Socialism can be a tough sell politically, so some Democrats may be trying to promote policies associated with it without embracing the label. Abdul El-Sayed and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are examples, according to BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey.
Stuckey says El-Sayed has avoided publicly aligning himself with the Democratic Socialists of America while campaigning. That may reflect an understanding, she argues, that openly calling oneself a democratic socialist—as Bernie Sanders has—still puts off many voters.
Her view is that candidates can present the ideas without the label, and that may work. But the DSA has not been shy about its own position: Stuckey says the group announced in July that it would mobilize organizers, volunteers, and other resources for El-Sayed’s campaign.
In other words, she argues, El-Sayed may not describe himself as a socialist, but socialist activists have publicly backed him. Stuckey also points to Ocasio-Cortez, who used socialist language to discuss the means of production a few years ago but now does not call herself a socialist.
Stuckey says the word itself remains politically unpopular, which she believes gives Democrats an incentive to avoid it. Republicans, she adds, should take note—but she sees a different pattern in how the two parties campaign.
In her account, conservative Republicans may campaign on hard-line positions and then govern more moderately, while progressive Democrats may campaign as moderates and move further left once in office. That is not always how it plays out, she cautions, but she says voters should keep the possibility in mind when judging candidates.
