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How Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Won the Cohen Hearing
Too many representatives chose to bloviate instead of interrogate except for one.
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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez acted like a good prosecutor while questioning Michael Cohen, establishing the factual basis for further committee investigation.
On Wednesday, Michael Cohen, President Trumps one-time personal lawyer and fixer, testified in front of the House Oversight and Reform Committee about what he says are a variety of shady practices he participated in when working for the president. People around the country awaited riveting testimony, some going so far as to join watch parties in bars.
. . . . .
Consider the line of questioning from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. She asked Mr. Cohen a series of specific questions about how Mr. Trump had handled insurance claims and whether he had provided accurate information to various companies. To your knowledge, she asked, did Donald Trump ever provide inflated assets to an insurance company? He had. She asked whether Mr. Trump had tried to reduce his local taxes by undervaluing his assets. Mr. Cohen confirmed that the president had also done that. You deflate the value of the asset and then you put in a request to the tax department for a deduction, Mr. Cohen said, explaining the practice. These were the sort of questions, and answers, the committee was supposed to elicit. Somehow, only the newer members got the memo.
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez continued, asking, Do you think we need to review financial statements and tax returns in order to compare them? She pressed Mr. Cohen for the names of others who would be able to corroborate the testimony or provide documents to support the charges. In response, Mr. Cohen listed the executives Allen Weisselberg, Ron Lieberman and Matthew Calamari names that, thanks in part to Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, we will probably hear more about in the coming months. These questions were not random, but, rather, well thought out. Like a good prosecutor, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez was establishing the factual basis for further committee investigation. She asked one question at a time, avoided long-winded speeches on why she was asking the question, and listened carefully to his answer, which gave her the basis for a follow-up inquiry. As a result, Mr. Cohen gave specific answers about Mr. Trumps shady practices, along with a road map for how to find out more. Mr. Cohen began his testimony calling Mr. Trump a con man and a cheat; In just five minutes, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez actually helped him lay out the facts to substantiate those charges.
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https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/opinion/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-cohen-hearing.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage
DarthDem
(5,255 posts)I have been critical of Rep. Ocasio-Cortez for some of what I view as needless attacks on other Democrats, but . . . whoa. Yeah. She's not even 30 years old IIRC and does not, I believe, have any legal training, and she did an outstanding job, both in terms of her presentation and substantively, in obtaining helpful information in a concise, direct, and efficient manner. Bravo!
thesquanderer
(11,989 posts)...check this one too:
details at...
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/2/28/1838239/-Republicans-might-not-know-it-yet-but-the-Michael-Cohen-hearing-was-history-s-door-swinging-shut
Canoe52
(2,948 posts)dem in texas
(2,674 posts)She is one smart gal and I hope she goes far in the Democratic party. We need more like her!
Bernie42020
(22 posts)So this is how a democratic socialist represent themselves? Hmmm, quite impressive, eh?
I have to say, I like it, so far.
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,627 posts)She obviously had done her homework and it shows.
More power to her.
Hangdog Slim
(81 posts)Otherwise known as check and mate!
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,861 posts)Not sure why everyone is comparing here to a prosecutor. My take is that she's not hampered by a law degree and simply is sharp and savvy and good at getting right to the point of things.
She used to wait tables. Too many look down on people like her, but it takes more skill than most realize.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)Making a list of what can be subpoened and who has it. She's brilliant!
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)One of the things I appreciated about yesterday's hearing is that it's obvious the Democrats were organized and coordinated their topics and questions in advance so they all covered different areas without stepping all over each other. They also followed up on each other's line of questioning where appropriate, as Ocasio-Cortez did in her questioning.
It was great that Ocasio-Cortez covered this area since it's right in her wheelhouse given her position on Financial Services, which will enable her to follow up on that committee, as well. And she was well-prepared, cool, and sharp. Impressive.
They all did a great job. I was proud of them.
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)Historic NY
(37,449 posts)niyad
(113,323 posts)B Stieg
(2,410 posts)it's what we all voted for!!!
Lucky Luciano
(11,257 posts)defacto7
(13,485 posts)I have now come to the conclusion that she really may be ahead of the rest. She hasn't compromised her positions or her zeal but has tempered her delivery so the rest of us and her colleagues can decide for ourselves/themselves of her extraordinary ability. It doesn't need to be telegraphed, just produced. She's going to be (is) a steller representative.
ZeroSomeBrains
(638 posts)I think she picked the right committee to show her abilities in cross-examining witnesses and skillfully getting short succinct answers to important direct questions. She is going to be a huge value to Cummings and other Democrats on the committee.
jalan48
(13,869 posts)Auggie
(31,172 posts)apnu
(8,756 posts)More members of Congress should do this instead of giving campaign speeches with their committee time.
I think Ro Khanna and AOC laid the foundation for further investigation. Very happy with the questioning by the Dems. All the Republicans could say was ...but Cohen lied. Like we didn't already know that.
apnu
(8,756 posts)I think the Democratic caucus had a plan yesterday and they choose those three amazing people to execute it, and left Rep. Cummings to throw down in the final statements. The Dems were prepared, the Republicans not so much.
Arazi
(6,829 posts)That frees her up to be direct and concise in these really high profile committee hearings whereas other less tech savvy MOC use these hearings to "campaign", or show off for their constituents at home.
It's a sea change and every Dem needs to master this as well. Immediately
Vinca
(50,273 posts)nevergiveup
(4,762 posts)She is totally winning me over. She is sharp as a tack and smart as a whip.
shanny
(6,709 posts)Use an investigative hearing to.. .investigate.
I hope it starts a trend.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Questions that are direct and relevant. There are a number of people who should imitate her style, particularly republicans.