Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez addressed past controversial statements made by Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong during a recent broadcast interview, urging voters to focus on candidates’ current platforms rather than positions taken years ago.
When asked about Hong’s previous social media posts calling to defund and abolish the police and prisons, Ocasio-Cortez referenced a phrase used by a New York City councilman: “Woke 1 was crazy!”
Hong, a candidate in the Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, previously published comments declaring that “police exist to uphold white supremacy,” arguing against police reform in favor of defunding and abolishing law enforcement agencies.
Responding to questions about those past statements, Ocasio-Cortez said candidates should be judged on their current positions rather than statements made in earlier political cycles.
She attributed the heightened political discourse of that era to the societal conditions created by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and widespread job losses.
Ocasio-Cortez noted that during the lockdowns, high unemployment rates and unprecedented disruptions expanded the public policy debate. She stated that the “Overton window” opened during that period, leading people to consider a wide variety of policy proposals aimed at improving societal conditions.
While acknowledging that the discussions during the 2020 political climate were fruitful at the time, Ocasio-Cortez emphasized that public conversations regarding crime and public safety have since evolved.
The comments come as national interest focuses on how Democratic candidates navigate past rhetoric on criminal justice issues in upcoming election cycles.
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