Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez took a hiatus from her “self care” break, and to Twitter Wednesday to complain about Washington, D.C.’s spin wizards in the media, highlighting the same issues with fake news President Trump has harped on for years.
One disappointment about DC is the gossip that masquerades as “reporting.”
This story has:
– Not a SINGLE named or verifiable source
– Only ONE on-the-record comment, which is a denial.My dad had a name for junk articles like this:
“Birdcage lining.”
https://t.co/kIBMM2eiWb— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 18, 2018
“One disappointment about DC is the gossip that masquerades as ‘reporting,’” the incoming representative from New York posted, along with a Politico article. “This story has: – Not a SINGLE named or verifiable source – Only ONE on-the-record comment, which is a denial. My dad had a name for junk articles like this: ‘Birdcage lining.’”
The article alleged Ocasio-Cortez is focusing on organizing progressive opposition to Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat representing Brooklyn, during the 2020 primary as part of a broader push to elect socialist or far left candidates.
Politico alleged the effort to target Jeffries is in retaliation for political shenanigans surrounding his election to replace House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, whom Ocasio-Cortez unseated to become the youngest person ever elected to the lower chamber when she takes office in January.
For the record, this is the second @politico article about me in a short period of time with *0* named sources to back claims containing false information.
Their articles are printed + distributed to **Congressional offices** – w/ no named sources.
It’s really unfortunate.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 18, 2018
“For the record, this is the second @politico article about me in a short period of time with *0* named sources to back claims containing false information,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted. “Their articles are printed + distributed to **Congressional offices** – w/ no named sources. It’s really unfortunate.”
President Trump has railed on fake news since he launched his campaign for president in 2015, a stance that’s caused clashes at press briefings and resulted in at least one reporter who was temporarily banned from the White House. Trump also created Fake News Awards to highlight the issue.
Media analysis has repeatedly shown more than 90 percent of news coverage about the president is negative, and scrutiny of several of the most salacious claims against him required news outlets to print retractions or clarifications to correct the record.
Liberals have generally balked over the president’s war on fake news, framing the issue as an attack on the free press.
Ocasio-Cortez, however, seems to have more in common with Trump on the issue than she does with fellow Democrats. In August, her campaign banned the media from attending a town hall in Queens to prevent reporters from heckling attendees.
“We wanted to help create a space where community members felt comfortable and open to express themselves without the distraction of cameras and press. These were the first set of events where the press has been excluded,” campaign spokesman Corbin Trent told the Queens Chronicle. “This is an outlier and will not be the norm. We’re still adjusting our logistics to fit Alexandria’s national profile.”
Folks online seem to think Ocasio-Cortez’s grievances with the media are hilarious.
And to think you haven’t even been “inaugurated” yet.
— Dan Iblings (@dan_iblings) December 19, 2018
“And to think, you haven’t even been ‘inaugurated’ yet,” Dan Iblings posted in response to the congresswoman’s Twitter complaints.
Sounds familiar… pic.twitter.com/PMLUokbMov
— nycpede (@nycpede) December 19, 2018
welcome to “journalism” of 2018 AOC!
— some guy in cyberspace (@cyberspace_guy) December 19, 2018
“Welcome to ‘journalism’ of 2018 AOC!” poster “some guy in cyberspace” wrote.
Now you know what @realDonaldTrump complains about daily.
— Steve Hallock (@thestevehallock) December 19, 2018
“Now you know what @realdonaldtrump complains about daily,” Steve Hallock added.
At least we can agree on something…
— Anne Berkshire (@Annemarie_jb) December 19, 2018
“At least we can agree on something …” Anne Berkshire posted.
The #fakenews has no boundaries. Disrupt the establishment and they will come for you. No matter if your @realDonaldTrump or @Ocasio2018
— nycpede (@nycpede) December 19, 2018
First time I agree with you. So, now that it has happened to you, don’t you believe it happens to others, including @POTUS? Probably frustrating isn’t it that you have no other way to defend yourself except by tweeting? Welcome to @POTUS world, but for him it is 24/7.
— David Ciccarello (@CiccarelloDavid) December 19, 2018
“First time I agree with you,” David Ciccarello wrote. “So, now that it has happened to you, don’t you believe it happens to others, including @POTUS? Probably frustrating isn’t it that you have no other way to defend yourself except by tweeting? Welcome to @POTUS world, but for him it is 24/7.”
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