On Friday's broadcast of MSNBC's “Morning Joe,” Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) overtook Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to become the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee. He responded to progressives who are disappointed that he was chosen. ) “I have a 16-year record of progressive voting and progressive action, so somehow I'm not outside of that camp.” He said he recognizes “the promising talent in AOC that we want to support and encourage.”
asked co-host Jonathan Lemire. “So, Congressman, as I mentioned earlier, you defeated Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to become the ranking member on the Oversight Committee. So this is a two-part question, what do you hope for this post? What? But secondly, what do you say to Democrats, the progressives, who were hoping that in this moment after the November election loss, there would be a change, a kind of generational change within the party? ”
Connolly replied: “Well, I think I represent change. I've never shot this. And I have 16 I have a record of progressive voting and progressive action over the years, so somehow I'm not outside of that camp. I think that's what you can do, what your record is, what you propose to do, what your capabilities are. And I think the caucus recognized that. also recognizes[ed] He is a rising talent at AOC and we definitely want to support and encourage him. But on the other hand, we have very talented people with proven ability to do the job. ”
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