A journalist compared Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Sarah Palin, and AOC is not here for it
Newly instated Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has taken Washington by storm—and gained a number of conservative critics in the process. However, the congresswoman has proven she knows how to shut down personal attacks like a pro, so when a reporter negatively compared her to former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin, Ocasio-Cortez naturally had the perfect response.
In an op-ed for The Washington Post, published today, January 8th, columnist Max Boot criticized Ocasio-Cortez for making several factually inaccurate statements. Boot argued that the new representative “cares more about her ideological correctness than her factual correctness.” He concluded his piece by likening the 29-year-old New York native to Palin.
"In some ways, Ocasio-Cortez reminds me of Sarah Palin, a comparison neither woman will appreciate," he wrote. "Palin was another talented young communicator who made a big splash in national politics before having her lack of knowledge painfully exposed."
Ocasio-Cortez reminds me of Sarah Palin, another talented young communicator who made a big splash in national politics before having her lack of knowledge painfully exposed. This is a cautionary tale for Ocasio-Cortez. My latest in @PostOpinions: https://t.co/bHmNmcyAD0
— Max Boot 🇺🇦🇺🇸 (@MaxBoot) January 8, 2019
He concluded by accusing Ocasio-Cortez of having a “fatal attraction to political celebrity and vacuous soundbites.”
It wasn’t long before the congresswoman stepped in to defend herself. In a series of tweets, she pointed to her recently proposed plan to fund green energy as proof that she knows what she’s doing. As PolitiFact notes, she has also suggested taxing income earned after $10 million at a rate of 70%.
"Naturally, the same week we kick-start a nat’l convo on marginal tax rates endorsed by Nobel-Prize winning economists, I’m being described as 'vacuous,'" she tweeted. "If you're allowed to characterize female politicians as 'unlikeable,' are we allowed to describe takes like these [sic] 'resentful'?"
Naturally, the same week we kick-start a nat’l convo on marginal tax rates endorsed by Nobel-Prize winning economists, I’m being described as “vacuous.”
If you’re allowed to characterize female politicians as “unlikeable,” are we allowed to describe takes like these “resentful?” https://t.co/cMikVKcJ5U
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 8, 2019
She continued by writing: “Let’s refocus our energy and coverage to policies instead of personality.”
Let’s refocus our energy and coverage to policies instead of personality.
Right now, 800,000 workers are without a paycheck.
The President is holding gov operations hostage so that he can build a monument to himself on the southern border that the maj of Americans don’t want.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 8, 2019
Ocasio-Cortez has admittedly cited a few incorrect figures in the past—but she has acknowledged these mistakes. In a January 6th 60 Minutes interview, she told Anderson Cooper that factual accuracy was “absolutely important” and argued that her slip-ups were more benign than, say, Trump’s.
"And whenever I make a mistake. I say, 'OK, this was clumsy,' and then I restate what my point was," she said. "But it's—it's not the same thing as—as the President lying about immigrants. It's not the same thing, at all."
Comparing Ocasio-Cortez to Palin—or, for that matter, Donald Trump—feels like a desperate stretch. Let’s take a cue from the congresswoman and focus on policy, not personality. Because that’s what will ultimately bring about the change this country desperately needs right now.
