Politico: AOC weighs a new primary target: Hakeem Jeffries

[EffieBlack]

Last edited Tue Dec 18, 2018, 01:47 PM - Edit history (1)

Ocasio-Cortez weighs a new primary target: Hakeem Jeffries

Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is eyeing a new member of House Democratic leadership as a 2020 primary target: Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

Ocasio-Cortez, who ousted House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley earlier this year in a shocking primary victory, put colleagues on notice for future primaries just days after the November election, telling a livestream audience that she and an allied group, Justice Democrats, would keep working together to boost anti-incumbent challengers — though she didn’t name names. But a person who has discussed the project with Ocasio-Cortez and her team said the congresswoman-elect has recruited an African-American woman to challenge Jeffries, who was just elected to replace Crowley as caucus chairman — the No. 5 House Democratic leadership position.

The person who spoke with Ocasio-Cortez and her team, who asked for anonymity to discuss a private conversation, called Jeffries the “highest priority” primary target of Ocasio-Cortez.

A second person with direct knowledge of Justice Democrats’ primary plans said the group is “looking” at Jeffries’ seat. Since Justice Democrats put out a call for potential targets, the group's supporters have singled out Jeffries as a member they would be “excited” to oppose. “We’re not going to shy away from New York,” the second person said.

Challenging Jeffries would open an audacious new front in Ocasio-Cortez’s efforts to steer the direction of the Democratic Party, pitting her and allies against a rising-star African-American Democrat seen by some as a potential future speaker of the House. It would also set off another intra-party New York City brawl — Jeffries’ Brooklyn district is just a few miles south of Ocasio-Cortez’s Bronx-and-Queens seat — that would peak just as Democrats hope to rally around a presidential nominee in mid-2020.
...
“It’s personal for Ocasio,” said the person who spoke with Ocasio-Cortez and her staff. "And she’s going to go all out to take him out."

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/18/ocasio-cortez-hakeem-jeffries-2020-primary-1067107

[Me.]

1. Grrrrrrrr

What is her point exactly, targeting DEms rather than Cons?

[LisaM]

2. Yes, this is the kind of thing that rankles people.

If she's going to campaign outside her district, she needs to go find Republicans to unseat.

What's she going to do when it's her turn to run as an incumbent, BTW? Just hand the seat over to someone new?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

33. Getting younger people of color and women into the House?

Do you have some knowledge that she doesn't want Rs replaced with Ds?

[mcar]

37. How does primarying a solid Democrat help anything?

Why isn't she recruiting younger people to run against Republicans - you know, the bad guys?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

38. From all accounts (i.e. her staff quoted in that article) she isn't primarying Dems

But if I had to give a reason why, I'd stick with the reason I gave.

Do you have some knowledge that she isn't recruiting younger people to run against Repubs? And are there any Districts left where Dems have a hope to get the Rs out?

[mcar]

40. I hope she's not

because it makes no sense.

[Me.]

52. But She Did In The Recent Election Didn't SHe?

[Cuthbert Allgood]

63. Obviously.

Also, obviously, her district wanted a change.

[Me.]

74. Her Next Election Will Tell The Story

as only 11% voted this last time, so we'll see if they really do appreciate her.

[Andy823]

80. Exactly!

She should be careful, and she should be going after republicans, and getting things done for her district instead of worrying about primary's for other democrats.

[Me.]

81. And He, Hakeem Jeffries Is Very Popular In His District

[oberliner]

95. So was Joe Crowley

[oberliner]

94. It's how she won her seat

Her candidacy was based on primarying a solid Democrat.

[mcar]

96. We have yet to see if it helped

[oberliner]

118. Helped in what sense?

[Me.]

50. Well Here You Are Again

Her actions speak loudly and so far she has only targeted Dems. We just recently put younger women and men in Congress but younger is not the end all and be all for a good, effective, experienced member of Congress. And isn't Rep. Jeffries, the #5 person in leadership, a person of color and not a senior at 48 years of age?

[Stellar]

71. From what I've read and heard, Justice Democrats...

...don't take PAC money because they feel they would be beholden to the donors instead of their constituents. So they're probably targeting those that are taking PAC money.

https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/pacs?cid=N00033640&cycle=2018

[Me.]

77. I Believe Senator Sanders Took PAC Money

will they target him?

