If I Only Had a Brain: AOC and the Brutal Primary Debate

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When it comes to political comedy, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is the gift that keeps on giving. Each week, Liberty Nation uncovers the blunders that keep us wondering: How did she ever get elected?

Things seem to be heating up for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as her primary race is getting closer. This week, the lawmaker engaged in a debate with two of her primary opponents, one of whom pulled no punches. But will this be enough to unseat the socialist starlet?

AOC Under Attack

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez participated in a House Democratic primary debate with former CNBC host Michelle Caruso-Cabrera and Queens activist Badrun Khan. Caruso-Cabrera did not hold back as she criticized AOC on multiple issues.

First, the former journalist took AOC to task for her conspicuous absence during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. She castigated the lawmaker for staying in Washington, D.C., at “the height of the crisis.” Caruso-Cabrera said, “You stayed away in your apartment. AOC, you’re always MIA.”

AOC’s challenger also pointed out that the lawmaker has created a “huge division” in the House Democratic caucus. Caruso-Cabrera is likely referring to the fact that Ocasio-Cortez has cultivated a rather abrasive relationship with her colleagues, especially those she deems to be too moderate. Not only did she refuse to pay her Democratic campaign dues, but she also formed a political action committee to defeat incumbent Democratic politicians in the primaries.

The lawmaker struck back at her challenger, alleging that Caruso-Cabrera wasn’t running a genuine campaign. “While it’s disappointing to see Ms. Caruso-Cabrera fixated on personal attacks – and for some strange reason, obsessed with the six days in March that I wasn’t feeling well, and had to stay in my apartment,” she said. “I do think it’s quite funny that she goes on and on about the fact that … I spend time doing my job in Washington and coming home to the Bronx when she lived in a $15,000-a-month Trump Tower apartment until six months ago.”

AOC added, “This woman probably couldn’t even find Sunnyside [Queens] on a map until she decided to challenge me for the sake of challenging me,” Ocasio-Cortez added. “She doesn’t care about the Bronx, she doesn’t care about Queens. She cares about running for running.”

But Caruso-Cabrera didn’t let up. She reaffirmed her commitment to the city despite not having been born there. “Greetings from Sunnyside, Queens,” Caruso-Cabrera shot back. “I love Sunnyside, Queens, I love New York. I wish I had been born in New York. Unfortunately, I wasn’t. My opponent is the one that nobody ever sees in the district. Let me tell you, the second this crisis started, I started delivering food and I started delivering masks.”

Cabrera-Caruso Touts Her Credentials

The former CNBC host went on to highlight her efforts to aid residents of Sunnyside during the Coronavirus outbreak. “I have delivered nearly 50,000 masks and food and hand sanitizer to Jacobi Hospital, which I’m not sure you could have found on a map, AOC,” she said. She pointed out that on “day one, I was out delivering food, I was out delivering masks – I wasn’t even elected.”

Ocasio-Cortez continued to defend herself, stating that she has “continued to raise over almost half-a-million dollars for food pantries, delivering meals myself, while also advocating for broader, systemic change in Washington.”

Caruso-Cabrera wasn’t having it. She clapped back at AOC, saying that her efforts were the “least” she could do after “driving away 25,000 jobs.” The former CNBC host was referencing the representative’s role in preventing Amazon to set up a second headquarters in Long Island City. “Imagine if we had those jobs that you drove away right now to help us get back on our feet,” Caruso-Cabrera added.

Despite being a registered Democrat, Caruso-Cabrera, a descendent of Cuban immigrants, has railed against socialism and has promoted free enterprise. It seems she is trying to capitalize on the fact that AOC has alienated many of those who might have supported her in this race. If she manages to defeat the incumbent, it will be a devastating blow to the far-left progressive faction of the Democratic Party.

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Read more from Jeff Charles.