The Democratic Party has not moderated its stances since the era critics labeled "Woke 1," but has instead become "nuttier still," according to an opinion piece in the New York Post.
The article contends that figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has spoken about past "woke" policies, are attempting to distance themselves from a prior period of perceived extremism while the party as a whole has moved further left.
It points to Ocasio-Cortez's description of 2020 as a time when "the doors were really open" to new policies, a sentiment the author contrasts with the reality of Black Lives Matter protests and calls to defund the police. The piece asserts that policies advocating for reduced incarceration, which led to a lack of arrests for many crimes, continue to influence public policy in many Democratic-led areas.
Furthermore, the article highlights the continued prevalence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, which it describes as "extreme racial discrimination," particularly in academia and medical schools. The author suggests this is being overlooked as Ocasio-Cortez potentially prepares for a 2028 presidential run.
Evidence cited for the party's supposed shift includes a growing anti-Israel sentiment, with nearly half of House Democrats voting to cut aid to the nation. Ocasio-Cortez herself is mentioned for attempting to block defense funding due to what the article terms "bizarre conspiracy theories" about Israel influencing the Pentagon.
While explicit calls to "defund the police" may have lessened, the article argues that the intent to shift funding away from traditional policing towards "community-based solutions" persists. Similarly, on gender policies, the piece states that "trans rights" are not to be questioned.
The article also interprets the "Abolish ICE" movement as a broader push for open borders and the legalization of migration, with an eventual aim of granting voting rights to all migrants. It further points to the Democratic Socialists of America platform, which reportedly calls for eliminating the Electoral College and the Senate, and reducing the power of the presidency and the Supreme Court.
Even within the mainstream Democratic Party, the piece identifies figures like James Carville and Pete Buttigieg as endorsing proposals such as packing the Supreme Court and admitting Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. as states to secure additional Senate seats. The author concludes that while some Democrats may disagree with these radical proposals, few openly challenge what is described as the party's overall movement toward extreme positions, leaving voters with no "sane alternative" to Republican candidates.