[Andy823]

83. Good question

I can't wait for the answer!

[Stellar]

98. I really don't know, this info is from Open Secrets...

https://www.opensecrets.org/members-of-congress/pacs?cid=N00000528&cycle=2018

[Me.]

99. I Looked At OPen SEcrets Specifically For Him

Not great huge amounts but there were PACS...and not all PACs Are 'bad'...I believe he had a couple of unions, nurses...or some such types...

[Stellar]

116. Exactly...

I worked for an organization where we all got together to contribute to (what/whoever it was), we used the name of the company instead of an individual.

[tblue37]

59. Jeffries is not old, but he is black, so what's your point? nt

[progressoid]

51. Heh heh heh. Ya know that Jeffries also got in office by chalanging a sitting Dem right?

[Me.]

53. So Did She

there is a difference in a person challenging someone for a seat and targeting a Dem in a district in which they are not running.

[womanofthehills]

85. I think it was Crowley and Jeffries targeting Barbara Lee

with some statements that were not true. Crowley still pissed as Ocasio-Cortez who was supporting Barbara Lee.

The point is Barbara Lee is so much more progressive than Jeffries.

[Me.]

86. If So That To Me Would Be As Out Of Bounds

as what she is doing. They all need to be focusing on the Cons. Frankly, Crowley got kicked out so perhaps a case of just desserts but it plays both ways. I'm just happy i have Nadler as my rep.

[Cha]

119. Politico stands by their reporting..

Link to tweet

[Me.]

120. Regardless Of How aSome Feel About Her

THey do her no favors by encouraging this sort of thing so early in her career. She's she no Aunt Maxine.

[Blaukraut]

3. Primary challenges cut both ways

If she pisses off enough people and is seen as doing nothing of note for her own district other than grandstanding, she'll find herself on the receiving end of a primary challenge. And being a first term congresswoman, having created a lot of ill will, it could be pretty easy unseating her.

[brush]

4. Exactly. She'll be up for re-election in two years also.

Last edited Tue Dec 18, 2018, 04:46 PM - Edit history (1)

She's making a lot of enemies. What makes her think she's a kingmaker?

Hell, Crowley may challenge to get his seat back.

[EffieBlack]

9. Hakeem Jeffries obviously isn't in her district, but he likely has

a lot of friends and supporters, not to mention friends and relatives of his constituents, there.

She needs to very careful.

She also needs to recognize that letting a story like this get out - for her hand to get shown like this - is a sign of amatuerism. True power players don't telegraph their moves 18 months in advance and leave their fingerprints all over the place

[brush]

60. Yeah, she needs to just learn the ropes, do her job and keep her name out of the hedlines...

Last edited Tue Dec 18, 2018, 10:35 PM - Edit history (1)

or she'll be out herself after one term.

[NastyRiffraff]

48. "What makes her think she's a kingmaker?"

That's exactly the question. She acts like someone anointed her to take over the Democratic Party and we should all just listen to her and do exactly as she says. She should learn a little from strong Democrats who've been around awhile, and for chrissakes just keep quiet for two minutes. She's making a fool of herself.

[lostnfound]

115. The TV media. Nt

[womanofthehills]

92. Crowley is busy spending all his PAC money on trips to "horseracing tracks, high end restaurants, et

AOC, the better, more honest person won - thank God.

Crowley’s time in Washington, D.C. is winding down after a 20-year-career. Fortunately for the New York Democrat, not being in Congress should free up more time for him to spend on his apparent passion: horse racing. Sludge reported Crowley’s PAC spent nearly $40,000 on “trips to horse racing tracks, hotels, airfare and several high-end restaurants” following his loss to Ocasio-Cortez.

Funding these outings, however, aren’t likely what those who donated money to Crowley’s “Jobs, Opportunity and Education PAC” (JOE PAC — get it?) had in mind when they ponied up the boodle, since it would seem his trips to the track addressed neither jobs, opportunity, nor education.

Perhaps the Democratic congressman just wanted to have a little fun on his way out. At least he wasn’t undermining his colleagues, right?

