There’s no denying that our girl, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) knows how to shake things up. Once again, the New York Democrat finds herself in the limelight, this time clashing with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during a congressional hearing.
In a passionate exchange with Jasmine Burnley-Clark, the director of the Florida-based Equal Ground organization, AOC left no stone unturned in highlighting the governor’s blatant disregard for his constituents.
AOC didn’t mince her words. “Every day Floridians have been exercising their right to democracy,” she said. She talked about how they’ve come together, hit the ballot boxes, and voted overwhelmingly to institute a minimum wage. But what does DeSantis do in response? He tries to overturn it.
AOC further lamented the plight of Floridians who have been rallying to keep housing costs under control. Again, DeSantis and his GOP allies in Florida have turned a blind eye. Worse, they’ve overturned the initiatives.
Then there’s the critical issue of voting rights restoration and the fight against extreme gerrymandering. Despite clear expressions of the people’s will, Governor DeSantis is hell-bent on overriding their decisions. AOC perfectly summed up the crux of the problem. “That, at the core, is what we need to talk about today.”
Here’s where it gets more interesting. DeSantis clinched his re-election in the 2022 midterm cycle by a comfortable margin. Yet, he’s leveraged this mandate to pass legislation that contradicts the very values of the voters who put him in power. A near-total abortion ban is now in effect despite Florida voters leaning 17 points in favor of keeping abortion legal in most cases. DeSantis didn’t stop there. He further stripped power from other elected officials, including a state attorney who refused to prosecute anyone in his county over abortion.
AOC didn’t shy away from pointing out the obvious. “Frankly, it does not matter what end of the political spectrum you are on in the United States. It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat, a Republican if you’re red or blue if you’re woke or asleep. I don’t care,” she said. “The point is, when people speak at the ballot box, their will should be honored.”
The Democratic representative continued to spotlight DeSantis’ overreach. “This should wake everybody up, independent of political affiliation,” she concluded. Here’s to AOC, standing tall and making sure our voices are heard loud and clear. No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, AOC’s rallying cry for democratic respect should resonate. It’s time to push back against those who undermine the power of the people.
