Newly elected Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) made her first appearance in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, but the first item on her agenda has fellow Democrats seeing red.
Ocasio-Cortez joined a group of young activists called the “Sunrise Movement” in staging a sit-in protest outside the Capitol Hill office of Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the House Minority Leader and, come January, the likely Speaker of the House — and Ocasio-Cortez’s new boss.
Ocasio-Cortez addressed the protesters, who were holding signs asking for a “Green New Deal” from Democrats in charge, and demanding “Green Jobs for All,” shook hands, and gave high-fives to the 50 or so protesters who blocked the entrance to Pelosi’s office.
The event marked Ocasio-Cortez’s first visit to the soon-to-be Speaker’s office, and leftists were pretty miffed that she introduced herself to her Democratic colleagues not by embracing inter-party collegiality, but by openly disagreeing with her party’s long-time leadership.
Alexandra Ocasio Cortez makes her first visit to Nancy Pelosi’s office — for a climate change protest. pic.twitter.com/PXTBoGcWcb
— Sheryl Gay Stolberg (@SherylNYT) November 13, 2018
What, they asked Ocasio-Cortez, do you think you’re doing?
@Ocasio2018 WTF are you doing? Nancy Pelosi is your friend, not your enemy. Nancy Pelosi passed cap-and-trade. Nancy Pelosi has ZERO influence on climate policy because GOP controls the Senate and WH no matter how much you protest. WTF are you doing?
— eigenscape (@eigenscape) November 13, 2018
First shot is a huge miss! Try protesting the Republicans
— Tony Tombrillo Jr (@bigwheezie) November 13, 2018
I would respectfully submit that it’s much more difficult to craft legislation and seek bipartisan sponsors than make signs and protest. This might be a time to identify potential alliances + present solutions rather than spotlight areas of division.
— Phoebe Wall Howard (@phoebesaid) November 13, 2018
This helps no one except the GOP.
— CJ (@WSAcanuck) November 13, 2018
Others suggested that perhaps Ocasio-Cortez needs a short lesson on how Washington works.
Wrong side of the aisle.
Nancy knows a thing or two about climate change because she got one of the biggest bills through.
Perhaps Alexandra doesn’t know how Congress works.— 2018 Vote Dems! Our Lives Depend on Our Votes! (@AlasscanIsBack) November 13, 2018
This is an bizarre choice for the protesters since NP unilaterally passed major climate legislation with no buy-in from the Senate in 2009.
— Jane’s not Tame (@JksKathryn) November 13, 2018
They might have known she was a tad bit unprepared when she explained her desire to be “inaugurated” several months ago, so that she could begin “signing bills.”
Republicans seemed all too happy to allow Ocasio-Cortez to launch internecine warfare within her own party.