statements, cannot be easily dismissed as misunderstandings. This ongoing debate illustrates the continuing impact of past rhetoric on the political landscape.