Well, no. That changed on Thursday when Crowley reportedly helped ensure that Rep. Barbara Lee (CA) would not be his successor as chair of the House Democratic Caucus.
https://thinkprogress.org/joe-crowley-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-barbara-lee-hakeem-jeffries-house-democrats-leadership-new-york-congress-d5eb55ebd5eb/

[brush]

93. Thanks for the update but what about AOC's alleged kingmaking?

That's what this thread is about.

[disillusioned73]

117. Interesting...

[Hassin Bin Sober]

122. No wonder the voters tossed him out on his ear.

[Wellstone ruled]

5. It's all about

Seniority and Chairmanships.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

6. Eh......WTF?

And I was starting to warm up to her. She is supposed to be loyal to the Democratic Party, not the "Justice Democrats"

[seaglass]

7. Wonder how she will gain friendship and trust in Congress to help get legislation passed. She

should be learning from Bernie's example.

[Stinky The Clown]

8. I am caused to wonder how her supporters will defend this.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

11. Defend what? A hit piece from politico filled with anonymous sources?

The last time the panties in a bunch gang were all so upset was over her supposed opposition to Pelosi as speaker. How did that turn out?

Meanwhile Beto O’rourke, who actually voted against Pelosi for speaker, is soooooo dreamy.

Give it a rest.

[brooklynite]

17. If, as you suggest, this is a made up story, all she has to do is deny it.

I'll wait...

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. Too bad she didn't have some staff that could speak for her. Maybe they could call the position...

.... “Communications Director” and they could be asked questions about this matter.

And they could be quoted in the friggin’ posted article saying something like:

Ocasio-Cortez’s communications director denied that she had already recruited an anti-Jeffries candidate.

“We’re not looking at recruiting people to run campaigns, we’re looking at building a congressional staff," said Ocasio-Cortez spokesman Corbin Trent.

Yeah, that would be neat.

[brooklynite]

19. Actually, the correct answer would be...

"As communications director for Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on political activities outside her official duties".

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. I thought you wanted her to deny it?

[brooklynite]

30. Yes, SHE can...her Congressional Staff cannot

[Cuthbert Allgood]

34. Why does she have a staff, then?

Can you post what the staff can and cannot do for us, please.

Sweet Jesus.

Well, she could deny it?
Well her staff made it clear she's not doing that.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

[Autumn]

41. Her communications director is doing his job.

He made it clear she wasn't recruiting a candidate to run against Jeffries. The disinformation passed around is really OTT.

Communications director or press secretary: The communications director’s responsibility is to build and maintain open and effective lines of communication between the member and constituents and the general public. The communications director is expected to know the benefits, demands, and special requirements of both print and electronic media, and how to most effectively promote the member’s views or position on specific issues.

[Autumn]

28. Actually, AOC's communications director denied that AOC has recruited a candidate to run

against Jeffries, it's in the article. Kind of her communications director's job isn't it? Or is there a law that a communications director has to decline to clear up a bullshit smear?

[EffieBlack]

20. And you were certainly free to quote it as you did

Not only does DU have rules about the numbers of paragraphs that can be quoted, I included the link so everyone can read the entire article. But jf you're expecting people to post entire articles in order to include the parts YOU want to include, you're barking up the wrong tree, dear. Although, I can see why bitching about which parts of the story weren't included the excerpt is considerably easier than discussing the actual substance of the piece.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

21. Not sure what you are on about but it should be relatively easy to see that I was responding....

..... to an assertion made that AOC didn’t deny the claim.


Here is an image of the post in case you can’t be bothered.

I mean it even has an “I’ll wait” thingy included....

Lordy Lordy.

[EffieBlack]

24. My bad - I thought you were responding to me

[Power 2 the People]

49. +1

[EffieBlack]

13. You didn't have to wait long, did you?

[Stinky The Clown]

15. Sooooo predictable.

Cheese.

Mice.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

23. Indeed

[Autumn]

44. Looks more like rats to me

[melman]

10. Interesting edit job there

The way you deleted the paragraph between "Challenging Jefferies" and 'It's personal" - interesting.


Also, this is the second hit thread on AOC today but you forgot the disclaimer this time. The one where you go, "Of course I'm not criticizing her, but...."

[EffieBlack]

12. Not "interesting" at all -

I included the link so you were free to read the entire piece.

I did forget to include ellipses to indicate the edit, which I've corrected

But if you'd care to dispute the story or defend AOC's course of action (beyond trying to deflect by whining that I didn't cut and paste the entire story), go for it.

