U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., graduated from Boston University in 2011 with a degree in economics, but following facts seems to come really hard for the self-avowed socialist.
The Republican Party posted a tweet on Tuesday calling attention to the fact that “60% of workers report living paycheck-to-paycheck,” this coming as President Joe Biden and the White House actively tout their economic accomplishments.
Eager to engage in partisan bickering, AOC chimed in — with a southern demeanor, no less — to effectively blame the GOP for a minimum wage increase failing to pass last year: “And yet y’all still voted against raising the minimum wage.”
And yet y’all still voted against raising the minimum wage https://t.co/tFkTHf2OAO
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 19, 2022
Never mind that Democrats currently have a majority in the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate.
Interestingly, Ocasio-Cortez’s misleading tweet was flagged on Twitter with the appropriate context being added to show that when Congress voted on a bill to raise the minimum wage in 2021, it passed in the House despite 8 Democrats joining Republicans in opposing the measure — three Republicans voted in favor of the bill. However, the increase failed in the Senate, with 7 Democrats voting with the Republican caucus to block the measure.
Somewhat surprisingly, the federal minimum wage is currently $7.25 per hour and was last increased on July 24, 2009 — so much for looking out for the little guy, although only a tiny fraction of workers in the U.S. earn minimum wage and many states have set a much higher minimum wage.
But all that may prove to be too complicated for a poor Bronx bartender just trying to grasp the big world around her, and don’t think of explaining to AOC how much inflation, which Democrats own lock, stock and barrel, cuts into workers’ paychecks.
Here’s a quick sampling of responses to the story from Twitter:
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) December 19, 2022
Less than 2% of American workers make minimum wage.
So, the minimum wage has nothing to do with living paycheck to paycheck.
Instead, democrat induced inflation is pushing Americans savings down and credit card debt up.
— Ross Schumann (@RossSchumann) December 19, 2022
I REFUSE to believe that this woman has a degree in economics. https://t.co/ipY98kJyX3
— Esther K (@estherk_k) December 19, 2022
When/where have government price/wage controls ever worked, @AOC?https://t.co/EcXcNb1JNi
— Adam Baldwin (@AdamBaldwin) December 19, 2022
Yeah, with less than 1.4% of the entire population earning minimum wage, raising it surely would have made a difference for the 60% living paycheck to paycheck genius. Do you think before you post? https://t.co/ZltXmURl6h
— The Anti-Mimetic Man (@TheOppoMan) December 19, 2022
Math is hard isn’t it?
Gaslighting statements without any research or thought behind them is why no one takes you seriously. https://t.co/nSvQt6uluF
— HOJO!- The Mythicals #1 sign-up is LIVE! (@HWDesper) December 21, 2022
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Tom Tillison grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills. Tillison also contributes to BizPac Review.
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