It’s no secret that New York Representative and Squad member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is by far one of the most controversial figures in our government – unless, of course, you lean to the left and see ‘orange man bad’ everywhere.
It’s also no secret that when it comes to individuals as polarizing as AOC, there is no shortage of those who would wish to disagree with her at nearly every turn. After all, someone has to put the liberal lawmaker in her place and teach her she’s not the queen of anything, nor is she entitled to whatever she wants.
However, it’s challenging to find someone willing to take a stand against those like AOC on this level and yet, at the same time, not be opposed to agreeing with her, should the rare opportunity present itself where AOC says something intelligent and/or bipartisan.
Conservative commentator Candace Owens is one such figure. On numerous occasions, she has put the congresswoman in her place over her less than educated comments or left-leaning and un-American policy standards.
But, as is proved by a recent back and forth over Twitter, Owens is not afraid to agree with AOC when she is, in fact, correct or make comments that seem to be in America’s best interest.
As you well know, another stimulus bill has finally been put forward.
On its face, that’s an excellent thing for America. People and small businesses everywhere are in desperate need of assistance due to the constraints of the coronavirus pandemic. However, we aren’t sure that this bill will really help with all those needs.
And neither is Congress.
AOC tells us why in a rare moment of intellectual insight and actually thinking about someone besides herself.
She wrote on her Twitter account on Monday, “This is why Congress needs time to actually read this package before voting on it. Members of Congress have not read this bill. It’s over 5000 pages, arrived at 2pm today, and we are told to expect to vote on it in 2 hours. This isn’t governance. It’s hostage taking.”
And she’s exactly right.
Two hours can allow for a lot of reading. But over 5,000 pages? And to understand it completely? That’s nearly impossible unless you are the world’s best speed-reader ever.
To put things in a little perspective for you, the Bible is shorter than the 5,600 pages this bill includes.
But AOC wasn’t finished.
“And by the way, it’s not just members who need to see the bill ahead of time – YOU do. The PUBLIC needs to see these bills w enough time to contact their rep to let them know how they feel. Members are reeling right now bc they don’t have time to consult w/ their communities.”
Again, she’s right on point. Legislation is made for citizens, and, as such, we should have a say in what is passed and what isn’t. It’s why we have representatives in our nation’s capital to speak on our behalf, to make Washington aware of how we feel on specific issues, and push laws into place that will make our communities a better or safer place.
Now, AOC hasn’t had an excellent track record of doing that for her community of Queens, New York (remember when she said no to an Amazon move that would have added over 25,000 jobs to the area?)
But at least it appears she’s trying now.
And Candace Owens is willing to commend her on such.
In rare a moment of agreement, she commented, “I 100% agree with @AOC on this one. This isn’t a stimulus bill, this is heist. Wealthy people are stealing tax dollars under the guise of COVID-19 relief.”
Then again, Owens wasn’t about to let AOC’s party get away with their ridiculous notions included in the bill that no one has had time to read in its entirety.
She challenged, “I implore AOC to ask her colleagues WHY the Smithsonian and the Kennedy Center need over a billion of OUR money.”
Now, it doesn’t seem likely that AOC will take to kindly to this last part, and, knowing her, she certainly won’t try to undo any of her socialist agenda from the bill. But, as Owens noted, giving a bill this lengthy to Congress with only hours to study isn’t how our legislation should work.
And she’s not the only one saying so.
The very conservative Senator Ted Cruz of Texas also agreed with AOC, saying, “.@AOC is right. It’s absurd to have a $2.5 trillion spending bill negotiated in secret and then – hours later – demand an up-or-down vote on a bill nobody has had time to read. #CongressIsBroken”
What a joke!