Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez earned a heaping dose of backlash after she rejected an offer from Ben Shapiro for the two of them to debate.
It wasn’t just that the Democratic socialist turned down the offer from the Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Wire, but the way that she did, that opened the floodgates of criticism.
Shapiro appealed to the congressional candidate to meet with him and have “a real conversation” about the issues, offering her $10,000 to her campaign or a charity of her choice.
Hey, @Ocasio2018, what do you say? pic.twitter.com/lKDtmMc8Us
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 8, 2018
I’d love to have this conversation,” Shapiro said. “So let’s make this happen! Let’s make America a more civil and interesting place. Let’s do this thing.”
More than 24 hours later, the progressive House candidate finally replied – sort of.
Just like catcalling, I don’t owe a response to unsolicited requests from men with bad intentions,” she tweeted Thursday. “And also like catcalling, for some reason they feel entitled to one.”
Just like catcalling, I don’t owe a response to unsolicited requests from men with bad intentions.
And also like catcalling, for some reason they feel entitled to one. pic.twitter.com/rsD17Oq9qe
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 10, 2018
Her “catcalling” remark unleashed Twitter users who slammed her for “making a mockery” of real sexual abuse victims.
This is your brain on identity politics. By challenging her to debate, @benshapiro was actually treating her as an equal. She knows she’d lose, and she needs to posture for her SJW fans, so she declares herself a victim of “catcalling.” Totally demented. https://t.co/o8viIeBAV4
— Noah Pollak (@NoahPollak) August 10, 2018
A baseless, explicitly motive-impugning accusation of sexism to avoid a debate. Unsurprising but still so weak. https://t.co/x1Duptdpc3
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) August 10, 2018
You’re making a mockery of real victims of sexual harassment and you should delete this and apologize to them. https://t.co/vHtsiA1c78
— Jeremiah Stephan Dunleavy IV (@JerryDunleavy) August 10, 2018
Okay fine @Ocasio2018, if you won’t debate @benshapiro because he’s a man (and because he would destroy you intellectually) how about a debate with me? https://t.co/y4m2mkLbVt
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) August 10, 2018
And once again a so-called “progressive” has given more ammo to the false stereotype that women are weak and fragile https://t.co/xIu6kDqKDj
— Amber Athey (@amber_athey) August 10, 2018
If a man asking @Ocasio2018 to debate is catcalling, what was it when I asked? (And other women that I’m sure have also asked.) I would LOVE to discuss her claim that Jesus was a socialist. Or is that mean?
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) August 10, 2018
Shapiro weighed in as well, calling out Ocasio-Cortez for her “cowardice.”
Discussion and debate are not “bad intentions.” Slandering someone as a sexist catcaller without reason or evidence does demonstrate cowardice and bad intent, however. https://t.co/kYaYuf0W43
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 10, 2018
But sure, go with “the Orthodox Jew who has never catcalled a woman in his life is ACKSHUALLY a sexist catcaller for asking for a discussion or debate.” I’m sure your media sycophants will eat it up.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 10, 2018
He even took a jab at her New York City connection.
Catcalling must mean something different in Queens.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 10, 2018
“Hey, girl — want to have a public one-hour discussion on the intricacies of trade policy, deficit spending, and the value of the profit motive? I’ll even donate a bunch of money to charity or your campaign to make it happen.” — Construction worker in Queens, apparently
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 10, 2018
Conservative commentator Candace Owens raised the stakes while blasting the young socialist.
And what exactly was your excuse for having turned down the debate with me?
Can’t wrap that one up in fake-feminism.
I’ll double @benshapiro’s offer. 20k to a charity of your choice— a capitalism vs. socialism debate. https://t.co/jHQHZcJ83V
— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) August 10, 2018
Candace, you need to offer Alexandria 20K in Taxpayer money for her to understand
— str8thinker (@str8thinker) August 10, 2018
Meanwhile, as everyone awaits another response from Ocasio-Cortez, Twitter users piled on the criticism and gave animated life to the idea of “catcalling” the candidate to a debate.
Anyone who knows @benshapiro personally would have to say that the idea of Ben “catcalling” someone is just LOL-level funny.
— Josh Hammer (@josh_hammer) August 10, 2018
I lived in Queens for 20 years and never once heard a woman challenged to an economics debate on the street.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) August 10, 2018
“Hey, baby, let me see your amortization schedule for up-front investments in nationalizing clinics and hospitals!”
— Ed Morrissey (@EdMorrissey) August 10, 2018
Footage of @benshapiro catcalling, Circa 2018, colorized pic.twitter.com/ArUnrohilZ
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) August 10, 2018
::whistles::
“Oooooh ~yeah~ let me see more of your…detailed plans to pay for your proposals.” ? https://t.co/DNZOCMAyn3
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) August 10, 2018
She doesn’t have to debate him. But acting as though he is offending her by suggesting is the exceptional thing
— John Podhoretz (@jpodhoretz) August 10, 2018
You know what’s bad faith? Accusing conservatives of not wanting to debate you, then pretending @benshapiro sexually whistled at you… because he asked you to debate.
FYI my team has also asked you multiple times to come on my show & debate. And you won’t. https://t.co/kTh7v4x64y
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) August 10, 2018
Thanks a lot for setting women back a few decades with this Victorian BS. You are running for Congress — put the big girl pants on and stop hiding behind your lady parts. People want to hear you defend your positions, and voters in your district are entitled to that. https://t.co/blrsRxG4by
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) August 10, 2018
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
[email protected]
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
- Troops DEPLOYED on U.S. soil – Democrat governor goes off the rails! - September 4, 2023
- $800 Million GONE – Government deal goes completely wrong! - August 30, 2023
- Doocy presses White House spox on Biden health czar’s proposed two beer limit - August 29, 2023
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
