Hello again, I'm Orrin Alney.

Welcome to To the Point.

Socialism has a long and checkered history in American politics.

Two years ago, Bernie Sanders made it almost respectable with his challenge to Hillary Clinton.

Now, with just three months remaining in the midterm elections,

socialism has gotten a new lease on political life. Or is it a potential death kettle now for

the Democratic Party? That question arises after a stunning upset in a primary race for Congress

in New York City. Veteran Democrat Joe Crowley was defeated by 28-year-old

Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. Here's what

Democratic socialism means to her. Well, I think what I want people to understand is that we live in a

society that is capable. We are capable of ensuring that we live in a society that is capable.

We are capable of ensuring that we have basic frameworks where people can be covered by health

insurance, can send their kids to college, where we can pursue a very bold action on climate

change and save our future, and that is part of a moral and ethical economy,

and that we can legislate from that value and where it is possible. I believe we are morally

obliged to pursue it. Okay, again, that is the woman that the chair of the Democratic Party

Tom Perez says is the wave of the future. Is that because of her socialist background or in spite of it?

Has Perez spoken too soon? Let's start with some history. Harold Meyerson is executive editor of the American prospect. He's been a columnist for the L.A. Times and the Washington Post. And he's a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

Harold, great to have you with us.

Great to be here, Warren.

So what about this?

This goes back to at least 1912.

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