It’s time that old-guard Democrats made way for new blood, says President Barack Obama. Obama told Good Luck America that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez should have gotten more speaking time at the 2020 Democratic National Convention. AOC was one of three Latinas who received primetime speaking slots, and her 60-second speech was to symbolically nominate Sen. Bernie Sanders—a preapproved procedural move that nevertheless received some backlash.
“She speaks to a broad section of young people who are interested in what she has to say, even if they don’t agree with everything she says,” Obama said on Good Luck America. That doesn’t mean he’s all in for AOC, however. Ever a believer in big tent politics, Obama also said young, moderate Democrats deserved a platform. “I say that as somebody who used to be the young, shiny cool guy. But now the gray-haired, old grizzled vet.”