[bigtree]

29. you mean the part where her spokesman denied she was recruiting someone to challenge Jefferies?

...I'd rather focus on the second-hand, anonymous, Politico-derived quotes.

[LanternWaste]

45. Without your own spin, you'd be motionless.

Spin ironically enough, is also an interesting editing job.

[ucrdem]

16. Let's see, Crowley was #5, Pelosi is #1, and Jeffries is #4

all that before she's served a day in office.

[JCanete]

25. what? AOC supported Pelosi when it came down to it. Deals were struck with the new progressives. nt

[JustAnotherGen]

26. I'll bet

She gets primaried herself.

If Tom Malinowski was running around doing this - instead of starting the hard work of finding allies for his agenda -


Peter Jacob and Goutam Jois would be prepping for 2020.

Maybe it's different when you are in a Democratic District and can just 'dial it in' and win for 30 years?

She didn't have to work as hard or make as much of an effort as those newly elected Democratics that flipped seats.

[bigtree]

27. hey if Politico says so, it must be true

...

Love those second-hand, anonymous quotes which envelop AOC's supposed thinking.

I'll wait for an actual quote from Ocasio-Cortez before setting my hair on fire over this biased news org. which is obviously trying to stir shit with Democrats,

Nice to see this propaganda spread here like it was unassailable fact.

this seems true:

Ocasio-Cortez’s communications director denied that she had already recruited an anti-Jeffries candidate.

“We’re not looking at recruiting people to run campaigns, we’re looking at building a congressional staff," said Ocasio-Cortez spokesman Corbin Trent.

[Ciaphas Cain]

105. Thank you nt

[wryter2000]

31. I wish

The media would stop covering everything she says as if it were the Word of God.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

39. There's not a single "word" from her in that article by Politico

[Cha]

32. Hakeem Jeffries won like 94% of the vote in our district.

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

47. I really do not like the Just Us Democrats

[Cha]

55. What's to like? Divisive

Purity Crap.. and then there's cenk.

[Gothmog]

58. I stopped paying attention to Cenk a long time ago

[ecstatic]

35. I hope this isn't true. I like Jeffries

and, frankly, I'm trying to like AOC, but these back to back controversies are taking a toll.

[mcar]

36. She thinks she's a kingmaker, apparently

I think there are surprises in store for her.

[Cha]

42. To all those complaining about "politico".. this is from

Politico, too.

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/12/18/bernie-sanders-straw-poll-2020-elections-1067867

[Tom Rinaldo]

43. My gut tells me this would not be a great idea. But he won his seat by primarying a Dem incumbent

I know Jeffries is in Democratic leadership but I do not know enough about either him or his district to have a well formed opinion on this potential challenge (or challenger), if true.

Both AOC and Jeffries got into Congress by winning a primary against an incumbent Democrat. Both can be primaried themselves if anyone wants to run against them (or support someone running against them.) I do not oppose primaries when each candidate represents themselves truthfully and is sincere abut why they are running. It is then up to the voters to decide.

I know the arguments against primaries that involve a Democratic incumbent. They make sense, but I think they are outweighed by the argument that democracy involves choices and let the voters decide. The first time Barack Obama ran for Congress he ran against a Democratic incumbent (and lost).

[bigtree]

56. this

...+1

[brush]

66. IMO it wasn't smart for AOC to campaign out of her district, and state...

for that matter, against Dem incumbents when we were trying to take back control of the House as a known quantity incumbent has a much better chance at winning against a repug in the general than an unproven new Dem.

Hope she finds an experience mentor soon to counsel her or she could be primaried herself.

[Gothmog]

46. The Just Us or Justice Democrats are after Jeffries

From the article cited in the OP

“We’re going to double down on primary challenges and look at some of these white, male corporate Democrats similar to Joe Crowley," said Alexandra Rojas, executive director of Justice Democrats. "Many of these places are majority or plurality people-of-color districts that don’t demographically or policy-wise reflect the diverse working class communities they often serve.”

Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), a leader of the moderate New Democrat Coalition, which has been a target of criticism for progressives, voiced frustrations with Ocasio-Cortez’s push to primary Democrats.

