SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
You might want to stop messing with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Face It, Repubs, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Is Way Smarter Than You Guys
Not to treat her like the Second Coming—she is, again, just a neophyte lawmaker—but in her passion, her preparedness and her pugnacity, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is conducting a master class on the power of light and air, using the notoriety you gave her to do so
Apr 22, 2019
Memo to the Republican Party:
You might want to stop messing with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
She's a freshman congresswoman with no significant legislative achievements, so it makes little sense that you spend so much time and energy on her. Besides, every time you do, you end up getting pantsed.
You'd think you'd learn. Yet, like Charlie Brown trying to kick that football, you keep coming back for more.
The latest example began when one of your rank-and-file, Rep. Sean Duffy, took aim at the Green New Deal, Ocasio-Cortez's wish list of social, economic and policy goals to stem the impact of climate change. He called it "elitist."
She responded forcefully. "You want to tell people that their concern and their desire for clean air and clean water is elitist?" she said. "Tell that to the kids in the South Bronx, which are suffering from the highest rates of childhood asthma in the country. Tell that to the families in Flint, whose kids have their blood ascending in lead levels. ... Call them elitist."
That speech prompted another of your members, Rep. Andy Barr, to issue a dare disguised as an invitation: "Come to Eastern Kentucky where thousands of coal miners no longer have paychecks," he said. "... Go underground with me and meet the men and women who do heroic work to empower the American economy."
Whereupon Ocasio-Cortez did what Barr never expected: She accepted, noting that the Green New Deal envisions fully funding miners' pensions "because we want a just transition to make sure we are investing in jobs" in mining communities.
His bluff called, Barr backtracked. He withdrew the invitation, claiming Ocasio-Cortez had to first apologize for an unrelated Twitter spat about a different issue with another legislator.
As fig leaves go, it was Saran Wrap.
For all his huffing about an apology, Barr's real concern was obvious. Namely, if his constituents ever got to meet and listen to Ocasio-Cortez up close -- that is, without the horned-demon-with-"666"-tattooed-on-her-scalp spin you Republicans always apply -- they might like her.
Indeed, another Kentucky lawmaker, Rep. James Comer, suggested last week in an interview on "Hey Kentucky," a local public affairs show, that you Republicans are "making a mistake picking on" Ocasio-Cortez, whom he described as smart and well prepared. Republicans, he said, "need to be very prepared when we debate her on issues that we're having a hard time with."
And here, it seems apropos to recall how participants in a town hall convened by Fox "News" recently caught people off guard by applauding another horned demon, Bernie Sanders. "Weird," tweeted Donald Trump.
Weird, indeed. It seems strange things can happen if light and air are allowed into the closed and musty silo that is conservative political thought.
Not to treat her like the Second Coming -- she is, again, just a neophyte lawmaker -- but in her passion, her preparedness and her pugnacity, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is conducting a master class on the power of light and air, using the notoriety you gave her to do so. A new generation of progressive leaders is surely taking notes.
So a smart party would up its game, would quit manufacturing demons and start manufacturing ideas. Start manufacturing hope. It would be nice to believe that's what you'll do. On the other hand, Charlie Brown always said he wasn't going to let Lucy trick him again.
It would have been nice to believe that, too.
We are at a crossroads
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. |
© 2023 Miami Herald
Leonard Pitts Jr.
Leonard Pitts Jr. won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2004. His latest book is The Last Thing You Surrender: A Novel of World War II. His column runs every Sunday and Wednesday in the Miami Herald. Forward From This Moment, a collection of his columns, was published in 2009.
Memo to the Republican Party:
You might want to stop messing with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
She's a freshman congresswoman with no significant legislative achievements, so it makes little sense that you spend so much time and energy on her. Besides, every time you do, you end up getting pantsed.
You'd think you'd learn. Yet, like Charlie Brown trying to kick that football, you keep coming back for more.
The latest example began when one of your rank-and-file, Rep. Sean Duffy, took aim at the Green New Deal, Ocasio-Cortez's wish list of social, economic and policy goals to stem the impact of climate change. He called it "elitist."
She responded forcefully. "You want to tell people that their concern and their desire for clean air and clean water is elitist?" she said. "Tell that to the kids in the South Bronx, which are suffering from the highest rates of childhood asthma in the country. Tell that to the families in Flint, whose kids have their blood ascending in lead levels. ... Call them elitist."
That speech prompted another of your members, Rep. Andy Barr, to issue a dare disguised as an invitation: "Come to Eastern Kentucky where thousands of coal miners no longer have paychecks," he said. "... Go underground with me and meet the men and women who do heroic work to empower the American economy."
Whereupon Ocasio-Cortez did what Barr never expected: She accepted, noting that the Green New Deal envisions fully funding miners' pensions "because we want a just transition to make sure we are investing in jobs" in mining communities.
