This is what I mean. They aren't scared. They are targeting her. They are targeting her in the way they targeted Obama, and everybody acted like it was the same old political shenanigans. I still get infuriated when I think about "You lie!"
We need to understand that Obama survived this only because of his position as POTUS. We are seeing just how hard it is to get rid of a president. But a fresh representative in the House doesn't have nearly the level of teflon.
I feel like people don't understand why it's important to see this as a deliberate tactic, and a potentially effective one. AOC *is* on track to the be most visible and most popular representative of the progressive movement. Destroying her would do a lot of damage today.
The GOP and has been most effective at painting liberal movements into a corner precisely because they know we put individuals on pedestals as the "face" of things. If they beat AOC, it's a small step for them to paint a picture that the whole movement is done.
Those of us who try to pay attention can see that there are many other political players. But the public at large only gets to know a few. I remember what it was like to be that person. Some of y'all are still mad that Obama didn't "fix everything".
It's hard not to be inspired by the message that AOC is carrying so fearlessly. But it's exactly the thing that makes her a target. I'm sorry if it feels like I'm not focused on the positivity of this day. I'm feeling those things too. But this is bothering me so much.
I don't know why it feels important for people to believe this idea that they are "scared of her". But maybe it'll help to inject some nuance. They aren't scared of her. They are losing power. And they will destroy her and many others to keep it.
Those are just not the same thing. And if you are telling yourself they are, then you will let another woman of color sacrifice herself for you. Leaving her to twist in the fucking wind. Popularity is not political power. It's just not.
You don't have to be "scared" of someone to decide that destroying them is in your interest. Evil is more banal than that.
I don't have any answers here. I'm shouting into the wind like everyone else. I don't think we have levers that can directly help AOC and other political leaders in this fight. Other than continuing to lend our popular support and calling out the bullshit as we see it.
Mostly I'm talking to y'all because I'm trying to understand why "they're scared" is the hill you wanna die on. The GOP has pulled off an unprecedented power grab across all levels of government. I don't see the fear y'all. This is just what they do now.
They organize better than we do. They can deploy talking points across multiple sources instantly. They have an army of people willing to spread any nonsense with no shame. This isn't fear. It is strategy and it is working.
