AOC just a ‘phantom of the media’ without real influence, ex-Gov. Paterson says

NY Post ^ | 7/03/22 | Sam Raskin

[Libloather]

Former New York Gov. David Paterson dismissed US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s influence as a “phantom of the media” after left-wing candidates endorsed by the socialist firebrand suffered brutal losses in last week’s primaries.

“AOC are just three letters in the alphabet,” the 68-year-old Democrat said in an interview on WABC radio’s “The Cats Roundtable” aired Sunday.

Paterson was asked by host John Catsimatidis about the Tuesday primary results in which the majority of left-wing state Assembly contenders were unsuccessful in their efforts to expand their presence in Albany by ousting more moderate Democrats.

Asked if the losses represented “the rise and fall of AOC,” the Democratic former governor replied, “I don’t know if there ever was a rise, John.”

“I think AOC, who defeated a congressman who was notably absent from his district a lot, so she outworked him and she beat him, and then she became this overnight, national success,” Paterson said, referring to longtime ex-US Rep. Joe Crowley, who AOC toppled in a major upset in the June 2018 Democratic primary for the Queens and Bronx House seat.

“But really, there’s no evidence that it had any coattails, not in this 2022 primary, but not even in the 2020 elections,” he added. “I think she is really a phantom of the media, the media projects her.”

**SNIP**

In last week’s primary elections, AOC-endorsed state Assembly hopefuls Samy Nemir Olivares Keron Alleyne, Illapa Sairitupac and Vanessa Agudelo, among others, were all defeated by establishment Democrats.

[Libloather]

The bartender may be too radical for NY. Imagine that.

[ncalburt]

She is a actually a failed Actress - book writer .
The Socialist Party did a casting call and she won the audition.
Its all scripted and their media plants were activated .

[cranked]

How I wish this was entirely true, it’s not. AOCIdiot has more influence than he thinks and he should not beguiled into thinking otherwise.

[HighSierra5]

Even a blind man can see.

[fruser1]

The first thing the stupid twit did as congressman was to fight to keep amazon from opening a location in her district which would’ve given them many jobs.

I’m figuring the locals and opposition will remember that election time, though it likely will not be reported.

[pepsionice]

Some juvenile-acting actress...wearing adult clothing, and talking about the failures in life.

[Leep]

It’s the same thing in every state. The cities pretty much run the show...call the shots for the less urban areas.
Or,they would like to think they do.

[Gaffer]

AOC, Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib all begat the likes of Rhode Island’s Tiara Mack, State Senator.

Let that sink in.

[mewzilla]

David Paterson.

There’s a name I haven’t heard in a while.

Wish it had been a while longer.

[richardtavor]

Love this quote: “AOC are just three letters in the alphabet.”

[jmcenanly]

The Framers of the Constitution created the Electoral College to prevent this on a nationwide scale.

[DennisR]

Yep.

[Ann Archy]

She has a TON of influence....sadly......ALL bad.

[mellow velo]

AOC already won re-election in 2020, with 71.6% of the vote, so the vast majority of her constituents are too stupid to realize or care what she did.

OTOH, in 2018 she garnered 78.2% to win her first election, so maybe a handful remembered and took their votes elsewhere.

[V_TWIN]

introduced a total of 21 bills but that is where the story ends. Her legislation received no action in committees, no floor votes, and none ever became law.

A political lightweight just as I always suspected.

[snoringbear]

I’ve seen her make some really stupid statements for someone who has an economics degree from such a prestigious school as Boston College. She must have been pulled through as an affirmative action statistic or some such….

[Steely Tom]

introduced a total of 21 bills but that is where the story ends. Her legislation received no action in committees, no floor votes, and none ever became law.

Is that an indication that her colleagues don't take her seriously?

[Steely Tom]

She must have been pulled through as an affirmative action statistic or some such….

I can think of another "some such" that might have pulled her through.

[V_TWIN]

Looks like they just tolerate her.

[Dilbert56]

Paterson had a radio talk show for a short while. It was excellent. He usually had guests representing both sides of an issue. He let them talk, asked probing questions (rather than puffing up those he agreed with and battering the opposite viewpoint). He also clearly stated his own views on a topic but didn’t cram them down the listener’s throat. All in all, a pleasant surprise.

There was one I remember where they discussed crimes committed by people who were “off their meds”. One jurisdiction had put a procedure in place similar to getting someone committed to a mental institution. If it was demonstrated that he or she was dangerous without proper medication they were effectively paroled on condition of taking their meds. If they stopped taking them they would be institutionalized without having to go through the commitment process again. It was an enlightening discussion free of the vitriol so prevalent on talk radio.