If you haven’t heard of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by now, I’m not sure where you’ve been. She is a representative from New York and she is young and bold. Throughout her short career, she has made a name for herself already. She has become an icon for feminists in this generation and I have a feeling her legacy will live on for quite some time. Saying that, here are some of her best moments so far.
- Defense of the Green New Deal
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In March of 2019, AOC defended the Green New Deal and explained that “this is not an elitist issue”. During her speech, she explains that this idea is not radical and that climate change is a real issue that we are facing in our own country. She also goes on to talk about the people in Flint, MI who still don’t have clean water. She proved in this moment that she is listening to not only her own constituents, but to those all over the country.
- Calling Out Mitch McConnell
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During the government shutdown in early 2019, Mitch McConnell was nowhere to be found on the 27th day. Many representatives were reportedly looking for Mitch during this time and AOC took to Twitter to make sure we knew Mitch wasn’t on the floor. Once again, keeping our congressmen in check.
- Calling out trump on his ~questionable~ ideologies
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In a 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper, he asks AOC about Trump’s racist remarks and tweets. She replies blatantly that there’s no doubt that he holds racist ideologies and that this could interfere with legislation. She goes on to explain that his language encourages white supremacist behavior and more. AOC isn’t afraid to speak up about important issues and she proves that time and time again.
- “But, hey, b*tches get stuff done”
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Earlier this year, it came to light that congressman Ted Yoho had some choice words about AOC. In response to this, she addressed the public in a tweet by explaining that this was the first exchange between the two and called him out by saying “b*tches get stuff done”. She later goes on to make a speech talking about her own struggles and proving to her parents that she isn’t going to let someone belittle her. In that moment, I think we all knew that she was someone who wasn’t going to let other people walk over her. I also think we can learn a thing or two from her in this situation.
- Among Us Stream
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Her most recent push to vote streaming herself playing Among Us with some famous internet video game players. Her stream also included another iconic congresswoman, Ilhan Omar, who is a representative of my home state of Minnesota. This stream allowed many of her followers to directly interact with her while allowing her to advocate for voting. This woman knows how to connect with her constituents in a positive and I think other legislators should learn from this.
AOC has become a powerhouse in the House of Representatives and has definitely made her mark on the public. She has taught us that you can be strong and feminine at the same time. It’s okay to be smart and powerful and a little bit of a b*tch. I admire the ways in which she stands up for what she is passionate about and the way she isn’t afraid to keep others in line. Let this be a learning moment for many women, especially those going into politics.
And don’t forget to vote!
