Leslie Marshall: Are Democratic congressional leaders too old? AOC and Pelosi have very different views
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who’s 80, was lately requested in an interview on “60 Minutes” on CBS why Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has complained that Pelosi isn’t grooming youthful House Democrats for management positions.
The speaker’s response? “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask her — because we are.”
Pelosi added that Ocasio-Cortez is “very effective as are others — many other members in our caucus that the press doesn’t pay attention to.”
PELOSI GETS ‘SHARP’ WHEN ASKED ABOUT AOC DURING ’60 MINUTES’ INTERVIEW
It was a very good comeback. It’s additionally the reality.
AOC is an efficient speaker and chief who attracts heavy media consideration. But she is definitely not able to fill Pelosi’s sneakers.
More from Opinion
In a comment assured to not endear her to her get together’s House and Senate leaders, AOC mentioned in an interview printed in The Intercept final month that “I do think that we need new leadership in the Democratic Party,” including that “I’m not ready. It can’t be me! I know that I couldn’t do that job.”
Ocasio-Cortez is kind of highly effective among the many most progressive Democrats, however many centrist Democrats say her positions are too far to the left.
House Democrats misplaced seats within the November election, although nonetheless retaining their majority, and some blamed the losses on candidates like AOC who embraced positions too liberal to win assist from a majority of voters in average and swing districts.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
While AOC’s complaints draw media consideration, Pelosi says many House members are being groomed for management Pelosi’s remark about different younger House members not getting as a lot consideration as AOC is correct. There have been criticisms in regards to the period of time Ocasio-Cortez spends on social media and how she elevates her personal picture and her personal identify. That criticism doesn’t simply come from Republicans.
House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who’s 50, as soon as requested: ‘Do we want to govern, or do we want to be Internet celebrities?”
AOC was the youngest woman ever elected to the House when she won her seat at just 29. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., is now the youngest House member at age 25.
AOC is correct that many top congressional leaders are senior citizens.
In addition to the 80-year-old Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., is 81.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is 70. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is 78. Assistant Senate Republican leader Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, is 68.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is a comparative youngster at 55.
Many lower-level leaders have not yet reach senior citizen status.
For example, Rep. Pete Aguilar of California is only 41 and is vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado is 36 and is one of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee co-chairs. Another co-chair is Rep. Colin Allred of Texas, who is 37.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR OPINION NEWSLETTER
Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, who is 40, ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 and is one of the co-chairs of the House Democratic Policy and Steering Committee. Rep. Stephanie Murphy is 42 and is one of the House Democratic chief deputy whips.
Newly elected Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., is just 33.
Perhaps what AOC was criticizing is that there are not more progressives as far to the left as she is in House leadership. Or maybe she just doesn’t like Pelosi persevering with as speaker.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Young people are often impatient to climb the ladder to leadership positions in their careers. But experience is a requirement for many high-level positions in many fields. That’s certainly the case in Congress.
As Pelosi and other aging members of Congress retire in coming years, we’ll see younger members rise to fill top leadership positions. But AOC should be careful what she wishes for. If she stays in the House and is speaker 20 years from now, she may find herself challenged by a younger member — who attacks her for being too old.
