"Woke 1 was crazy": AOC seeks do-over on 2020-era rhetoric

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is attempting a daunting task: erasing a chapter of left-wing politics from her past that many liberals once embraced, but now seem out of step with current politics. This move could prove challenging as she aims to judge candidates based on their present platforms rather than past statements. The political heavyweight addressed this during an appearance on ABC's *This Week*, jokingly referring to the past as "Woke 1 was crazy" and emphasizing the importance of assessing candidates based on their current positions.

While the discussions surrounding the early stages of the pandemic were "fruitful," the rhetoric at the time is not something she would use today, she added. The problem with discarding 2020 leftist politics as crazy in hindsight is that there were many Democrats who warned at the time it was crazy, including Joe Biden, who won the primary and presidency on a center-left platform.

AOC is considered a savvy politician and her recognition of the negative political consequences of past positions is commendable. However, some political observers argue that some candidates are now running on ideas that are even worse. The centrist Democratic group Third Way announced a $15 million effort to combat the socialist wing of the party, highlighting the ongoing struggle within the Democratic Party.

AOC's approach to redefine democratic socialism by distancing it from hard-to-defend cultural and social positions toward a populist economic agenda could be a defining moment for her political future, whether it's a Senate run or a presidential campaign in 2028.