Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks during a news conference outside of the Democratic National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, November 19, 2020. (Photo: Caroline Brehman/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Hitting Back at Manchin, AOC Rejects Notion That Only 'Begging Corporate CEOs for Money' Counts as 'Serious' Politics
"I find it amusing when politicians try to diminish the seriousness of our policy work, movement organizing, and grassroots fundraising to 'she just tweets.'"
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sharply hit back at Sen. Joe Manchin on Tuesday for claiming she is "more active on Twitter than anything else," an attack that elided the New York Democrat's work building support for a transformative policy agenda and recent fundraising efforts on behalf of communities hammered by the Covid-19 crisis.
"I find it amusing when politicians try to diminish the seriousness of our policy work, movement organizing, and grassroots fundraising to 'she just tweets,' as though 'serious' politics is only done by begging corporate CEOs for money through wax-sealed envelopes delivered by raven," said Ocasio Cortez, the lead House sponsor of the Green New Deal resolution. The congresswoman won reelection in a landslide last month.
In an interview with the New York Times earlier this week, Manchin (D-W.Va.) said of Ocasio-Cortez that he doesn't "know the young lady" before accusing her of not being "that active with her bills or in committee."
Manchin, the most conservative Democrat in the Senate and a friend of the fossil fuel industry, went on to attack the Green New Deal--which he called the "new green deal"--and Medicare for All, falsely suggesting the popular policies are unaffordable.
"We're not for Medicare for All--we can't even pay for Medicare for some," Manchin said.
In response to Manchin's comments, Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez, told the Times that the New York congresswoman has submitted more amendments than 90% of her freshman colleagues and missed fewer votes than the West Virginia Democrat, who has voted in line with President Donald Trump's position more than 51% of the time.
"The congresswoman has earned a reputation as a tough, prepared member in committee hearings," Hitt added.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will 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. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sharply hit back at Sen. Joe Manchin on Tuesday for claiming she is "more active on Twitter than anything else," an attack that elided the New York Democrat's work building support for a transformative policy agenda and recent fundraising efforts on behalf of communities hammered by the Covid-19 crisis.
"I find it amusing when politicians try to diminish the seriousness of our policy work, movement organizing, and grassroots fundraising to 'she just tweets,' as though 'serious' politics is only done by begging corporate CEOs for money through wax-sealed envelopes delivered by raven," said Ocasio Cortez, the lead House sponsor of the Green New Deal resolution. The congresswoman won reelection in a landslide last month.
In an interview with the New York Times earlier this week, Manchin (D-W.Va.) said of Ocasio-Cortez that he doesn't "know the young lady" before accusing her of not being "that active with her bills or in committee."
Manchin, the most conservative Democrat in the Senate and a friend of the fossil fuel industry, went on to attack the Green New Deal--which he called the "new green deal"--and Medicare for All, falsely suggesting the popular policies are unaffordable.
"We're not for Medicare for All--we can't even pay for Medicare for some," Manchin said.
In response to Manchin's comments, Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez, told the Times that the New York congresswoman has submitted more amendments than 90% of her freshman colleagues and missed fewer votes than the West Virginia Democrat, who has voted in line with President Donald Trump's position more than 51% of the time.
"The congresswoman has earned a reputation as a tough, prepared member in committee hearings," Hitt added.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sharply hit back at Sen. Joe Manchin on Tuesday for claiming she is "more active on Twitter than anything else," an attack that elided the New York Democrat's work building support for a transformative policy agenda and recent fundraising efforts on behalf of communities hammered by the Covid-19 crisis.
"I find it amusing when politicians try to diminish the seriousness of our policy work, movement organizing, and grassroots fundraising to 'she just tweets,' as though 'serious' politics is only done by begging corporate CEOs for money through wax-sealed envelopes delivered by raven," said Ocasio Cortez, the lead House sponsor of the Green New Deal resolution. The congresswoman won reelection in a landslide last month.
In an interview with the New York Times earlier this week, Manchin (D-W.Va.) said of Ocasio-Cortez that he doesn't "know the young lady" before accusing her of not being "that active with her bills or in committee."
Manchin, the most conservative Democrat in the Senate and a friend of the fossil fuel industry, went on to attack the Green New Deal--which he called the "new green deal"--and Medicare for All, falsely suggesting the popular policies are unaffordable.
"We're not for Medicare for All--we can't even pay for Medicare for some," Manchin said.
In response to Manchin's comments, Lauren Hitt, a spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez, told the Times that the New York congresswoman has submitted more amendments than 90% of her freshman colleagues and missed fewer votes than the West Virginia Democrat, who has voted in line with President Donald Trump's position more than 51% of the time.
"The congresswoman has earned a reputation as a tough, prepared member in committee hearings," Hitt added.