This incident has been referred to in other threads but not directly.
For those who aren’t up to date, a few days ago, U.S. Rep. Theodore S. “Ted” Yoho (R-Florida) ran into U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) and began berating her, calling her “disgusting” and out of her mind. She told him he was being rude. Later, he described her as a “fucking bitch.”
Yoho later took to the House floor to make a statement that I’m not sure how to characterize. It certainly was nothing like an apology. He never said, “I apologize to my colleague, Representative Ocasio.” He ended his statement with “I will never apologize for loving my god, my family, and my country.” He even denied doing what he was ostensibly apologizing for.
Mind-boggling.
Ocasio-Cortez then took to the floor and gave this brilliant statement –
Someone remarked to me “It’s not even a political speech. It’s just wisdom.” That’s correct.
This speech reveals how empty conservatism is of any of the values it purportedly upholds. Ultimately, conservative means nothing except preserving the status quo hierarchy for its own sake.
People keep asking why the right is going so hard against Ocasio-Cortez. It’s because she’s good. Very good. They’re terrified of her. So they’re trying to subject her to the same firehose of bullshit that they turned on Hillary Rodham Clinton in 1992 and kept on for three decades.
Plenty of room in this story for bad behavior. He used the words ‘fucking bitch’, but not directly to her, he was just heard by someone else who is being rude by repeating the words not meant to be heard. But he’s an asshole for his initial attack, not the ‘bad words’ the prudists are complaining about. Yet he continues to be deceitful about this and hides behind his wife and daughters rather than facing the truth.
And she is being awful thin skinned, that’s not a sign of a successful politician, and you know who else is awful ‘thin skinned’?
I’m not defending him or attacking her, I’m saying there is a lot of use of the media by politicians and use by the media for political purposes here, and it’s for the their benefit and not ours. I’d rather congress was engaged in political discourse instead of this childish nonsense.
Damn, that was impressive. So well presented extemporaneously, and the content awfully hard to criticize. (Really - thin skinned?)
I know some have criticized AOC’s positions as extreme, and feel she is too young and lacks certain experience. I’m THRILLED to see a young Latina woman of her obvious abilities poised to become a formidable liberal voice in years/decades to come.
I’ve sent it to the 10 or so people closest to me, and urge everyone to do the same. Hell - Trumpists - send it to YOUR pals. My bet is at least a few of them gain the stirrings of a conscience.
I don’t think it came across that way. She said she wasn’t personally hurt by the conduct, she’s been around men like him before and heard similar things all her life. She shamed him good. Like the OP said, she’s very good at this.
You know, I don’t see her speech as being thin skinned. I thought it was entirely appropriate and very well executed. A complete contrast to ‘you know who’.
I’m picking a bad case to make a point with, because he is an ass. I just don’t like seeing the Democrats using appeals to resentment which the Republicans have sunk to so often.
On the other hand, she’s young, non-white, and female. I think it’s important for her to send the “Don’t fuck with me” message loud and clear if she’s going to be a leader in the long run.
“Childish nonsense” sure seems like a bad description of the struggle that women continue to have to engage in to get basic levels of respect and decency from society in general and, as we’ve now seen, in the very center of our democratic processes.
I don’t see how TriPolar got any of what he’s saying from AOC’s speech. It was positively brilliant. Scathing and backhanded and put that man in his place, all while being 100% dignified.
She wasn’t all “don’t call me a bitch” she was all “You think I’m a bitch? I tell you what all these women [sweeps arms across America] are my bitches and we’re all fucking tired of weak-ass men like you and we’re not going to take it anymore.”
AOC says some things very well - which are likely to only appeal to folk w/ at least a 9-minute attention span.
You could get a pretty good idea from the first 4 minutes. Or even the first 1. But you are so busy with important things!
I agree. I just LOVE this sort of rational direct calling out of inexcusable behavior. Highlight the differences in positions AND tone.
Well, it’s worth a watch. But she recounts the facts, and then tears into his “apology.” He must have said something like “I respect women, I have a wife and two daughters.” She said (paraphrasing) “I’m someone’s daughter too” went on from there. (I’m sure you can find a transcript on line)
