In another gaffe sure to keep the internet gleefully occupied, Democratic rising star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter this past weekend with the latest proof of her limited understanding of the Democratic socialism she claims to represent.
In a tweet — complete with multiple selfies — Ocasio-Cortez cited both Acadia National Park in Maine and worker-owned businesses as “U.S. examples of Democratic Socialism.”
Back home after a lovely few days off enjoying US examples of Democratic Socialism, like:
– Acadia National Park
– Café Co-ops (Def Top 5 best breakfast sandwiches I’ve ever had ?)
– Supporting worker-owned businesses
– Bonus: Spotted a @PPact helping people, per usual✌?? pic.twitter.com/xmiYXutfpS— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 19, 2018
And now for the icing on the cake …
In the same tweet, punctuated with a peace sign and purple heart emojis, Ocasio-Cortez noted that a “bonus” on her trip was spotting a Planned Parenthood Action Fund outlet “helping people, per usual.”
Social media users quickly and humorously corrected the 28-year-old out-of-nowhere superstar. She’s followed her win in New York’s June primary in Queens with a series of gaffes — leaving her detractors and even her supporters shaking their heads.
This picture of you on a Carriage Road in Acadia is lovely. However, Acadia National Park is not an example of Socialism (Democratic or otherwise.) It is an example of the philanthropy of highly wealthy landowners.
— Sally West ? (@SallyAnnWest) August 20, 2018
By this logic building a wall is Democratic Socialism. Hint: Not every government paid program is Democratic Socialism, but if you are going to take credit for the ones you like as socialism you have to take them all.
— Shane Williams (@shanemwilliams) August 20, 2018
Even liberals could not allow the clearly inaccurate claims to stand unchallenged.
I want to like you, Alexandria, but I just can't. Too much dishonesty and Bernie bros connection. I'm glad I don't live in your district so I won't have to suffocate holding my nose to vote for you because you're a Democrat (sort of).
— Julie Lewis (@julie_lws) August 20, 2018
National parks, of course, are not examples of socialism — nor are worker-owned cooperatives.
“The National Park System is not socialism in action,” as a piece in The Weekly Standard noted. “It is a mix of public goods, like monuments, and government maintenance of park land, which is not an interruption of private economic activity or a usurpation of private property rights.”
Indeed, John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s philanthropy and personal interest in Acadia is responsible for the carriage roads winding through the national park, which so many tourists enjoy each year.
(See more about Rockefeller’s generosity in regard to Acadia in the video below.)
In an ironic twist, in Ocasio-Cortez’s district, a Nazi war criminal captured by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Monday was deported today.
Ocasio-Cortez has adamantly declared her determination to abolish the federal law enforcement agency responsible for promoting homeland security and public safety.
. @Ocasio2018 wants to abolish ICE. Today ICE deported an actual Nazi from her congressional district in Queens. https://t.co/HwgFX9hntQ
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) August 21, 2018
In a shameful response to Pavlich’s tweet, Ocasio-Cortez accused ICE of “sexually assault[ing] women with impunity.”
And in case anyone was laboring under the impression that she respects those who disagree with her goal to abolish ICE, she essentially declared them racists, adding that the GOP “struggles” to say that “white supremacy has no place in this country.”
#AbolishICE means not having an agency that incarcerates children and sexually assaults women with impunity.
It does not mean abolish deportation.
Also, I have no problem saying white supremacy has no place in this country.
It’s the GOP that struggles to say that. https://t.co/7gbXezIhu5
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 21, 2018
Michele Blood is a Flemington, New Jersey-based freelance writer and a regular contributor to LifeZette.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.