Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez" class="company-link">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the astronomically popular, 29-year-old congresswoman from the Bronx, has set her opponents back on their heels time and time again by trusting her instincts and just being herself on social media.
For example: If we’ve learned absolutely anything as a society from her positively epic takedown of The Washington Examiner reporter Eddie Scarry, it’s that Ocasio-Cortez is extremely skillful at using Twitter. She is not to be messed with unless it’s absolutely necessary.
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Scarry tweeted a picture of Ocasio-Cortez’s outfit taken from behind her, accompanied by a caption implying that the quality of her garments indicated that she wasn’t as financially strapped as her messaging implied.
His snarky take was eviscerated so thoroughly it instantly became a meme: His line “I’ll tell you something: that jacket and coat don’t look like a girl who struggles” was repurposed into a punch line by the good people of the internet.
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
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/reJoj1XBbU
— Kate Knibbs 🏄🏻♀️ (@Knibbs) November 15, 2018
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/UrP3uGrjVL
— julia reinstein 🚡 (@juliareinstein) November 15, 2018
On Tuesday, Ocasio-Cortez kept up her social media hot streak with a type of post that’s archetypal and instantly recognizable to those of us who spent a ton of time on MySpace, AOL and Facebook circa 2009: She cited song lyrics.
Specifically, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted lyrics from “Best Life” by rapper Cardi B" class="company-link">Cardi B, another well-liked celebrity from the Bronx.
I never had a problem showin' y'all the real me/
Hair when it's messed up, crib when it's filthy/
Way-before-the-deal me, work-to-pay-the-bills me/
'Fore I fixed my teeth, man, those comments used to kill me/
But never did I change, never been ashamed/— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 20, 2018
Never did I switch, story stayed the same/
I did this on my own, I made this a lane— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 20, 2018
It’s the “mood” that really cinches it.
With this tweet, it’s possible that Ocasio-Cortez is referring to the recent nights she’s spent answering questions on Instagram Live, a feature that allows public figures to address their audiences and answer questions in real time.
AOC, however, is not your everyday politician. Can you imagine Hillary Clinton throwing on a pair of beat-up pajamas, firing up her webcam and chatting with potential voters about universal healthcare and raising the minimum wage, all while simultaneously preparing a healthy dinner?
Big Sunday night mood is AOC drinking wine and cooking black bean soup while railing against Amazon pic.twitter.com/QgiPFBOzxd
— rebekah (@rebekahentralgo) November 19, 2018
Didn’t think so. What Ocasio-Cortez is doing by being so accessible online is truly and absolutely unprecedented in politics. Cardi B, whose commitment to radical transparency knows no bounds, would certainly approve.
