AOC may be denied speaking slot at virtual Democratic National Convention as party stays divided over her role
The Democratic Party is in the process of finalizing its speaker line-up for the convention later this month and some notable political brand names have received slots: the Clinton and Obama couples are among them. However, one of the blue party’s rising stars may not get a prime-time speaking slot and it is New York Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, who became the youngest member of Congress in 2018 defeating longtime GOP representative Joe Crowley and is facing a re-election challenge herself this year as well. The finalization of the speakers is yet to be done, said Politico.
The convention will be a less-than-normal event this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Democratic National Committee decided to make the event an eight-hour affair covering four nights (August 17-20) and the speakers will make a virtual appearance. On August 5, the organizers announced that presumptive candidate Joe Biden will not travel to Milwaukee either for the convention and accept the nomination and deliver his speech from his residence in Delaware. "The mayor has put in place a 225 person limit on people assembling in any one place. I think it's the right thing to do. I've wanted to set an example as to how we should respond individually to this crisis," the former vice-president told a virtual fundraiser on August 5 afternoon.
AOC's role at the convention
There was some drama over whether Ocasio-Cortez would be a part of the speakers’ team. On August 7 afternoon, a fellow House member said people close to the fire-brand self-proclaimed left leader said she will get a prime-time speaking role and deserved it because she has been leading Biden’s climate change policy. AOC endorsed Sanders in the race for the presidential nomination but played a key role in the “unity” task force that was set up by Biden and Sanders. Politico reported this but also added that AOC’s spokesperson Lauren Hitt refused to either confirm or deny her inclusion in the virtual event. By evening, however, a source familiar with the convention planning told Politico that AOC "will have some role".
The question over AOC’s role at the convention has sparked a debate in the Democratic camp. The party’s progressive activists were in favor of seeing her speech saying that it would energize the base and mobilize young people behind the former veep. Corbin Trent, a former top adviser to the lawmaker said “it would be stupid” if she was denied to make a speech as “she’s one of the best speakers the Democratic Party’s got”.
But on the other hand, the moderate voices said it would be harmful to the Democrats if she got a prime-time speaking role especially when President Donald Trump is trying to link Biden to her to project the veteran as an “empty vessel” for the progressive left. Trump recently said in Ohio that if the US followed AOC's policies, it would meet the sorry fate of Venezuela.
Former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell, an ally of Biden, said it would not be fair to highlight the first-time Congresswoman who took office only last year. "I think Bernie and Warren will speak, and they’ll represent the progressive wing of the party very ably. If you picked AOC, why wouldn’t you pick Katie Porter or why wouldn’t you pick Madeleine Dean or Mary Gay Scanlon?" he asked.
Other speakers at the convention scheduled between August 17 and 20 will include Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who had two consecutive unsuccessful attempts to bag the nomination; Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren; California Senator Kamala Harris; Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Biden’s spouse Jill. Ohio’s former Republican governor John Kasich, who has backed Biden, has also been offered a speaking slot at the Democratic convention. Through the presence of Kasich and Sanders, the Democratic Party is eyeing to consolidate a broad anti-Trump coalition.