On Thursday, Eddie Scarry, a Washington Examiner writer who covers media and politics tweeted a since-deleted photograph of Democratic congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, commenting on the contrast between her clothes and her social status.
(As though people who “struggle” with money in various ways are not allowed to own clothes that look nice at a glance.)
Oh, does @eScarry think he can delete his misogyny without an apology? I don’t think so. You’re a journalist – readers should know your bias. pic.twitter.com/2KJuiPsUR2
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 16, 2018
Ocasio-Cortez was quick to respond, having been the target of other such scrutiny throughout her campaign.
If I walked into Congress wearing a sack, they would laugh & take a picture of my backside. If I walk in with my best sale-rack clothes, they laugh & take a picture of my backside. Dark hates light – that’s why you tune it out. Shine bright & keep it pushing.✨ https://t.co/mRq5wn0v9A
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 15, 2018
This comes shortly after it was reported that Ocasio-Cortez and her partner need to wait until she starts receiving her congressional paychecks before re-locating to D.C. (after all, moving is expensive). Earlier this year, John Cardillo, a host of Newsmax’s “America Talks Live,” shared an image of Ocasio-Cortez’s childhood home in Yorktown Heights.
“This is the Yorktown Heights (very nice area) home @Ocasio2018 grew up in before going off to Ivy League Brown University,” Cardillo tweeted. “A far cry from the Bronx hood upbringing she’s selling.”
Ocasio-Cortez was also called out by Fox News for wearing a $3,000 outfit for a photo shoot with Interview Magazine.
The whole exchange with Scarry inspired other Twitter users to get involved, mostly through the creation of memes based around Scarry’s tweet:
Hill staffer sent me this pic of Ocasio-Cortez they took just now. I’ll tell you something: that jacket and coat don’t look like a girl who struggles. pic.twitter.com/TidcIgEm79
— Julia Moser (@juliamoserrrr) November 15, 2018
that jacket and coat don’t look like a girl who struggles pic.twitter.com/EcWKOATfxC
— Christopher Sebela (@xtop) November 16, 2018
Leftist, Democratic Socialist and Socialist politicians historically have been scrutinized by Conservatives for owning the same things as everyone else, whether it be luxury clothing or vacation homes. Yet as Ocasio-Cortez pointed out in her tweet, they would have something to say about her no matter what she wore.
Hopefully everyone will start paying attention to Ocasio-Cortez for being the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and the work she does with that history-making win— rather than for what clothes she wears.