'Are you crazy?' CNN guests spar as Republican insists AOC would mobilize GOP as Dem head

A Republican lawmaker traded barbs with a former Democratic lawmaker late Thursday on CNN during a lively discussion over whether progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez can become the face of the Democratic Party.

Ocasio-Cortez held a rally in Las Vegas earlier in the day where she delivered a passionate speech alongside Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders as part of their "Fighting Oligarchy" tour. They heavily criticized President Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk, accusing Trump of "handing over control" to Musk and selling the country out to the wealthiest elites for political favors.

"This isn't just about Republicans. We need a Democratic Party that fights harder for us, too," she said to applause. "But what that means is that we as a community must choose and vote for Democrats and elected officials who know how to stand for the working class."

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She urged attendees to cast ballots for "brawlers who fight."

"Those are the ones who can actually win against Republicans," Ocasio-Cortez said. "Let's be real about that."

Her remarks come amid fierce backlash to Democratic leadership, including Senate Minority Chuck Schumer, who broke with many in the party to support a GOP stopgap bill that averted a government shutdown.

Abby Phillip, host of CNN's "NewsNight," teed up former Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY), saying, "Brawlers. I assume you approve of this message."

"100 percent. Absolutely," said Bowman. "Democrats are in a crisis right now. They're on life support. They have a testicular fortitude problem. They're not fighting nearly as hard as they need to fight for the American people as was seen last week during this CR vote in the Senate. It's a problem."

Bowman highlighted Reps. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and Ocasio-Cortez as examples of fighters, along with Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), and urged older leaders to promote the younger lawmakers — or "step aside."

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) agreed that the rising stars in the Democratic Party ought to become "the new face of the Democratic Party" — for selfish reasons.

"Because Republicans will be winning elections all over the country if that is the face of the Democratic Party," he chided.

His remarks drew a swift reaction from Bowman.

"What?" Bowman said unable to hold back an audible scoff. "Are you crazy?"

"Are you?" retorted Lawler, who pointed to his swing district in the Hudson Valley as evidence to support his claim. Former President Joe Biden won Lawler's district by 10 points, but Vice President Kamala Harris won it by just half a point.

"I won it by 6 1/2 points," said Lawler, noting the district has 85,000 more Democrats than Republicans.

But Bowman wasn't convinced.

"Yeah, because you ran against a cornball candidate," he retorted.

"He was your friend," Lawler shot back.

"He was not my friend! You had someone running against you who was not a strong candidate," Bowman insisted.

Lawler concluded, "If the messenger is AOC — who, by the way, is originally from my district, she grew up in Yorktown, not the Bronx — if AOC is the face of the Democratic Party, in swing districts all across this country, she will mobilize voters way more than Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) ever did for the Republicans."

Watch the exchange below or at this link.