As much as conservatives are aghast at the over-the-top collectivist ideas of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, we cannot ignore the oversize intrigue with this young woman, who has gained instant influence and celebrity. Perhaps it is because people see her as so all-American.

We are fascinated by her personal success—the way she transformed herself almost instantly from a bartender to an international political star. Yes, this self-identified Democratic Socialist is ignorant of the ways of government. She thought she would be headed to Washington in January to get “inaugurated” and that she’d “start signing” bills immediately, in a Congress with three chambers. And her policy proposals are outrageously unrealistic and expensive—$100 trillion at least—and would destroy our economy.

Yet many people see the 29-year-old Ms. Ocasio-Cortez and think: If she can do this, so could I. She doesn’t come from a rich and powerful family. Her degree is from Boston University, not the Ivy League. Her Puerto Rican heritage and Bronx constituency convey cultural diversity.

Her adeptness with social media lets the public follow her every move—from being knocked down on the streets of New York by an overly affectionate dog to demonstrating her skin-care regimen and even showing how she makes macaroni and cheese. And she connects personally with voters, who say things like, “Thank you for being such a positive person in my life,” “You are an inspiration to women and young girls,” and, “Do you have any advice for how I can get into politics?” “AOC” even has a familiar three-letter handle—like FDR, Ike and JFK.

While millions of people agree with her radical ideas—from socialized medicine to abolishing fossil fuels—even more admire her outsize influence in the public debate, to the point that established members of Congress line up behind her and economists analyze her proposals in depth. Land of opportunity, indeed!