AOC vs. Bannon

Style vs. substance

AOC has a future. She’s smart, usually quick on her feet and speaks in a way that can resonate with the working class. I don’t agree with much of what Steve Bannon stands for. But these two interviews by NPR’s Steve Inskeep are instructive.

First, I was surprised that I agreed with Bannon on a couple of things. For example, he recognizes that we must raise taxes on the rich. He favors cutting defense spending, in large part because he wants to reduce our responsibilities to defend the world. I want to cut defense spending because I think we have much more than we need to meet those responsibilities. I think other nations need to step up their defense spending. He also agrees that the working class is getting left behind.

Bannon also revealed what may be Project 2025’s strategy: tear down the administrative state but then build it back to achieve its goals. I don’t agree with their goals, but reforming government with liberal values will need a revolution of the administrative state that Democrats should develop before the 2026 elections.

He also makes a good point about how the U.S. foreign policy too often focuses on Western Europe. When you look back how the U.S. ignored the suffering in Darfur and other African nations, it’s clear both Republican and Democratic administrations are prejudicial, maybe racist.

But what most struck me about Bannon—and I find this true of many Republicans—when interviewed by the media, they are well trained and don’t give an inch. They stand up for their positions, and in Bannon’s case, he knows his history.

Again, I think AOC is smart, and I’ve seen her when she exudes confidence and speaks cogently. But in this interview with Inskeep, she seemed to be sidestepping a couple of questions and spoke in measured ways, one might say hesitantly. Most important for me, when given the opportunity to talk about the challenges facing Democrats to prove that government can act fast and deliver for the working class, she soft pedaled her answer.

This relates to Gov. Pritzker’s recent admonishment that Dems too often seem to fear articulating and defending their values. Maybe AOC thinks government works just fine. I hope not. She’s smart enough to do better.

AOC:

Bannon: