This turned into what The New York Times described as “a flashpoint for arguments over politics and press freedom,” with some people defending Ocasio-Cortez and others skewering her. To me, the real “flashpoint” issue is whether the press will carry the First Amendment banner, as it should, into the fray with all politicians, regardless of ideology. If a democratic socialist who rocked the political world by defeating a longtime incumbent Democratic congressman can selectively decide when she wants to exclude media coverage of an event to which the public is invited, what about a Donald Trump acolyte?

Yet the press was kept out of those town halls, because according to Ocasio-Cortez, she wanted attendees, who included immigrants, victims of domestic violence, and people with medical concerns to “feel safe discussing sensitive issues in a threatening political time.”

IF THE PRESS is not the enemy of the people , shouldn’t that dictum also cover those people who attended two recent community meetings hosted by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?

For the record, I cheer the surprise victory of Ocasio-Cortez over US Representative Joseph Crowley for the grass-roots energy and generational shift it represents. I look forward to watching Ocasio-Cortez light up Congress — once she wins election to it. However, she hasn’t waited for November’s final votes to be counted. From the safety of a deep-blue district, following a primary win that launched her into instant megastardom, Ocasio-Cortez started campaigning for other candidates and took her message across the country.


A press that essentially ignored her primary challenge to Crowley embraced her after victory to the point of mobbing her. With that also came the sting of harsh media criticism — mostly, but not all, from the right. Some negative reviews are fueled by confusing statements that left Ocasio-Cortez open to charges she isn’t as prepared as she should be on economic and foreign policy matters. That’s a nicer way of saying what others have called her — “not ready for prime time” or worse, “the Sarah Palin of the Left.”


A 28-year-old running for her first elective office will make mistakes. But I’m with those who believe Ocasio-Cortez should spend more time thinking through the issues before addressing them in a half-baked way. And that includes her decision to keep the press out of those two town hall meetings and then to call it a “non-story” — at the same time some 400 newspapers and other media outlets, led by The Boston Globe, joined forces to push back on President Trump’s anti-press campaign. Of course, what she did is not a Trumpian-level assault on the press. But neither is it a “non-story.”

A tweet from media writer Dan Kennedy duly noted that politicians do hold no-press private meetings and asked if Ocasio-Cortez is being held to a different standard than others.

When it comes to judging expertise on issues, I believe women are held to a higher, different standard. That’s why veteran career women invest in so much prep time. We know the slightest mistake can and will be held against us. So when it comes to the “gaffe-watch,” I sympathize with Ocasio-Cortez. But not when it comes to the First Amendment watch.

The press is more than a convenient wave for Ocasio-Cortez to ride when she feels like it and abandon when it gets too rough. Of course, that’s what every politician prefers. But at the very time the press is trying to gain the public’s trust, giving Ocasio-Cortez a pass is the wrong way to go about it. The way to fight Trump’s claim of “fake news” is to hold everyone, no matter what their political affiliation is, to the same standard of transparency and accountability. Of course, perspective and proportion matter.


But if the press wants to be seen as the champion of the people, it should call out any politician who sees it as the enemy — even if, for now, it’s only at two town halls.

Joan Vennochi can be reached at vennochi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @Joan_Vennochi.