His bluff called, Barr backtracked. He withdrew the invitation, claiming Ocasio-Cortez had to first apologize for an unrelated Twitter spat about a different issue with another legislator.
As fig leaves go, it was Saran Wrap.
For all his huffing about an apology, Barr's real concern was obvious. Namely, if his constituents ever got to meet and listen to Ocasio-Cortez up close -- that is, without the horned-demon-with-"666"-tattooed-on-her-scalp spin you Republicans always apply -- they might like her.
Indeed, another Kentucky lawmaker, Rep. James Comer, suggested last week in an interview on "Hey Kentucky," a local public affairs show, that you Republicans are "making a mistake picking on" Ocasio-Cortez, whom he described as smart and well prepared. Republicans, he said, "need to be very prepared when we debate her on issues that we're having a hard time with."
And here, it seems apropos to recall how participants in a town hall convened by Fox "News" recently caught people off guard by applauding another horned demon, Bernie Sanders. "Weird," tweeted Donald Trump.
Weird, indeed. It seems strange things can happen if light and air are allowed into the closed and musty silo that is conservative political thought.
Not to treat her like the Second Coming -- she is, again, just a neophyte lawmaker -- but in her passion, her preparedness and her pugnacity, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is conducting a master class on the power of light and air, using the notoriety you gave her to do so. A new generation of progressive leaders is surely taking notes.
So a smart party would up its game, would quit manufacturing demons and start manufacturing ideas. Start manufacturing hope. It would be nice to believe that's what you'll do. On the other hand, Charlie Brown always said he wasn't going to let Lucy trick him again.
It would have been nice to believe that, too.
Leonard Pitts Jr.
Leonard Pitts Jr. won the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2004. His latest book is The Last Thing You Surrender: A Novel of World War II. His column runs every Sunday and Wednesday in the Miami Herald. Forward From This Moment, a collection of his columns, was published in 2009.
Memo to the Republican Party:
You might want to stop messing with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
She's a freshman congresswoman with no significant legislative achievements, so it makes little sense that you spend so much time and energy on her. Besides, every time you do, you end up getting pantsed.
You'd think you'd learn. Yet, like Charlie Brown trying to kick that football, you keep coming back for more.
The latest example began when one of your rank-and-file, Rep. Sean Duffy, took aim at the Green New Deal, Ocasio-Cortez's wish list of social, economic and policy goals to stem the impact of climate change. He called it "elitist."
She responded forcefully. "You want to tell people that their concern and their desire for clean air and clean water is elitist?" she said. "Tell that to the kids in the South Bronx, which are suffering from the highest rates of childhood asthma in the country. Tell that to the families in Flint, whose kids have their blood ascending in lead levels. ... Call them elitist."
That speech prompted another of your members, Rep. Andy Barr, to issue a dare disguised as an invitation: "Come to Eastern Kentucky where thousands of coal miners no longer have paychecks," he said. "... Go underground with me and meet the men and women who do heroic work to empower the American economy."
Whereupon Ocasio-Cortez did what Barr never expected: She accepted, noting that the Green New Deal envisions fully funding miners' pensions "because we want a just transition to make sure we are investing in jobs" in mining communities.
His bluff called, Barr backtracked. He withdrew the invitation, claiming Ocasio-Cortez had to first apologize for an unrelated Twitter spat about a different issue with another legislator.
As fig leaves go, it was Saran Wrap.
For all his huffing about an apology, Barr's real concern was obvious. Namely, if his constituents ever got to meet and listen to Ocasio-Cortez up close -- that is, without the horned-demon-with-"666"-tattooed-on-her-scalp spin you Republicans always apply -- they might like her.
Indeed, another Kentucky lawmaker, Rep. James Comer, suggested last week in an interview on "Hey Kentucky," a local public affairs show, that you Republicans are "making a mistake picking on" Ocasio-Cortez, whom he described as smart and well prepared. Republicans, he said, "need to be very prepared when we debate her on issues that we're having a hard time with."
And here, it seems apropos to recall how participants in a town hall convened by Fox "News" recently caught people off guard by applauding another horned demon, Bernie Sanders. "Weird," tweeted Donald Trump.
Weird, indeed. It seems strange things can happen if light and air are allowed into the closed and musty silo that is conservative political thought.
Not to treat her like the Second Coming -- she is, again, just a neophyte lawmaker -- but in her passion, her preparedness and her pugnacity, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is conducting a master class on the power of light and air, using the notoriety you gave her to do so. A new generation of progressive leaders is surely taking notes.
So a smart party would up its game, would quit manufacturing demons and start manufacturing ideas. Start manufacturing hope. It would be nice to believe that's what you'll do. On the other hand, Charlie Brown always said he wasn't going to let Lucy trick him again.
It would have been nice to believe that, too.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.
To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.
News & Opinion
Trending
Common Dreams, Inc. Founded 1997. Registered 501(c3) Non-Profit
Privacy Policy