Pelosi acknowledges the criticism of Ocasio-Cortez, younger members: ‘I’m not firing you’

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiMost of the 120 arrested or identified in the Capitol riot were longtime supporters of Trump: AP Pelosi analysis gives a ’60-minute’ tour of his vandalized office (D-Calif.) He said in a new interview that he is receptive to the concerns of younger and progressive members of his caucus and disagrees with claims that he is not preparing political newcomers for leadership roles.

“Why does AOC complain that you are not preparing younger people for leadership?” Reporter Leslie Stahl asked Pelosi during an interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes” program that aired on Sunday night, referring to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-CortezAlexandria Ocasio-CortezKinzinger: Trump’s resignation would be “the best thing for the country to heal” Ocasio-Cortez: Every minute that Trump remains in office “represents a clear and present danger” (DN.Y.).

“I don’t know,” replied the Speaker. “You’re going to have to ask her … why are we going.”

Stahl then commented that Pelosi’s joke was “kind of harsh, kind of contemptuous”.

“I’m not dismissing you,” replied Pelosi. “I respect her. I think she is very effective, as are … many other members of our caucus that the press doesn’t pay attention to. But they are there and are building support for what comes next.”

Since being elected to the House in 2018, Ocasio-Cortez has criticized the Democratic leadership, saying in December that he needs to reformulate who is setting the agenda and warning that “the left is not really making a plan” for after Pelosi, a minority in the Senate Leader Chuck SchumerChuck SchumerTransition of power: greatness meets infamy Bipartisan rage escalates over the failure of police on Capitol Hill Tucker Carlson: Trump ‘recklessly encouraged’ Capitol troublemakers MORE (DN.Y.) and other members of the Democratic establishment on Capitol Hill retire.

“I think we need new leadership in the Democratic Party,” said Ocasio-Cortez. “How do you fill that vacuum? Because if you create that vacuum, there will be many nefarious forces at play to fill that vacuum with something even worse.”

Pelosi, during a closed-door meeting with his caucus in 2019, reportedly urged Ocasio-Cortez and other members of the so-called progressive “squadron” not to publicly admonish the Democratic leadership before the 2020 election cycle for fear of “playing the game” of the republicans.

“We are a family and we have our moments,” said Pelosi during the meeting, according to The Associated Press. “Do you have a complaint? You come and talk to me about it. But don’t tweet about our members and expect us to think it’s okay. “

The New York Congresswoman also suggested a race for one of the seats in the United States state Senate.

“I’m not the type of person who doesn’t like bulls. I’m not playing shy or anything ”, Ocasio-Cortez said Punchbowl News earlier this month. “I am still in a situation where I am trying to decide what is the most effective thing I can do to help our Congress, our [political] process, and our country really addresses the issues of climate change, health, wage inequality. “

Pelosi is 80 and Schumer is 70.

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