Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Praised John McCain. Then Things Got REALLY Weird.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did a very nice thing Saturday, tweeting out a heartfelt tribute to the late Senator John McCain, whom she called “an unparalleled example of human decency and American service.”
John McCain’s legacy represents an unparalleled example of human decency and American service.
As an intern, I learned a lot about the power of humanity in government through his deep friendship with Sen. Kennedy.
He meant so much, to so many. My prayers are with his family. https://t.co/iu28V3snDm
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 26, 2018
Being (mostly) a political amateur in a severely partisan social media landscape, Ocasio-Cortez probably should have known that praise for a member of the opposing party wouldn’t be received by her progressive colleagues as a collegial olive branch extended in the spirit of McCain’s “Maverick” reputation, but rather as an open invitation to question her progressive bona fides.
Things got heated, as leftists roasted Ocasio-Cortez from straying from the party line and daring to suggest anyone right of Karl Marx might have had some good ideas.
He supported policies that caused the suffering and deaths of millions of people. How can you say he “represents an unparalleled example of human decency and American service”?
— Aaron Maté (@aaronjmate) August 26, 2018
John McCain heavily promoted the lies that led to the Iraq war.
He championed the NATO bombing of Libya.
He supported & armed the jihadists destroying Syria.
He played a role in bringing neo-Nazis to power in Ukraine & backed Saudi Arabia’s genocide in Yemen.
He was no hero.
— Eamon McGowan (@McgowanEamon) August 26, 2018
No, no, no, Alexandria. He was a war criminal, hands down.
You are young, please reconsider your opinion.— Putin’s side chick (@BarbaraLNewsome) August 26, 2018
I am shocked that someone who is putting themselves forward as a progressive and a socialist can say such a thing about a war-monger like McCain, who wanted to “drill, baby, drill”! That is decency? What?! Just lost any support I was considering. #SocialismForReal
— Russell Dale (@RussellEDale) August 26, 2018
Others bemoaned Ocasio-Cortez “selling out.”
Well that didn’t take long to get sucked up into the mainstream. Bye bye hope.
“Unparalleled example of human decency”? That is laughable and actually upsetting simultaneously, extremely naive also.— Richard Gilmour (@Youseethatdot) August 26, 2018
I could not be more disappointed by these words. You just sealed your fate with the Progressive movement.
— Beverly Couch (@BeverlyCouch) August 26, 2018
The derision went on for some 10,000 replies, though some of those were other Democrats trying to draw the friendly fire away from Ocasio-Cortez and redirect to more productive targets. Others were actually Republicans, praising Ocasio-Cortez for being a decent human being and acknowledging a significant death.
Ocasio-Cortez, to her credit, does not appear to have apologized for her social media eulogy, even when feminist rag Jezebel droned on at her for over a thousand words, excoriating Ocasio-Cortez for lending credence to McCain’s “imperialism” and his opposition to high taxes and free abortions.