"This majority was made by New Dems and Blue Dogs,” Peters said, referring to a second Democratic caucus considered more centrist than the New Democrats. "It was not made by turning seats from blue to blue. It was made by those people who turned seats from red to blue. If we want to keep the majority, those are the people we should be listening to."

"We should not be listening to people who don’t represent that mainstream voter who’s given Democrats the majority," Peters added.

[Cha]

62. The BLUE WAVE DEMS who

WON this year in the vital task of taking over the House are from all Different parts of the country.

One candidate couldn't win everywhere. they need to appreciate their Diversity.. because that's how the hell they WON as a Party.

"This majority was made by New Dems and Blue Dogs,” Peters said, referring to a second Democratic caucus considered more centrist than the New Democrats. "It was not made by turning seats from blue to blue. It was made by those people who turned seats from red to blue. If we want to keep the majority, those are the people we should be listening to."

Somebody needs to get a fucking clue.

Thank Goodness the Voters in District 3 Kansas didn't listen to AOC & BS. Because we got Sharice Davids in our New BLUE WAVE Congress.. who is actually doing work behind the scenes, and she Flipped a red seat BLUE.

Link to tweet

[Celerity]

76. I am a bit disappointed with Sharice Davids. She campaigned as a progressive

but then immediately joined the Blue Dog-style centrist New Democratic Coalition. They are close cousins (with some overlap) to the Problem Solvers. Both have many of the anti-Pelosi faction in their ranks and the New Democratic Coalition joined with the House Republicans this year (with Joe Crowley helping run point) to ram through that dodgy bank deregulation bill that partially gutted an already tame Dodd-Frank and systemically weakened the ability to resist another finacial crisis.

Hardly a progressive move on her part.

https://newdemocratcoalition-himes.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/new-democrat-coalition-inducts-30-members-elect-and-elects-new

[Cha]

84. Yeah, you're not going to try and smear

Sharice Davids here.

She is Progressive for Kansas District 3.

[Celerity]

88. It is not a smear, she joined the New Democrat Coalition

That is a simple truth, not a smear.

It has some of the most conservative Democratic members of the House in it. Again, simple truth, not a smear.

It is not progressive, unless now banking deregulation and being pro Wall Street and big pharma is the new definition of progressive.

Btw, I mis-labled them in the first reply. It is the New Democrat Coalition, not Democratic, they themselves dropped the ic.

It is identified as fiscally conservative, pro-business, pro balance budget, centrist, 3rd Way.

See here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Democrat_Coalition

Ideology

Centrism
Cultural liberalism
Fiscal conservatism
Third Way

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, as of 2009 the top contributors to the New Democrat Coalition caucus members were the finance, insurance and real estate industries......

The New Democrats: The Coalition Pharma and Wall Street Love

https://www.propublica.org/article/new-democrat-coalition

Snip

Over the past two years, their members have helped biotech companies win lucrative patent extensions during healthcare reform, fought to ensure that banks receiving TARP money didn't have to trim executive bonuses, and helped block a proposal to allow bankruptcy judges to adjust home mortgages—a step many experts believe would have reduced foreclosures. As they gathered for their May retreat, the New Democrats were working on what would become their biggest victory yet: weakening key components of financial-services reform legislation.

snip


Meet the New House Democrats: They May Not Toe the Party Line

The freshman House Democrats are the most diverse, most female class in history — and span the ideological spectrum. They arrive in Washington for orientation this week.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/12/us/house-democrats-new.html

Snip

So for all the talk of the rise of the progressive left — embodied by the rock star of the class, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez — the bulk of the newcomers might better be described as pragmatists.

All told the Democratic freshman class numbers more than 50; there are still some races yet to be decided. Nearly two dozen had the endorsement of the New Democrat Coalition, a centrist group that describes its members as “committed to pro-economic growth, pro-innovation, and fiscally responsible policies.” These members especially will face tough choices over whether to resist Mr. Trump, cooperate with him — or do both.

“It’s both,” said Lori Trahan, a former congressional chief of staff who defeated a Republican businessman in Massachusetts. “What this election said to me is that the country wants checks and balances on this administration; they want Congress to act as a coequal branch of government and to hold this administration accountable when necessary.”

