Progressive icon Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Friday hit back at Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) — who’s assumed a more middle-of-the-road image recently — for describing a nasty House Oversight Committee hearing as worse than the Jerry Springer Show.
“I understand you likely would not have stood up for your colleague and seem to be confused about racism and misogyny being a ‘both sides’ issue,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “But I stand up to bullies, instead of becoming one.”
The clapback came after Fetterman linked to an article detailing the hearing, which contained pointed personal barbs by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) against several lawmakers of color. The Pennsylvania Democrat wrote: “In the past, I’ve described the U.S. House as The Jerry Springer Show. Today, I’m apologizing to The Jerry Springer Show.”
A Fetterman spokesperson, in response, said, “John responded to an absurd screaming match of personal attacks in an unhinged House committee hearing.”
Ocasio-Cortez spoke out passionately on Friday morning in the aftermath of Greene’s attacks against her and Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas), who is Black.
“A person is either have to accept and normalize the indignity of that treatment or feel like they have to defend themselves because the institution will not and that is why rules are important,” she told repoters. “That’s why structure is important. And that’s why [House Oversight Chair] James Comer’s leadership has been one of the biggest failures in the country over the last year.”
Fetterman’s tough talk on border security and his ironclad support for Israel have rankled progressives since he came into office — and drawn warm words from the same Republicans who fought to defeat him in his successful 2022 Senate bid.
Daniella Diaz contributed to this report.
