Ocasio-Cortez knocks McCaskill over comments about Democrats leaving voters behind

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) ripped former Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) for claiming in the wake of this week’s election that the Democratic Party is leaving voters behind. 

During an interview on MSNBC Wednesday, McCaskill said that the Republican Party has picked up voters while Democrats focus on social issues.

“Whether you are talking guns or … abortion … or gay marriage and rights for ‘transsexuals’ and other people who we as a party ‘look after’ and make sure they are treated fairly. As we circled the issues, we left some voters behind and Republicans dove in with a vengeance and grabbed those voters,” she said. 

“So, we’ve got to get back to the ‘meat and potatoes’ issues and the issues where we’re taking care of their families, and we also need to stop acting like we’re smarter than everybody else, because we’re not,” she said. 

Ocasio-Cortez responded on Twitter, asking: “Why do we listen to people who lost elections as if they are experts in winning elections?” 

Why do we listen to people who lost elections as if they are experts in winning elections?

McCaskill tried her approach. She ran as a caravan-hysteria Dem& lost while grassroots organizers won progressive measures in MO. Her language here shows how she took her base for granted. https://t.co/ZnTXI59MW9

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 5, 2020

McCaskill apologized for her comments on Thursday after drawing backlash for using the word “transsexuals” to refer to transgender people.

“Our party should never leave behind our fight 4 equality for trans people or anyone else who has been marginalized by hate. My record reflects that,” she tweeted.

I’m so sorry I used hurtful term last night.I was tired,but never a good excuse.People have misinterpreted what I was trying to say.Our party should never leave behind our fight 4 equality for trans people or anyone else who has been marginalized by hate. My record reflects that.

— Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) November 5, 2020

McCaskill has been at odds with Ocasio-Cortez since the progressive congresswoman won election in 2018, the same year McCaskill was ousted by Sen. Josh Hawley (R).

The December after the election, McCaskill described Ocasio-Cortez as a “bright, shiny new object” who “surprised people when she beat a very experienced congressman.” 

Ocasio-Cortez called her rhetoric “pretty disappointing,” and pointed out that progressive initiatives won on the ballot in Missouri even while McCaskill lost. 

In fact, I actually went to Missouri after my primary. I met w Ferguson activists + progressive organizers.

A conservative even came to embed at one of our rallies there. You can tell she was inspired + struggled w/ Fox News bc our message resonated:pic.twitter.com/P0ywHxhC4V

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 29, 2018