Snip

Himes’ New Dems and moderate Republicans explore coalition

https://ctmirror.org/2017/02/02/himes-new-dems-and-moderate-republicans-explore-coalition/


Washington – With Donald Trump’s presidency fueling partisan fires in Congress, a group of centrist Democrats led by Rep. Jim Himes is trying to find common ground with GOP counterparts.

The pro-business “New Democrat Coalition” co-chaired by Himes, D-4th District, gathered with members of the “Tuesday Group” of House Republican moderates for a long lunch in the basement of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday.

The goal was to determine whether they could come together on infrastructure, budget, tax and other issues.

“We talked about areas we might agree on,” Himes said.

With 54 members, the New Democrat Coalition carries weight inside the party. The Tuesday Group also numbers 54 members.

Together, Himes said, both groups count, with 108 members, or one quarter of the House’s 435 seats.

Snip



We shall see how she votes, but that group is not a progressive group.

[Cha]

89. So What? Sharice Davids is doing a Brilliant

job for Kansas District 3.

And, I said "try" and smear.. it's not working. Just because she isn't as "perfect" as some others think they are.

Sharice flipped a red seat BLUE.. not a Deep Blue Seat BLUE.

[Celerity]

90. She isnt even a sworn-in voting member of Congress yet, so we cannot

say yet what type of job she is doing.

I reserve judgement until I see how all the new members vote.

[Cha]

91. Sharice Davids Flipped a red seat BLUE.

Link to tweet

And, she's already busy in her District.

[redstateblues]

104. Thanks Cha. Some of our fellow Democrats don't understand what it takes to flip a red seat blue.

All districts are not the same. I live in a red district and it’s not going to flip even if Bernie comes to town.

[Cha]

108. You're

, redstateblues.

I can imagine how hard it is for you there being repped by a gop.

[redstateblues]

110. Yes. It sucks. I would take any kind of Democrat- blue dog, yellow dog whatever.

Just not a Republican. Some of our blue staters don’t realize what it’s like to live in a deep red backward state. It would be quite a luxury to be able to have candidates have to pass the purity test.

[Cha]

111. I hear Ya! Virtual Hugs..

[fleabiscuit]

121. You're the best doll.

A gift of clarity.

[Cha]

123. flea!

Backatcha!

[Power 2 the People]

54. So depressing to see two young POC Democrats like AOC and Jeffries being minimized

on a Democratic board. The article was meant to divide Democrats through innuendo. Sadly it has succeeded.

[Ciaphas Cain]

106. I'm glad this was debunked

[ucrdem]

107. It was denied, not debunked.

Not here anyway.

p.s. welcome!

[tblue37]

57. She needs to cool her wheels--her *training* wheels--and quit targeting good Dems. nt

[womanofthehills]

67. Not so simple - it's more complex -

Looks like Joe Crowley undermined Barbara Lee by not being exactly truthful. Crowley knew Barbara Lee had the support of the younger members of congress and it seems he pushed Jeffries to run against Barbara Lee.

Besides this mess, AOC, would not be crazy about Jeffries because:

Roughly half of Jeffries’s campaign money comes from political action committees. A significant amount flows from unions, which remain powerful in New York, but he also relies heavily on corporate PAC money, including from real estate, finance, law firms, entertainment, and the pharmaceutical industry.

Jeffries has broken with Democrats to back Wall Street on key votes, including one high-profile measure written by Citigroup lobbyists in 2013. He is also one of the most vocal supporters of charter schools in Congress and a close ally of not just Crowley, but New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. A prominent supporter of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign, he savaged her rival Bernie Sanders in particularly aggressive terms, dubbing him a “gun-loving socialist” who provided “aid and comfort” to Donald Trump.

Jeffreys also suggested that Barbara Lee was too old.

https://theintercept.com/2018/11/29/hakeem-jeffries-joe-crowley-house-democratic-caucus-chair/

[tblue37]

72. I see. It is more complicated than I was aware of. Cooling my own wheels now. nt

[ucrdem]

109. Per the Intercept it's all about Bernie:

A prominent supporter of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign, he {Jeffries} savaged her rival Bernie Sanders in particularly aggressive terms, dubbing him a “gun-loving socialist” who provided “aid and comfort” to Donald Trump.

https://theintercept.com/2018/11/29/hakeem-jeffries-joe-crowley-house-democratic-caucus-chair/

If that much is accurate the OP article seems credible.

