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New York U.S. House candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks at a progressive fundraiser on August 2, 2018 in Los Angeles. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)
As Critics Obsess Over Her Finances, Ocasio-Cortez Urges Media to Focus on Issue 'Actually Worth Airtime': Low-Wage Jobs
"While we‘re discussing personal finances," says newly-elected progressive, "Trump's tax dodges represent millions of dollars taken from schoolchildren, teachers, firehouses, senior centers, and more."
Nov 20, 2018
Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continued to shoot back at those who draw attention to--and criticize--the amount in her savings account by calling for coverage instead of far more worthy issues--the nation's pervasive low-wage jobs and President Donald Trump's "public theft"--and accusing some sitting congresspeople of lashing out at her because they are blinded by privilege, and thus unable to represent their constituents.
The latest push-back follows a CNBC report in which Corbin Trent, Ocasio-Cortez's director of communications, said the newly-elected progressive Democrat had "well below $7,000" in her savings account. The news report also included comments from financial experts who said someone of her age should have between $8,750 and $30,000 in savings and at least $27,000 tucked away for retirement--amounts some derided as "unrealistic" for millennials given burdensome student loan debt, low wages, and high housing prices.
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted late Tuesday night:
In another tweet, Ocasio-Cortez pointed to what she sees as the real "fear" motivating the intense look at her bank account and what her wardrobe costs:
According reporter Leah Fessler, critics' continued attention on Ocasio-Cortez's finances is a backfire. What they "still don't understand," she writes at Quartz, "is that their focus on how she doesn't meet their expectations only amplifies her power--and deepens her connection to the young, ambitious, working- and middle-class Americans who see her as their representative on the national stage."
Some of those Americans took to Twitter to make that connection clear:
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This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. If you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
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Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continued to shoot back at those who draw attention to--and criticize--the amount in her savings account by calling for coverage instead of far more worthy issues--the nation's pervasive low-wage jobs and President Donald Trump's "public theft"--and accusing some sitting congresspeople of lashing out at her because they are blinded by privilege, and thus unable to represent their constituents.
The latest push-back follows a CNBC report in which Corbin Trent, Ocasio-Cortez's director of communications, said the newly-elected progressive Democrat had "well below $7,000" in her savings account. The news report also included comments from financial experts who said someone of her age should have between $8,750 and $30,000 in savings and at least $27,000 tucked away for retirement--amounts some derided as "unrealistic" for millennials given burdensome student loan debt, low wages, and high housing prices.
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted late Tuesday night:
In another tweet, Ocasio-Cortez pointed to what she sees as the real "fear" motivating the intense look at her bank account and what her wardrobe costs:
According reporter Leah Fessler, critics' continued attention on Ocasio-Cortez's finances is a backfire. What they "still don't understand," she writes at Quartz, "is that their focus on how she doesn't meet their expectations only amplifies her power--and deepens her connection to the young, ambitious, working- and middle-class Americans who see her as their representative on the national stage."
Some of those Americans took to Twitter to make that connection clear:
Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez continued to shoot back at those who draw attention to--and criticize--the amount in her savings account by calling for coverage instead of far more worthy issues--the nation's pervasive low-wage jobs and President Donald Trump's "public theft"--and accusing some sitting congresspeople of lashing out at her because they are blinded by privilege, and thus unable to represent their constituents.
The latest push-back follows a CNBC report in which Corbin Trent, Ocasio-Cortez's director of communications, said the newly-elected progressive Democrat had "well below $7,000" in her savings account. The news report also included comments from financial experts who said someone of her age should have between $8,750 and $30,000 in savings and at least $27,000 tucked away for retirement--amounts some derided as "unrealistic" for millennials given burdensome student loan debt, low wages, and high housing prices.
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted late Tuesday night:
In another tweet, Ocasio-Cortez pointed to what she sees as the real "fear" motivating the intense look at her bank account and what her wardrobe costs:
According reporter Leah Fessler, critics' continued attention on Ocasio-Cortez's finances is a backfire. What they "still don't understand," she writes at Quartz, "is that their focus on how she doesn't meet their expectations only amplifies her power--and deepens her connection to the young, ambitious, working- and middle-class Americans who see her as their representative on the national stage."
Some of those Americans took to Twitter to make that connection clear:
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