Over the weekend, we reported that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) had gleefully documented herself getting the COVID-19 vaccine despite the fact that she is only 31, and millions of elderly Americans and frontline workers have not been able to get it yet.
Now, this has come back to bite Ocasio-Cortez, as Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has called her out for selfishly getting the vaccine.
“I was asked about getting vaccinated with others in Congress: It is inappropriate for me – who has already gotten the virus/has immunity – to get in front of elderly/healthcare workers,” Paul tweeted. “Same goes for AOC or any young healthy person. They should be among last, not first.”
I was asked about getting vaccinated with others in Congress:
It is inappropriate for me – who has already gotten the virus/has immunity – to get in front of elderly/healthcare workers.
Same goes for AOC or any young healthy person. They should be among last, not first.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) December 21, 2020
In an Instagram Q&A, Ocasio-Cortez addressed questions over why she was getting the vaccine over more vulnerable people.
“I was actually surprised by this too,” she said, going on to attribute it to a “national security policy.”
“I was expecting we’re going to get it a lot later… When it comes to Congress’s access, it’s due to something [called] continuity of governance planning, which is essentially national security planning,” Ocasio-Cortez added. “So this actually came from a national security policy and directive to ensure continuity of governance during national emergencies.”
AOC explains why she, a 31-year-old congresswoman, received a vaccine before more vulnerable populations pic.twitter.com/Tw4IV68uEa
— Hannah Bleau ? (@hannahbleau_) December 21, 2020
Even Ocasio-Cortez’s fellow “Squad” member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) was appalled at lawmakers getting the vaccine before frontline workers and the elderly.
“It would makes sense if it was age, but unfortunately it’s of importance and its shameful,” Omar wrote of why politicians are being given vaccines right now when others aren’t.
“We are not more important then frontline workers, teachers etc. who are making sacrifices everyday. Which is why I won’t take it,” she added. “People who need it most, should get it. Full stop.”
It would makes sense if it was age, but unfortunately it’s of importance and its shameful.
We are not more important then frontline workers, teachers etc. who are making sacrifices everyday.
Which is why I won’t take it.
People who need it most, should get it.
Full stop. https://t.co/JQgMftm5wX
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) December 20, 2020
Paul spoke out over the weekend to attack leaders who have been using the coronavirus to exert more control over people. The Kentucky senator specifically discussed mask mandates, saying that they are “are all about submission.”
“It’s all about submission. They want you to submit to their will, whether there’s any science. In fact, like on schools, I’ve been telling Fauci for six months, the evidence is that if you open schools, you will not get a surge,” he explained. “The whole world accepts it, except for Dr. Fauci. He finally accepted it last week, six months after I started showing him the evidence.”
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