The 2020 election wasn’t stolen, but Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) is on her way to spinning a different “big lie” — suggesting that the Republican Party is hell-bent on overturning future elections, and that’s why they can’t be permitted to control the House.
At a town-hall meeting in her New York City district on Wednesday, she warned that “if [Republicans] take the House, then they have the votes to now authorize and legitimize the presidential election, whatever the results are.” AOC’s argument neglects some small details — e.g., the Constitution, the Electoral Count Act, and judicial review — standing in the way. But of course, her claim rules out any convictions of principle in the GOP to boot.
AOC went even further, saying that “January 6 was a trial run, and a lot of people don’t seem to understand that . . . and they’re going to come back.” She then presumed that it was the three-day-old, razor-thin Democratic majority in the House that single-handedly saved the republic. But objecting to the electoral votes submitted by a state would require majorities in both the Senate and the House. In 2021, only a small portion of the former and a sizable-yet-insufficient number of the latter Republicans pressed to reject state electors, far below the threshold required. AOC’s comments also disregard the pivotal role played by Mike Pence.
Such exaggerations are not new to AOC. Her tactics are drawn straight from the radicalization playbook: Alarm your supporters by painting rivals as existential enemies, and they will fight back as if survival depended on it.
Rather than debate their record on inflation, crime, immigration, foreign policy, or even legislation (e.g., BBB), progressives are trying to turn tables on their dismal performance. One big lie is being replaced by another. Voters, don’t be duped.