- Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has one minute to deliver her speech on Tuesday during the second day of the Democratic National Convention. She has taken her comments forward from New York.
- Ocasio-Cortez signed. Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic primary, but later collaborated with former Vice President Joe Biden on a key point: climate change.
- While she has an official speaking role at the Democratic convention, the other members of the Liberal “Squad” from Capitol Hill – Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib – so far not on the roster.
- Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg will deliver his speech live from South Bend, Indiana, on an urban basis prior to Biden’s acceptance speech on Thursday night.
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One of the country’s most influential progressive Democrats will get just 60 seconds to speak at the hostel virtual Democratic National Convention next week, where Joe Biden has been forced to accept his party’s presidential nomination, Insider has learned.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recorded a speech one minute in advance from her home in New York to be heard Tuesday night, according to her spokeswoman. Ocasio-Cortez writes her own words – with the blessing of the Democratic National Committee.
Earlier this year, Ocasio-Cortez chaired a Biden task force on climate change with former Secretary of State John Kerry. Ocasio-Cortez was elected to serve on the climate panel as a representative of Vermont sen. Bernie Sanders, who she endorsed in the presidential primary about Biden.
In July, Ocasio-Cortez announced the release of the task force’s recommendations: “Among the notable gains: we have set aside 15 years * from Biden’s previous goal of 100% clean energy,” the New York Democrat tweeted.
While the 30-year-old congresswoman may speak of a brief moment in the coveted convention light, it appears that other members of “the squad” are missing from the roster. Michigan Reporter Rashida Tlaib will speak at a joint delegation meeting but is not on the keynote speaker list, according to her spokeswoman. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota also made the cut not to publicly announced speakers.
Biden’s efforts to unite progressives to a shattered presidential primary will remain at the forefront in the final weeks of his campaign, even as the country struggles with a pandemic. And Ocasio-Cortez and other key progressives have promised to keep up the pressure.
But COVID-19 and the pressure to unite Democrats against President Donald Trump have dampened the internal fears that were on full display at the party’s 2016 convention in Philadelphia. Tensions between Sanders’ supporters and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were uncomfortably high amid policy disputes over the fate of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal and the release of WikiLeaks of stolen emails showing the party’s brass Sanders’ White House bid while helping Clinton’s run.
Buttigieg to deliver live speech from the city
Democrats will not have much of a chance to express dissatisfaction at next week’s tightly organized virtual convention – except on social media sites like Twitter. In 2016, the Philadelphia Convention was marred by singing for “Bernie,” even as Vermont Senator Clinton praised and asked for unity.
Beginning Monday, the downscaled convention will feature two hours of primetime events on four consecutive nights. Notable speakers include former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama, Sanders, Gov. Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer, former Gov. of Ohio, John Kasich, former President Bill Clinton, sen. Elizabeth Warren and newly announced vice presidency pick sen. Kamala Harris, among others.
Pete Buttigieg, a Biden rival in 2020, will deliver his speech live from an urban landmark in South Bend, India, his spokesman said. Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend who has since served as surrogate for Biden in campaign and fundraising, will provide his address prior to Biden’s acceptance speech. Biden will speak alongside his family from Delaware.
There is a general understanding that a virtual convention means less talking slots – but not all of them are wise with the current scheme. Andrew Yang, another former Biden rival of 2020, announced his dissent on Twitter on Tuesday.
“I have to be honest. I kind of expected to speak up,” Yang said tweeted.
