Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez works in my interest as a 50-something white male, even though she is a Hispanic, female, 30 year old. I am not only inspired but impressed by her energy, acumen, ability to ask questions, hold people accountable, and even work with Ted Cruz to target corruption in Washington. She is great at her job, and I believe she will be the first woman U.S. President.
I am tired of identity politics. (“I want someone who looks like me to be in office”). I don’t want someone who looks like me. I want someone who is a good and courageous person, and good at doing what she is doing. “Looks like me” is not a job description, any more than “I could have a beer with him” was a legitimate reason to vote for Bush, Jr.
I want someone who advocates for my highest self and the highest self of society, who inspires, thinks critically, actively moves change, and empathizes and IS EFFECTIVE at getting things done. AOC is that person. AOC came out of the Justice Democrats, a movement given rise to by the grassroots revolution that Bernie Sanders represents, but which is driven by the progressive-minded citizens of this country like AOC.
Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar are two other ethnically-diverse, courageous legislators who come out of this same “fight for what is right, and speak truth to power” place. They represent NOT MY LOOKS BUT WHAT I LOOK FOR IN MY OWN CHARACTER. They inspire and activate me by their real leadership and courage, while the compromisers and excuse-makers, simply turn me off.
Am I more inspired by AOC than Bernie Sanders? Hell, yes! I wish she were old enough to run for president now, but my compromise IS Bernie Sanders, because, even as an old, white guy, he is working in the best interests of the people and of the wider world, and he has commitedly help set the foundation for a feminist uprising in our governance. No Elizabeth Warren, Nancy Pelosi, or Hillary Clinton has helped to do that. In fact Pelosi and Clinton have actively sought to undermine that uprising.
LOOK WHERE SOMEONE FIGHTS FROM AND WHAT THEY FIGHT FOR. THAT is who they are. Those will be the effective change makers. By electing Bernie, you can be assured from the force and demonstration of this revolution, that you will have more women like Cortez, Omar, and Talib elected and rising up the ranks to take this country where it needs to go. Toss your hat in with identity politics (“I want someone who looks like me”) and you will get tokenism, because you have voted for tokenism.
