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John Kasich attacks AOC for extreme politics ahead of DNC 20202, says she gets 'outsized publicity'

The firebrand NY lawmaker also gave back to the GOP member and accused the GOP leader of 'fighting against women’s rights'

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) that kicked off on Monday, August 17, was not only unique for being a virtual event but also because some leaders from the Republican Party crossed the aisle to endorse Joe Biden as the Dems’ presidential candidate for the November 3 election. One of the GOP members attending the blue party’s convention is former Ohio governor John Kasich who told CNN that he wanted to see a unifier at the helm and did not feel incumbent president Donald Trump from his own party was doing the job. 

However, even if Kasich, 68, was responding to the call of ‘conscience’, it did not prevent him from getting involved in a war of words with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez -- the New York Congresswoman who claims herself to be a socialist. 

Kasich, who was set to speak at the convention on the opening day along with former first lady Michelle Obama and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, was among the contenders of Trump in the 2016 presidential election primary but had an unsuccessful mission. In the run-up to the speech, Kasich spoke out against AOC. In a telephonic interview with Buzzfeed News, Kasich dragged in AOC saying she received “outsized publicity”. 

“I think both parties have to have new ideas, and I think this country is moderate. People on the extreme, whether they're on the left or on the right, they get outsized publicity that tends to define their party. You know, I listen to people all the time make these statements, and because AOC gets outsized publicity doesn't mean she represents the Democratic Party. She's just a part, just some member of it. And it's on both sides, whether it's the Republicans or whether it's the Democrats,” Kasich said. 

AOC, 30, did not waste time to hit back at Kasich. The firebrand leader has been allotted one minute to speak at the convention and her speech is pre-recorded, unlike Kasich who was set to speak live. 

In a tweet that was posted along with Ctrl Alt-Right Delete newsletter author Melissa Ryan's tweet highlighting Kasich's words to Buzzfeed, AOC accused the GOP leader of “fighting against women’s rights”. Kasich, who is known to be pro-life, took various measures during his stint as the Ohio governor to restrict access to abortion (he reportedly signed 21 bills to that effect). 

“It's great that Kasich has woken up & realized the importance of supporting a Biden-Harris ticket,” AOC wrote, adding: “I hope he gets through to GOP voters. Yet also, something tells me a Republican who fights against women's rights doesn't get to say who is or isn't representative of the Dem party.”

Last week, AOC also addressed the decision to give her only a minute to speak at the convention by tweeting a poem called ‘Life Is Just a Minute’ by Benjamin E. Mays. “I only have a minute. Sixty seconds in it. Forced upon me, I did not choose it, But I know that I must use it. Give account if I abuse it. Suffer, if I lose it. Only a tiny little minute, But eternity is in it,” she said, adding that it was recited by Maryland’s late Democratic lawmaker Elijah Cummings. The Democratic Party was divided over AOC getting a little time for her speech. Initially, her speech was uncertain but in the end, she got a minute's time. 

Three other Republicans who joined Kasich on the Democratic Party podium are former New Jersey governor Christine Todd Whitman; Quibi CEO Meg Whitman who is a former adviser to Mitt Romney’s presidential run and former NY representative and vice chair of the House Republican Conference Susan Molinari.