Paul Revere by Cyrus Dallin, North End, Boston

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Saturday, July 25, 2020

U.S. Representative Ocasio-Cortez



Not all heroes wear capes.

Earlier this week, Republican U.S. Representative from Florida, Ted Yoho, accosted Rep. Ocasio-Cortez in the U.S. House of Representatives with vulgar and abusive language and Rep. Ocasio-Cortez answered him in an intelligent, measured, and searing rebuke without using any vulgar language or name-calling. That's because she's smart, and knows how to disarm loud, boorish, little men who cannot deal with women who are smarter and more eloquent than they are.

Brava, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez. You were magnificent and a model for all our daughters!

Here are some Letters to the Editor from the New York Times praising her response:



To the Editor:
As a woman in the age of the Trump presidency, I watched Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s rebuke of Representative Ted Yoho on the House floor with profound gratitude. Women may be accustomed to experiencing sexist verbal abuse, but that doesn’t mean we have to silently accept it.
I admire Ms. Ocasio-Cortez for speaking up. In fact, every single member of Congress should be publicly denouncing Mr. Yoho’s vulgar, sexist remarks directed at one of their peers.

That you chose to frame Ms. Ocasio-Cortez’s condemnation of sexism in Congress as an effort to “amplify her own political brand” and as “disruptive” is shameful. Defending the dignity and humanity of women is not a political brand. It can be seen as such only when one has accepted the status quo of allowing men to verbally assault women without consequence.
Similarly, it is Mr. Yoho’s offensive actions that should be seen as disruptive. This framing matters, and I urge you to do better.
Colette Rose
Tarrytown, N.Y.

To the Editor:
Simply put, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s words on the House floor denouncing the sexist vulgarity used against her by Representative Ted Yoho, a Florida Republican, were the most powerful and far-reaching I have heard in my 79 years.
I wish she were my representative.
To Mr. Yoho, I suggest that he resign and go into male/humanity rehab to fix himself. I also suggest that any person who feels inclined to treat another as he treated Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, please don’t.
Roger Roth
Prospect, Pa.

7 comments:

Dave Miller said...

Muscular Christianity from Rep Yoho.

Another black mark on the faith.

Les Carpenter said...

On policy I can disagree with her on what I consider to be excessively progressive. On her respone to the vulgar uncouth Yoho she was magnificen. She responded with class and great character. She won the exchange in a very big way.

Shaw Kenawe said...

RN not all liberals agree with AOC's policies. But she showed strength of character in her response.

A Republican who did the same Mitt Romney. And many Conservative who do not support Trump -- The Lincoln Project, Republicans Against Trump, YOU!

As we get through Trump's presidency, I think what we've learned is that we can disagree on policy, but what is non-negotiable is strength of character. We should NEVER allow a person of low character to ever sit in the Oval Office again.

America saw Trump's repulsive character several times before he was elected: mocking John McCain, mocking a disabled journalist, insulting women, and listening to the tape where he bragged about sexually assaulting women, knowing he cheated in business and on all three wives and even his mistresses!

Low character.

Dave Miller said...

Shaw... I may not agree with many of the proposed policies of AOC... But that doesn't mean I should insult her personally in the manner used by Rep. Ted Yoho.

An elected member of Congress, Senate, or the White House, at least in my opinion, has a responsibility to uphold some standards. Failure to do so sullies the office, demeans the rest of Congress, and contributes to the lowering of our reputation around the world.

At least Yoho did the right thing by resigning from the Xtian organization he served as a board member. Now he needs to do the same and resign from the House. As should our president, for the same reasons.

Shaw Kenawe said...

Trump shows no respect for women, and Yoho took his cues from Trump.

Is there anything a normal American can feel pride about in the GOP President?

Les Carpenter said...

Nope, no truly well balanced, decent American can take pride in anything this president does. And the DOW's performance does nothing to change thae fact he is destroying the nation's democractic republic and rule of law.

skudrunner said...

Instead of de-funding law enforcement why don't we de-fund congress because they are totally dysfunctional and at this point serve no purpose.

Ms Shaw, If you stand on character as the democrats profess, how can you and they keep voting in Maxine.
Rev how can our president resihn from the House?