Chris Cuomo says Dems foolish to elevate ‘Socialist’ AOC as ‘leading’ presidential contender

NewsNation host Chris Cuomo suggested Thursday that Democrats are setting themselves up for failure by elevating Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a top presidential contender.

Ocasio-Cortez received the most support  — 10% —from Democratic-aligned adults when asked in a March 16 CNN/SSRS poll which leader “best reflects the core values” of the Democratic Party. Cuomo, on “The Chris Cuomo Project,” said Ocasio-Cortez has not accomplished anything significant in Congress and does not appeal to a broad swath of Americans.

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“AOC has done nothing meaningful in Congress. She’s done it all on social media, and she’s one of your leading names and who’s going to be president,” Cuomo said. “Do you not get this concept of 80/20? She’s an 80/20 loser all day long. Why? She is clearly catering to a minority.”

“She’s her own version of MAGA. She’s looking for an outraged enclave. She’s not about the majority. She’s not about consensus,” he continued. “She’s not about solutions. She wants government to give you everything. She’s a socialist in a capitalist society. What are you thinking?”

Ocasio-Cortez traveled the nation with independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders on his prominent “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, speaking to crowds about how to combat “the Oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power” in the U.S.

The congresswoman has floated hiking the top marginal tax rate to 70% from 37% for Americans with incomes of over $10 million, according to Politico.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said on April 7 at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show that, although he was not interested in seeking the presidency, he would remain flexible based on the state of the nation and his odds of victory. He suggested on “The Stephen A. Smith Show” the following day that the increasing influence of Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez in the Democratic Party helped open his mind to a possible 2028 run.

“You want to ask why Stephen A. Smith felt the need to speak up at the NAB conference? Let me ask y’all this question: We’re supposed to leave it to Bernie Sanders and AOC, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?” Smith said. “We’re supposed to leave it with individuals that will tell you that it’s perfectly OK to tax 70% of your money? Not that they gave out that number. I’m just speculating because of how socialistic they are in their thinking.”

“We’re supposed to say that that’s OK? Y’all OK with that? You OK with going to work and making $100 and walking home with $30?” he continued. “You sure about that? Are you cool with it? Just tell me. Because these are the kind of questions that we have to ask ourselves. That is why I spoke up.”

Moreover, former Democratic megadonor John Morgan told Cuomo in March that the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour would backfire, saying both left-wing politicians motivate President Donald Trump’s backers.

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