Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez denied during an MSNBC interview Tuesday evening that she was responsible for Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer\u2019s decision not to support a GOP stopgap funding measure, allowing the federal government to shut down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She did, however, step up to support Democrats who have demanded an extension of Obamacare subsidies to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, which Republicans have dismissed as a non-starter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her remarks came after host Chris Hayes noted that rumors are flying on Capitol Hill that Schumer is blocking the funding bill in an attempt to appease the Democratic Party\u2019s growing left-wing base, of which \u2018AOC\u2019 is a part, out of fear she will primary him in 2028.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo let me ask you this. There are some people I have seen who have the following theory of why Senate Democrats have not cut a deal where they give eight votes and, you know, move, move along. And that is that Chuck Schumer is worried about a primary challenge from you and is worried about the politics to his left flank. And so because of that, worry about a primary challenge. He\u2019s going to shut down the government,\u201d Hayes began.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cErgo, it is aoc\u2019s fault that the government is shutting down or that your that you\u2019re somehow the fulcrum of this. And I want to just ask you straight up, like, are you planning to primary challenge him? Do you think that\u2019s why he\u2019s doing this?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n