A dramatic moment outside the House chamber on Wednesday reportedly pitted female firebrands from both parties against each other, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., confronting Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., over the progressive’s alleged support for “terrorists and Antifa.”
The encounter, which occurred as both congresswomen were exiting, was witnessed by two Washington Post reporters, who heard Greene shout, “Hey Alexandria” twice in an effort to get the attention of the outspoken liberal. After Ocasio-Cortez did not stop walking, Greene quickened her pace and began shouting at her House colleague.
The Georgia representative asked why Ocasio-Cortez supported Antifa, a violent group of far-left activists, and Black Lives Matter. Greene also shouted that AOC was failing to defend her “radical socialist” beliefs by not publicly debating her.
“You don’t care about the American people,” Greene shouted. “Why do you support terrorists and Antifa?”
The Post reported Ocasio-Cortez did not stop during the incident and only turned around once to answer Greene. She said something that was inaudible while throwing up her hands in an exasperated motion.
Ocasio-Cortez’s office declined to discuss her specific response.
“Representative Greene tried to begin an argument with Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez and when Rep. Ocasio-Cortez tried to walk away, Congresswoman Greene began screaming and called Rep. Ocasio-Cortez a terrorist sympathizer,” Ocasio-Cortez spokeswoman Lauren Hitt said in a statement. “We hope leadership and the Sergeant at Arms will take real steps to make Congress a safe, civil place for all Members and staff — especially as many offices are discussing reopening. One Member has already been forced to relocate her office due to Congresswoman Greene’s attacks.”
Greene said her intention had been to hold Democrats accountable for their policy proposals.
“She’s a chicken, she doesn’t want to debate the Green New Deal,” Greene said to a small group of reporters and onlookers. “These members are cowards. They need to defend their legislation to the people. That’s pathetic.”
In a series of tweets last month, Greene challenged Ocasio-Cortez to debate the Green New Deal, a plan pushed by some progressives that proposes radical changes in nearly every facet of life in an effort to deal with alleged man-made climate change.
“I’d like to challenge you to a debate on the Green New Deal economic policy,” Greene wrote. “Since you sponsored the Green New Deal and have a degree in Economics, I’m sure you are more than qualified.”
She continued: “I just have a degree in Business Admin and have owned a construction company for 20 years. A debate between AOC and I on the Green New Deal economic policy would be informative for the American People. They deserve to hear the two sides with pros and cons.
“You can choose one moderator and I choose a moderator. Then we can negotiate a major news network to host the debate. Let’s do this for The People. What do you say?”
Ocasio-Cortez did not respond to Greene’s tweets.
Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., unveiled the Green New Deal, which is predicted to cost trillions of dollars, in February 2019.
During her first term in Congress, Greene has managed to become involved in several high-profile incidents.
Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., accused Greene and her staff of accosting her in a tunnel beneath a House office building earlier this year after she asked Greene to wear a mask “out of concern for the health of my staff, other members of Congress, and their congressional staff.”
Greene denied the allegation and accused Bush of “lying” and of leading a “terrorist mob,” due to Bush’s support for Black Lives Matter.
In February, Greene also got into a confrontation with the office of neighboring Rep. Marie Newman, D-Ill., who hung a transgender pride flag outside her office.
In response, Greene hung up a poster across the hall that read: “There are TWO genders. MALE & FEMALE. Trust the Science!”
Source: Newmax
