Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the democratic-socialist running for New York’s 14th congressional district, is facing criticism after her campaign banned journalists from covering a town hall meeting with voters last week.
The Queens Chronicle reported that the campaign for the 28-year-old “pronounced the future of the Democratic Party” prevented reporters from attending a campaign event in Corona, Queens on Sunday, even though it was open to the rest of the public. The campaign reportedly barred reporters from a prior event as well.
Ocasio-Cortez returned to her district after stumping for like-minded candidates across the country, even joining up with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders. She became an overnight political sensation and a sought-after endorsement on the left upon defeating longtime Rep. Joe Crowley in New York’s Democratic primary in June.
Campaign spokesman Corbin Trent said the ban was the campaign’s response to an incident last week where Ocasio-Cortez met with healthcare activist Ady Barkan, and the two of them were “mobbed” by journalists despite it being a non-Q&A event.
“We wanted to help create a space where community members felt comfortable and open to express themselves without the distraction of cameras and press. These were the first set of events where the press has been excluded,” said Trent. “This is an outlier and will not be the norm. We’re still adjusting our logistics to fit Alexandria’s national profile.”
Ocasio-Cortez herself later tweeted it was a “non-story”.
Our community is 50% immigrant. Folks are victims of DV, trafficking, + have personal medical issues.
This town hall was designed for residents to feel safe discussing sensitive issues in a threatening political time.
We indicated previously that it would be closed to press.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 17, 2018
Additionally, with this town hall non-story: it was designed to protect + invite vulnerable populations to PUBLIC discourse: immigrants, victims of domestic abuse, and so on.
We indicated previously that the event would be closed to press. Future ones are open.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 17, 2018
However, reporters had plenty to say on social media:
And how does the presence of reporters make people feel unsafe?
— Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) August 17, 2018
Not sure this holds up. Press banned to make voters more comfortable, except anyone could have walked in as long as they claimed to be a future constituent – unless all attendees had their backgrounds were vetted. Which means it wasn’t ‘open to the public.’ => https://t.co/jDR6j1Yaes
— David M. Drucker (@DavidMDrucker) August 17, 2018
Campaign says "“We wanted to help create a space where community members felt comfortable and open to express themselves without the distraction of cameras and press."
Then make it a private event. Don't make it a public event and then ban the press.
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) August 17, 2018
You cannot ban members of the press from events that are otherwise open to the public.
That is not how it works.
Period. https://t.co/sqe9HWTEEb
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) August 17, 2018
It's really quite condescending to call it a non-story @Ocasio2018 – it's very simple, if you wanted a private event, keep it private. But you chose to ban the press from a public event. https://t.co/12qFq5ihjo
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) August 17, 2018
Every politician in NYC holds constant events in immigrant communities and has done so since the dawn of time, the press covering these forums is totally normal. https://t.co/pyK7mf5JbC
— Benjy Sarlin (@BenjySarlin) August 17, 2018
Calling a legitimate story (reporting on a campaign's barring of press at an otherwise public event because the campaign felt it would be a distraction) a "non-story" is not a good look. https://t.co/VhYfr7y5BC https://t.co/GKS33R2Anh
— Ali Rogin (@AliABCNews) August 17, 2018
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10 Responses
she’s young and new so was probably testing messaging before opening event to reporters. it would probably be prudent to be cautious in demonizing her because when you need her to vote for your cause she’ll make you eat crow. she most likely qualifies as a tinok shishba regarding israel/pali issue. whats funny is socialism is advocated by the left and is fought ideologically by the bannon alt right which is associated with hard core anti semitism so for a liberal democrat its confusing why a jew would side with the alt right over a leftist more accepting agenda.
The district needs to run a campaign against her providing 2 things. One is a document that tells everyone facts about her background and proposed policies. The second is a disc with clips of her interviews with the media – including her darling leftist CNN, where she displays ignorance and pathologically poor intellect. Then let the voters judge for themselves. Most stuffed toys are more literate and informed than she is.
Heck if the president can do it why can’t she? IIRC there were also republicans who banned press from town halls in the past two years.
“ a leftist more accepting agenda.”
Leftists are only accepting of one thing – other leftists.
Amil Zola, why are you carrying water for the dumb, clueless, Jew-Hating Bolshevik? You probably will be voting for her, right?
What’s the big deal? Socialists don’t believe in “free press” to begin with. In their worldview, the press has a duty to serve the socialist cause. Saying she doesn’t want reporters around is like saying that Hitler didn’t like Jews – no hidush.
A “double standard” compared to Trump is relevant, since Trump claims to be a Republican, and Republican ideology has always favored a free press (similar to non-socialist Democrats). However one needs to realize that “free press” is part of American exceptionalism, with the modern left objects to.
> groissechuchum
“when you need her to vote for your cause she’ll make you eat crow.”
So you are labeling her vindictive?
> Amil Zola
“Heck if the president can do it why can’t she? ”
Which president? If you mean Trump, he banned individual people who where giving him a hard time. I recall no across-the-board media ban.
But the real point is not whether Trump did or did not ban media. The real point is that her (Cortez’s) party publicly castigated in extreme terms Trump for alleged banning, but in no time they quickly excuse her for the same – and even more extreme – actions than they castigated Trump for allegedly committing?
MoisheInGolus, not carrying water for her and I’m not in her district. I’m merely pointing out that there is no uniform position on this issue with regards to party. Like I mentioned before there are others who have closed their town halls to reporters. Make of it what you will.
Zola:
“Heck if the president can do it why can’t she? IIRC there were also republicans who banned press from town halls in the past two years.”
When the president does it you vilify him. Now you want to okay it when it’s doe by one of your own?
Typical hypocrisy.