Everybody loves shiny objects — flashy cars, luxury goods and new cellphones that do everything but cook dinner — are the things that make many Americans drool. In the early stages of the new House of Representatives session, the political media has found its own fascination.
It’s freshman Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, also known as “AOC,” whose every word is embraced by a group that is hungry for something different.
Cortez made it to Washington by beating Joe Crowley, a popular and powerful incumbent who was in the line to become Speaker of the House.
Having the distinction of being the youngest member ever elected to that 435-member body, AOC became an instant celebrity. Gifted with gab, the congresswoman has become one of the go-to members for reporters seeking a headline-grabbing retort.
This new phenom from Queens has become a vocal part of a small group of newcomers who have a far-left agenda on things like healthcare, college tuition and the environment. Her support of the Green New Deal has attracted the backing of all of the currently announced Democratic candidates for the White House.
While she may be ahead of her time on some of her priorities, she has succeeded in stirring up much debate within the ranks of the Democratic party.
Being the darling of the media has lots of pluses and minuses. There is no member in recent years who has attracted similar attention, but there are cases of newcomers who became media darlings and eventually flamed out.
Dennis Kucinich attracted similar adoration when he was elected to Congress in 1997. Prior to his election, he was the youngest mayor in the history of Cleveland.
He attracted a constant flow of interviews on his idealism and activism, and in both 2004 and 2008, he boldly ran for president. He introduced articles of impeachment for both President Bush and Vice President Cheney over the Iraq War. He eventually faded away.
There are many pitfalls to being the darling of the Washington press corps.
No one is an expert on everything and there is a tendency on the part of politicians, especially those with no experience, to offer their opinions at the drop of a hat. Her comments on the departure of Amazon from New York are the most recent example.
She smugly referred to the decision as a win for the “ordinary” people. Considering that 60 percent of the residents of Queens favored Amazon staying, remarks like that can backfire.
The suggestion by some of her backers that primary contests be launched next year against a number of prominent Democratic members, is guaranteed to build up a quiet resentment that could wind up undermining her progressive agenda.
AOC is part of a very liberal caucus, but they are not the most powerful voices in Congress. If you want to be a future leader of your party, it will take more than a book stuffed with press clippings.
Some observers of the political scene have suggested that the Democratic Congress is drifting too far to the left. But if you are looking for a centrist member who reflects the formula that helped the party gain forty House seats in 2018, then take a look at Rebecca Michelle Sherrill, a newly elected member from New Jersey.
Her story reflects what the vast majority of the swing voters embraced on Election Day.
“Mikie,” as she is a 47-year-old Navy veteran and former prosecutor, is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate who attended the London School of Economics and Georgetown Law School. She saw service as a helicopter pilot in the Middle East and attained the rank of lieutenant commander.
She is the mother of four children. She won the seat that had been occupied by a 24-year veteran Republican in an affluent district that leans conservative. She ran a centrist campaign that attracted a cross-section of voters.
She did not vote for Nancy Pelosi for Speaker, but still won a coveted seat on the House Armed Services Committee and was named chair of the Subcommittee on Science, Space and Technology.
In the end, only time will tell whose approach to effective legislating will prevail. It’s a choice between a war veteran and former prosecutor with exceptional skills and an articulate populist who may be a temporary media darling.
Candidates like Sherrill have the staying power to be the best alternative if the Democratic party is to keep control in 2020 and maintain support for a Democratic Congress.
