
When it comes to political comedy, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is the gift that keeps on giving. Each week, Liberty Nation uncovers the blunders that keep us wondering: How did she ever get elected?
The intrepid young AOC has delivered again. This week, she made some outrageous claims about climate change and illegal immigration, and then defended Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) for making callous comments about the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Finally, in a story that did not make much of a splash in the news cycle, the lawmaker was the subject of criticism from esteemed members of the black community for making a mistake that is all too common on the left.
Climate Change Causes Illegal Immigration
As you already know, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) is an avid fan of illegal immigration. She has long advocated for open borders policies that would allow thousands to enter the country on a daily basis. Even further, she has become an outspoken proponent for the movement to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
AOC recently put forth a brilliant theory on the cause of the migrant crisis at the border. “The far-right loves to drum up fear & resistance to immigrants,” she tweeted. “But have you ever noticed they never talk about what’s causing people to flee their homes in the first place? Perhaps that’s bc they’d be forced to confront 1 major factor fueling global migration: Climate change.”
That’s right. According to the young congresswoman, the changing weather is causing migrants to say “Wow. It’s getting pretty hot over here. I guess it’s time to illegally enter the United States, where the weather doesn’t change.”
True to form, Ocasio-Cortez did not bother to explain how climate change is causing the migrant crisis, but she’s so pretty! How could you not believe her?
Calling Out Ilhan Omar Is Deadly
Ocasio-Cortez rushed to the defense of fellow freshman Representative Ilhan Omar after the New York Post excoriated her for making dismissive comments about the 9/11 terror attacks. While speaking at a banquet for the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Omar discussed the bigotry that faced many Muslim Americans in the aftermath of the terror attacks. She said:
“Here’s the truth. Far too long we have lived with the discomfort of being a second-class citizen and, frankly, I’m tired of it, and every single Muslim in this country should be tired of it. CAIR was founded after 9/11 because they recognized that some people did something and that all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties.”
According to the representative, Muslims dealt with mistreatment because “some people did something” that resulted in the deaths of 3,000 people. In response, the New York Post ran an issue with a picture of the exploding Twin Towers including a caption which read: “Rep. Ilhan Omar 9/11 was ‘some people did something.’ Here’s your something. 2,997 people dead by terrorism.”
Along with many others on the far left, AOC lashed out at those who criticized Omar for her comments. She posted a tweet claiming that those calling out the representative were engaging in “an incitement of violence against progressive women of color.”
In an interview, Ocasio-Cortez ripped the New York Post for putting a picture of the Twin Towers on their cover, stating that the image was “incredibly upsetting and triggering” for New Yorkers. But her argument raises an obvious question: If 9/11 was just some people doing something, why would the picture be so triggering? Nevertheless, the response of Ocasio-Cortez and many others on the progressive left was just another example of their favorite tactic: playing the victim.
Black Pastors Blast AOC
In a largely overlooked story, Ocasio-Cortez became the subject of criticism from the Coalition of African American Pastors (CAAP) for comparing the debate over climate change to the civil rights movement. In a live broadcast on Instagram, she pointed out that “there are a lot of people who hide the fact that their families and their grandparents fought against the principles of equal rights in the United States.”
Then, she continued:
“So just know that while a lot of people can hide what their grandparents did … in the civil rights movement, you should also know that the Internet documents everything. And your grandchildren will not be able to hide the fact that you fought against acknowledging and taking bold action against climate change.”
This statement did not sit well with the members of CAAP, whose president put out a press release criticizing her comments. “Rep. Ocasio-Cortez has fallen into the bad habit of comparing her political goals to the American civil rights movement,” he wrote. “While it is obvious she understands the importance of that movement, she does not seem to realize that her statements trivialize the work of those who marched.”
But he didn’t stop there. He also called her comments disrespectful and slammed her use of the civil rights movement to support her cause. “Rep. Ocasio-Cortez is attempting to borrow the dignity of a great political movement to lend legitimacy to her own proposals,” he argued. “But her ideas must stand or fall on their own merits, not ride on the suffering and pain of others.”
This isn’t the only time the progressive left has used the civil rights movement to lend legitimacy to a political agenda. References to the plight of black Americans under Jim Crow are often used by LGBTQ activists, who have not suffered nearly to the extent that blacks did at that time. If one didn’t know better, they might be tempted to think that those on the far left have no respect for the fight over civil rights and only view it as a valuable political tool.
What does AOC have in store for us next week? Stay tuned for the next installment!