Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Made Her Convention Debut Last Night

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Democratic firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a brief speech – less than two minutes – last night at the online Democratic National Convention. Some people griped that she deserved a longer time, but for such an inexperienced politician to get speaking time at all is an honor. She nominated Bernie Sanders for the presidency, a procedural move that was required by the convention rules. Although Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez both now support Joe Biden, the Convention was required to place Sanders' name in nomination because he had more than 1,000 pledged delegates, and Sanders requested Ocasio-Cortez to speak for him. 

Ocasio-Cortez' straightforward purpose was to reinforce the liberal wing’s agenda. Toward that end, she repeated language similar to what Bernie Sanders said in his convention speech. Her opening included a Spanish word, presumably to insist to her listeners that the Democratic Party stands for inclusiveness: 

“Good evening, ​bienvenidos​, and thank you to everyone here today endeavoring towards a better, more just future for our country and our world.”

She then flowed out a lengthy, jargon-filled sentence that summarized the liberal agenda. “Guaranteed healthcare” and guaranteed higher education are basic to Sanders’ agenda:

 “In fidelity and gratitude to a mass people's movement working to establish 21st century social, economic, and human rights, including guaranteed health care, higher education, living wages, and labor rights for all people in the United States; a movement striving to recognize and repair the wounds of racial injustice, colonization, misogyny, and homophobia, and to propose and build reimagined systems of immigration and foreign policy that turn away from the violence and xenophobia of our past; a movement that realizes the unsustainable brutality of an economy that rewards explosive inequalities of wealth for the few at the expense of long-term stability for the many, and who organized an historic, grassroots campaign to reclaim our democracy.”

Ocasio-Cortez’ complaint about “the unsustainable brutality of an economy that rewards explosive inequalities of wealth for the few at the expense of long-term stability for the many” echoes standard Democratic Party agenda items. Even so, her language was more vivid than what we usually hear: “unsustainable brutality,” and “explosive inequalities.” 

Like Sanders, she spoke in language most accessible to a highly-educated audience. Unlike most politicians, however, she presented herself with a simple, conversational delivery style, using plenty of expressive vocal variety. She adapted better than most to the online format. This is no surprise, given her reputation for excellence in social media. 

Earlier Post: Did Bernie Sanders Speak over People's Heads? 

Many of the speakers at this virtual convention spoke from their homes, using normal household objects as backdrops. In contrast, Ocasio-Cortez spoke in front of an array of American flags. In part, the flags sent a nonverbal message that she stood for the United States. This is important, considering her opponents’ tendency to accuse her of being un-American. It also conveyed her message that the United States is inclusive, and that the flag does not just belong to White people. 

Earlier Post: Ocasio-Cortez' Short Speech in Congress Turned the Tables

I'm sure that the Democratic leadership does not want to lose its notoriously fickle liberal wing that supports Bernie Sanders. In this speech, Ocasio-Cortez wasn’t really trying to persuade people; she just laid out an agenda. The speech itself was obviously prerecorded and carefully vetted. The leadership may have been worried that she would uncork, but I don’t think she gave them anything to worry about. And her very presence on the online platform shows the liberal wing that they still have a voice in the party.

Earlier Posts about DNC Convention Speeches:

Kristin Urquiza's Speech about Her Father's Death from COVID-19

Bernie Sanders' Ideological Speech