Rep. Max Rose says that the Green New Deal pushed by his fellow Democratic New York freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a “lie to voters,” daring her to recruit a primary challenger against him for his criticism of the “massive socialist” plan.
Rose attacked Ocasio-Cortez’s signature idea as an anti-capitalist pipe dream in an interview Thursday on New York PBS program “MetroFocus.”
“This is not the time for milquetoast incrementalism,” Rose said. “It just isn’t. But with that being said, nothing about what I just said would provide a justification for a massive socialist economic policy platform. Just not needed.”
He added that the ambitious job and housing guarantees rolled into the Green New Deal simply can’t be met.
“We don’t need the Democratic version of ‘Repeal and replace,'” he said, alluding to congressional Republicans’ failed plans to repeal Obamacare. “There’s no need to lie to voters right now.”
Rose, 32, was elected to Congress last year, ousting Republican incumbent Daniel Donovan, after earning the Purple Heart and Bronze Star in his Army service in Afghanistan. Rose has regularly pushed back against his progressive colleagues, including rebuking Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., for questioning the loyalty of the Jewish community and pro-Israel groups.
Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described democratic socialist, has threatened to send primary challengers after Democrats who work on legislation with Republicans and don’t strictly support her progressive agenda.
The solider-turned-congressman said he welcomes a challenge from anyone Ocasio-Cortez and her group try to recruit to run against him.
“She’s going to keep a list,” Rose said. “This is very simple because I’m not one to deal in subtleties. I think it’s best not to be passive-aggressive. If she wants to primary me, if the Justice Democrats want to primary me, I’ll lay out the red carpet. We can settle this at the polls.”
