In a thread defending fellow Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked why other members of Congress aren’t disciplined for their remarks, like in January when GOP Rep. Jason Smith from Missouri shouted, “Go back to Puerto Rico!” at Democrats during a shutdown debate on the House floor:
One of the things that is hurtful about the extent to which reprimand is sought of Ilhan is that no one seeks this level of reprimand when members make statements about Latinx + other communities (during the shutdown, a GOP member yelled “Go back to Puerto Rico!” on the floor). https://t.co/MwrRN4v4DG
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 5, 2019
Well, maybe Rep. Smith wasn’t disciplined for it because he was shouting at Democrats who had just returned from a vacation in Puerto Rico?
NEWS: Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) shouted "Go back to Puerto Rico" on House floor.
Statement: "Congressman Smith’s comment was directed at all the Democrats who were vacationing down in Puerto Rico last weekend during the government shutdown, not towards any individual member."
— Sarah Ferris (@sarahnferris) January 17, 2019
And Rep. Ocasio-Cortez KNOWS THIS:
The "go back to Puerto Rico" was a blatant reference to the Dem retreat on the island, and @AOC knows this. https://t.co/aO18JoyyCd
— Brent Scher (@BrentScher) March 5, 2019
Recommended
And this has nothing to do with Rep. Omar accusing Jewish Americans of dual loyalty:
Telling a Mexican-American Democrat ***who just led a junket to Puerto Rico during a government shutdown** to go back to Puerto Rico bears exactly zero resemblance to accusing Jewish Americans of dual loyalty. https://t.co/mCUm5jiAlX
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) March 5, 2019
She went on to say rather than calling out Rep. Omar, we should be “calling in” and explain why the remark was hurtful:
In this administration + all others, we should actively check antisemitism, anti-blackness, homophobia, racism, and all other forms of bigotry.
And the most productive end goal when we see it is to educate and heal.
It’s the difference btwn “calling in” before “calling out.”
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 5, 2019
“Calling in” like how Rep. Omar’s Jewish constituents have been doing?
Omar's Jewish constituents have been "calling her in" for a year on exactly these questions to no avail.
Would you want the racist member of Congress who disgustingly yelled at you to "go back to Puerto Rico" called in instead of called out?
Shouldn't there be one standard? https://t.co/j5FkxbtSZD
— Batya Ungar-Sargon (@bungarsargon) March 5, 2019
***
Related:
Notice anything missing from House Dems' new resolution in response to Ilhan Omar's anti-Semitic remarks? https://t.co/LSC8uHjqv0
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 4, 2019
OMG just ask for paper! AOC’s RAGE at grocery stores and plastic bags is why she fights and we can’t stop LAUGHING (watch) https://t.co/fWriQOg6eG
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) March 5, 2019
Join the conversation as a VIP Member