Top Republican backs Ocasio-Cortez for committee position
To the surprise of many, a top Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives has publicly voiced his support for one of the "Squad" members to get a key committee position.
The Republican, according to Fox News, is U.S. Rep. James Comer (R-KY), and the "Squad" member he is supporting is none other than U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
Comer is the current chair of the House Oversight Committee.
Ocasio-Cortez is trying to get the ranking member position of the committee, which is currently held by U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-NY).
"AOC is perfect"
Comer provided his view on the situation during an interview Sunday on Fox News Live.
There, he was asked:
Of course, you are a member of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee. The Chair. In fact, you're also a member of the AOC fan Club, I understand, and besides believing that you will have a good working relationship, what leadership qualities would make Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez an effective oversight Ranking member?
Comer replied by criticizing Rasking, saying, "I think that if you look at the current leadership with the oversight committee on the Democrat side, they've had Jamie Raskin leading them. So the Democrats have nowhere to go but up. Jamie Raskin has been wrong."
Then, Comer voiced his support of Ocasio-Cortez.
He said:
Yeah, well, she's better spoken. Look, I think that, you know, the Democrats are turning on AOC. My endorsement of AOC is probably hurting her, which… I think is amusing. They're wanting to go back to another boring old guy like Gerry Connolly. But look, AOC is, you know, I think she represents a big segment of the Democratic Party that believes in socialism, that believes in the Green New Deal, that believes in Wokeism. So, if the Democrats want a real Democrat to lead the oversight committee on their side, I think AOC is perfect for them.
Background
Ocasio-Cortez is looking to move up the ranks in Congress, and some have even suggested that she is eyeing the U.S. presidency.
The Washington Examiner, earlier this month, reported that the congressman was looking to take Raskin's spot on the committee.
Per the outlet:
After a week of speculation and confirmation from the New York congresswoman that she would “soon” be making a decision on whether to run for leadership, Ocasio-Cortez announced Friday that she is launching a bid to become ranking member of the powerful committee that led Republicans’ investigations into President Joe Biden and his family.
It is unclear how much support Ocasio-Cortez has from her fellow Democrats.
Some reports have suggested that U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is looking to "torpedo" Ocasio-Cortez's bid, and, if this is the case, then - given Pelosi's track record - Ocasio-Cortez probably does not stand a chance.