Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren went after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Fox & Friends on Thursday, saying there’s a big difference between being successful online versus in real life.
Fox & Friends host Ainsley Earhardt discussed Ocasio-Cortez’s current position as the “darling” of the Democratic party and pointed out how politicians like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had moved left on issues like Medicare for All and a Green New Deal in part due to Ocasio-Cortez’s influence.
But Lahren suggested that Ocasio-Cortez isn’t as substantive as she appears.
“There’s a difference between being successful on Twitter and social media like Ocasio-Cortez and being relatable on social media platforms and actually being successful in real life,” Lahren said.
Ocasio-Cortez is one of the most recognizable faces on social media; she has 2.73 million followers on Twitter, and her Instagram stories are wildly popular.
But Lahren insisted that Ocasio-Cortez’s policy proposals wouldn’t resonate with American people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1240&v=-WdFI30Gvvk
“We want the government’s hand off. We want the ability to achieve the American dream in a safe and secure nation,” she said, adding that among the current Democratic presidential nominees, none could mount a serious challenge to President Donald Trump.
“We’re in for a real treat in 2020 if this is the crop of Democrats we have to deal with,” she said.
Lahren responded to critics who said that Ocasio-Cortez was indeed successful, having mounted a campaign to take on a 10-term incumbent to become one of the youngest women ever elected to the House of Representatives.
“I wasn’t referring to her professional success I was referring to the success of her ideas. Big difference,” she tweeted. “Do you think her ideas will be successful, outside of the social media echo chamber?”
I wasn’t referring to her professional success I was referring to the success of her ideas. Big difference.
— Tomi Lahren (@TomiLahren) January 31, 2019
Do you think her ideas will be successful, outside of the social media echo chamber? https://t.co/LgERvX1KLv
Ocasio-Cortez has been a member of Congress less than a month, but during her time in office, she has started a national conversation about taxing wealth and the dire consequences of climate change, pushing for a solution to severe income inequality and the impending disaster of climate change.
Lahren and Ocasio-Cortez have tangled on Twitter before; just last month, after Lahren mocked rapper Cardi B’s stance on the government shutdown, Ocasio-Cortez came to Cardi’s defense.
Why do people think they can mess with Bronx women without getting roasted?
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 20, 2019
They act as though our borough hasn’t been perfecting the clapback game since the Sugarhill Gang 🤣 y’all just found it on Twitter https://t.co/pgxUU1BDJs
H/T the Hill