[RandiFan1290]

61. LOVE to see the whining from the right!

Proof that Rep. Ocasio-Cortez is doing a GREAT job!!

[Cha]

64. No, you don't "see the whining from the right".

they love this divisive crap.

[Autumn]

70. You know when the right uses lies and innuendos to smear her she's

gotten under their skin.

[WeekiWater]

65. Pretty poor article.

But the point of the Justice Democrats has been to weaken the left. These are the articles they want to see.

Cenk is a snake oil salesman.

[womanofthehills]

68. Cenk wants big corporate money out of the picture but this is really all about Rep. Barbara Lee

Sounds to me like Crowley is not taking his loss very well.

Joe Crowley isn’t handling his loss to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez too well

Crowley reportedly undermined a colleague who was seeking his old job due to his juvenile resentment of the woman who unseated him.

https://thinkprogress.org/joe-crowley-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-barbara-lee-hakeem-jeffries-house-democrats-leadership-new-york-congress-d5eb55ebd5eb/

[WeekiWater]

69. Cenk wants money in his pockets. He doesn't care where else it goes.

He shifts with the wind. A true snake oil salesman. Just about as sexist as they come, as well. He has a long and shady history.

Even the Justice Democrats parted ways with him over his sexism.

He is a self-proclaimed sexist conservative who now claims he has changed his ways. He is simply chasing a buck. That is clear.

[Cha]

87. I don't care what cenk wants..

Link to tweet

Progressive Group Ousts Cenk Uygur Over Past Sexist Writing
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/justice-democrats-ousts-cenk-uygur_us_5a3eb4d1e4b025f99e178181

cenk was always lying about President Obama. He actually blamed the Obama White House for getting him fired from his msnbc job.

[dansolo]

112. Why is this article any more credible than the Politico one?

Why are we supposed to accept AOC's denials, but not his?

UPDATE: In a statement to ThinkProgress on Monday, Rep. Joe Crowley’s (D-NY) staff denied that the outgoing congressman was involved in the effort to undermine Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA).

“Joe Crowley respects both Barbara Lee and Hakeem Jeffries and played no role in the race for caucus chair,” said Lauren French, the New York Democrat’s communications director. “Stories that he was whipping votes for either candidate are false and inaccurate.”

[Cha]

114. Thanks for the heads up on the UPDATE!

It didn't sound like him.. what the hell is going on over there?

[Cha]

113. Rep. Joe Crowley's (D-NY) staff denied that the outgoing

UPDATE: In a statement to ThinkProgress on Monday, Rep. Joe Crowley’s (D-NY) staff denied that the outgoing congressman was involved in the effort to undermine Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA).

“Joe Crowley respects both Barbara Lee and Hakeem Jeffries and played no role in the race for caucus chair,” said Lauren French, the New York Democrat’s communications director. “Stories that he was whipping votes for either candidate are false and inaccurate.”

https://thinkprogress.org/joe-crowley-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-barbara-lee-hakeem-jeffries-house-democrats-leadership-new-york-congress-d5eb55ebd5eb/

[pwb]

73. More Politico division. What crap.

Same old same old. Yawn.

[oberliner]

82. Laura Barrn-Lpez covers Democrats for the Washington Examiner.

That's the author.

Washington Examiner is a right-wing tabloid.

[oberliner]

75. This story has: - Not a SINGLE named or verifiable source

- Only ONE on-the-record comment, which is a denial.

Link to tweet

[pwb]

78. You noticed that too. The author quotes himself.

Its another shit sandwich we are all suppose to take a bite of.

[Quixote1818]

79. I was suspicious of the article when I saw it was Politico

so I googled it and the only other place running it was Newsmax and the Daily Caller.

https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/ocasio-cortez-jeffries-election-2020-challenger/2018/12/18/id/894923/

https://dailycaller.com/2018/12/18/ocasio-cortez-hakeem-jeffries/

[Autumn]

97. AOC called this article out as a junk article, bird cage lining as her Dad called it.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211566037

[elleng]

102. Thanks, Autumn.

[greyl]

100. Thank you very little for posting this article without highlighting its problems. nt

[elleng]

101. Not true. Take this down or edit 'headline.'

[dlk]

103. Perhaps She Should Get Sworn in First