The Democratic Socialists of America have withdrawn an earlier endorsement of Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, citing her inability to meet the specific conditions of the endorsement, as well as a question of strategic timing from the New York City chapter.
The Democratic Socialists of America’s National Political Committee initially voted to endorse Ocasio-Cortez on June 23 at the request of the New York City DSA’s Steering Committee, stating that their support for her campaign was dependent on specific conditions being met. These conditions included her public opposition to all funding for Israel, participation in the DSA Federal Socialists in Office Committee, opposition to the criminalization of anti-Zionism, and support for the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction movement.
However, according to a Thursday press release published by the national DSA, that endorsement has since been withdrawn at the request of the same affiliate, which cited the timing of the endorsement coming after the state primaries and its overall strategic effectiveness. Additionally, the national DSA states that it has not seen evidence suggesting that Ocasio-Cortez had met the earlier conditions outlined for the endorsement, although it notes that the New York City affiliate endorsement is still in place.
The organization states that members provided input about the endorsement through chapter meetings and town halls. While many of them supported the idea, they also demanded she demonstrate a higher level of commitment to “Palestinian liberation, self-determination, and the immediate end to the heinous genocide in Gaza committed by Israel that aligns with DSA’s positions and expectations of socialists in office.”
“We recognize that AOC has taken many courageous positions on Palestine such as co-sponsoring several House Resolutions (3103, 786, 496), naming Israel’s genocide as well as opposing House Resolution 894,” the organization states. “However, members have raised their concerns regarding a number of her votes, including a vote in favor of H.Res.888, conflating opposition to Israel’s ‘right to exist’ with antisemitism. AOC also co-signed a press release on April 20, 2024, that ‘support[s] strengthening the Iron Dome and other defense systems.'”
Additionally, the organization cites a recent public panel between Ocasio-Cortez and leaders from the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, which it states was regarded as a betrayal by many DSA members.
While the Democratic Socialists of America are not explicitly organized as a third party organization, they consider themselves an independent “surrogate party” and want to distance themselves from both the Republican and Democratic parties. More recently, delegates voted at the organization’s 2023 national convention to focus on becoming organizationally, strategically, and visibly separate from the Democratic Party, including uniting around a single platform and having their candidates cross-endorse. However, they acknowledge that it’s not advisable at this time to organize as a party with a distinct ballot line.
With thanks to fellow IPR editorial team member Prof. George Phillies for sharing news of the DSA press release.
1. The U.S. should not be subsidizing any foreign nation’s military. Not every their “defensive” capabilities.
2. I remember during the 1980s, Israel and its lobby argued that there’s no such thing as a defense weapon. That “defensive” weapons are offensive, because “defensive” weapons strengthen a nation’s war efforts.
Reagan had wanted to sell AWAC planes to Saudi Arabia. AWACs carry radar equipment, helping a nation detect if hostile planes are approaching. Reagan and Saudi Arabia argued that AWACs were purely defensive. Israel and its lobby tried to block the sale, arguing there’s no such thing as a defensive weapon, that AWACs would be advantageous during a war.
Reagan finally managed to push the sale through Congress, after he promised to increased military aid for Israel. We had to give more FREE (offensive) weapons to Israel, for their permission to us to SELL to the Saudis.
For context, here is AOC’s statement regarding the Iron Dome: https://ocasio-cortez.house.gov/media/press-releases/ocasio-cortez-castro-velazquez-doggett-jayapal-khanna-balint-casar-takano
She had just voted AGAINST a bill authorizing offensive weapons for Israel, but put out that statement saying she supported defensive capabilities, like the Iron Dome. That is what the Democratic Socialists objected to. They don’t appear to have any philosophical disagreement with spending taxpayer dollars in general, so it is only the spending of taxpayer dollars for the specific purpose of helping Israel to defend itself against missile attacks that inspired the objection. The Iron Dome is purely defensive.
So the DSA joins the far-left in going back to 1890: Down with the capitalist Jews!
They’ll be reviving Jim Crow next.