Obama tells Democrats to focus on policy instead of squabbling over the word 'socialism,' but wants AOC to get more airtime



Former President Barack Obama opined that socialist Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) should get more exposure from the Democratic party even as he warned them to focus less on using the word "socialism."

Obama made the comments during a interview with Vanity Fair contributor Peter Hamby released on Wednesday.

He was talking about the success of the Democratic National Committee when he appeared to criticize the party for not giving the firebrand socialist more airtime.

"The Democratic National Convention I thought was really successful considering the pandemic, and really used technology wisely," Obama claimed.

"But, you know, the fact that an AOC only got, what, three minutes or five minutes? When she speaks to a broad section of young people who are interested in what she has to say, even if they don't agree with everything she says?" he added.

"You give her a platform, just like there may be some other young Democrats who come from more conservative areas who have a different point of view," Obama continued. "New blood is always good. And I say that as somebody who used to be the young, shiny cool guy. But now is the gray-haired old grizzled vet."

In a separate part of the interview he explained why some Democrats were shying away from using the word "socialism" in their political platforms.

"Socialism is still a loaded term for a lot of folks," Obama said. "Once again, instead of talking labels and ideology, we should focus on talking about getting certain things done."

Ironically, Ocasio-Cortez and the other progressive members of the "squad" of congressional Democrats had lashed out at Obama and other Democrats who had cautioned against using far left rhetoric that might scare voters away.

"The thing that critics of activists don't get is that they tried playing the 'polite language' policy game and all it did was make them easier to ignore," she said in a tweet.

"It wasn't until they made folks uncomfortable that there was traction to do ANYTHING even if it wasn't their full demands," she added.

Here's more about the squad ripping on Obama:

See Obama's warning to progressiveswww.youtube.com

Dianne Feinstein gives up leadership position after progressive outrage at her actions during Barrett hearings



Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California stepped down from her leadership position after outraged progressives criticized her over her actions during the congressional hearings for Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Feinstein made the announcement Monday that she was stepping down as the ranking Democrat on a key committee and would not seek any other such positions.

"After serving as the lead Democrat on the Judiciary Committee for four years, I will not seek the chairmanship or ranking member position in the next Congress," Feinstein said.

The 87-year-old Feinstein was targeted by far-left progressive groups after she was seen quickly hugging Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina after the end of the hearings in October for the Supreme Court confirmation of Barrett.

Feinstein also told Graham, "I just want to thank you. This has been one of the best set of hearings that I've participated in. Thank you so much for your leadership."

"Someone like Feinstein who is so out of step with the rest of the party should not be the lead Democrat on the Judiciary Committee," tweeted Ben Rhodes, the former national security adviser for former President Barack Obama.

Someone like Feinstein who is so out of step with the rest of the party should not be the lead Democrat on the Judiciary Committee.
— Ben Rhodes (@Ben Rhodes)1602795544.0

A statement from Demand Justice, a progressive group headed by former Hillary Clinton 2016 campaign press secretary Brian Fallon, also cited a damaging incident where Feinstein mocked and derided children for demanding she back the far-left Green New Deal.

"If Senate Democrats are going to get their act together on the courts going forward, they cannot be led by someone who treats Sunrise activists with contempt and the Republican theft of a Supreme Court seat with kid gloves," Fallon said in the statement.

Two months later, it appears that Feinstein bowed to their demands. She said elsewhere in the statement that she would instead focus on the issues that most affect her constituents.

"California is a huge state confronting two existential threats — wildfire and drought — that are only getting worse with climate change," Feinstein said. "In the next Congress, I plan to increase my attention on those two crucial issues. I also believe that defeating COVID-19, combating climate change and protecting access to health care are critical national priorities that require even more concentration."

The move by Feinstein might have also been a concession to the far-left wing of the Democrats after public infighting broke out after a disappointing showing in the 2020 election.

Feinstein, who has been in the Senate since 1992, won re-election in 2018 to a six-year term that expires in January 2025.

Here's video of the hug that killed Feinstein's career:

Graham Hugs Feinstein After Barrett Hearings Wrapwww.youtube.com

New York State Democratic Party chairman slaps down Ocasio-Cortez for lecturing Dems on progressivism



The chairman of the New York state Democratic party blamed the extreme leftism from Democrats for disappointing election results and specifically singled out Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) for his ire.

Jay Jacobs told the New York Post that Ocasio-Cortez had no business telling other Democrats how to campaign given how far left her own district is.

"AOC has no standing on how to run a general election in the suburbs and upstate. AOC is in a district that's 6-1 Democrat and she couldn't find a Republican in her district with binoculars," Jacobs said.

"I invite AOC to come to Long Island and stand for election in one of our districts. You'll see different results," Jacobs added.

Ocasio-Cortez easily won her re-election campaign over a Republican challenger on election day, but Democrats elsewhere in the state didn't fare as well.

The comments from Jacobs mirror those from centrist establishment Democrats who are blaming the far left progressive messaging for the party's national losses as well.

In an emotional caucus phone conference after the election, Democratic politicians said that Republicans pummeled them by aligning them with "socialist" policies, including "defund the police" efforts from Black Lives Matter protests.

"We need to not ever use the words socialist or socialism ever again," said Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger, who won a close re-election race in Virginia.

"If we run this race again we will get f***ing torn apart again in 2022," she added.

Progressive groups fired back in a memo that tossed gasoline on the internecine conglagration.

"Not a single Democrat — progressive or otherwise — argued that Democrats should run primarily on these themes," the memo said. "These attacks will never go away, nor will demands for reform from social movements. The attacks are designed to stoke racial resentment."

Democrats raised $400 in hopes of seizing the Senate from Republican control, but their hopes are hanging by a thread in Georgia where two Senate seats will be determined in run-off elections.

Here's more about Democrats failing:

Democrats Raised $400 Million To Win Senate Seats But Ultimately Came Up Short | Forbeswww.youtube.com