Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) must have forgotten that there are no take-backs on the internet these days.
The young Democratic Socialist tried to erase an embarrassing tweet in which she blasted a member of her own party, apparently mistaking him for a Republican.
Twitter Takeback
On Thursday, Ocasio-Cortez shared a tweet published by the Republican Party of Kentucky containing a photo of Rep. John Yarmuth, a Democrat from Kentucky, posing next to a cardboard cutout likeness of herself.
The freshman congresswoman, always looking for a reason to attack Republicans, apparently did not recognize her colleague as she accused him of acting creepy. (She also apparently did not read the caption on the original tweet…)
“GOP,” she tweeted, “Let’s pose our older male members next to cardboard cutouts of young female legislators.”
After several Twitter users pointed out that Yarmuth was actually a member of her own party, not to mention the House Budget Committee Chairman, Ocasio-Cortez deleted the tweet. But by that point, some had already saved screenshots.
.@AOC FYI, the “older male” pictured is John Yarmuth. Your colleague. And a Democrat.
Good job. pic.twitter.com/vwXyNIKj3A
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) April 25, 2019
AOC’s Old Man Problem
Perhaps what is even more embarrassing than the actual mistake is what it revealed: Ocasio-Cortez’s own deep-seated prejudice.
Since taking office, Ocasio-Cortez has perpetuated the stereotype that Republicans are just a bunch of old white men. It was not long ago that she referred to Fox News, a right-leaning network, as “grown men” who are “obsessed” with her.
Yarmuth is old and white, and since all old, white people are Republicans, Yarmuth obviously must be a Republican.
The only problem is that he isn’t. That must have stung, considering that Democrats like Ocasio-Cortez tout themselves as fighting against prejudice.
Consequences
The flub isn’t likely to endear Ocasio-Cortez to the Democratic leadership in her party. It may serve to heighten the tension between establishment Democrats and the newer, more radical faction, represented by Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and others.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has already hinted at her displeasure with Ocasio-Cortez on numerous occasions. Most recently, she said that a “glass of water” with a “D next to its name” could have won Ocasio-Cortez’s district.
The social media queen recently revealed that she doesn’t use Facebook anymore. It might be time to give up Twitter as well, Ocasio-Cortez.
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