In her first speech from the House floor Wednesday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) lambasted President Donald Trump over the partial government shutdown. And Twitter users applauded.
Her fiery speech quickly became one of C-SPAN’S greatest hits. It’s now the most-viewed Twitter video of a House lawmaker’s remarks, drawing 1.16 million viewers in just 12 hours, The Hill reports.
Howard Mortman, C-SPAN’s communications director, shared the numbers on his Twitter feed Thursday afternoon, just one day after her speech.
“In just over 12 hours C-SPAN tweet of @RepAOC floor remarks last nite have become most-viewed twitter video by @cspan by a member of house either party,” he tweeted.
In just over 12 hours C-SPAN tweet of @RepAOC floor remarks last nite have become most-viewed twitter video by @cspan of any remarks by a member of House either party. 1.16M https://t.co/lkd0vK33cj
Most viewed tweet video of a Sen? @KamalaHarris questioning Kavanaugh (7.14M views pic.twitter.com/2ulf1fNddc— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) January 17, 2019
In her short speech, Ocasio-Cortez asserted that the shutdown isn’t about funding for Trump’s border wall. Instead, she noted, it’s about “the erosion of American democracy.”
“It is actually not about a wall, it is not about the border, and it is certainly not about the well-being of everyday Americans,” she said. “The truth is, this shutdown is about the erosion of American democracy and the subversion of our most basic governmental norms.”
And she berated Trump for causing people to suffer.
“It is not normal for 800,000 workers’ paychecks hostage. It is not normal to shut down the government when we don’t get what we want,” she added. “And it is certainly not normal to starve the people we serve for a proposal that is wildly among the American people.”
And she made these comments as the shutdown entered its 26th day. But she took a little time out to upbraid Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as well.
Earlier that day, Ocasio-Cortez and her fellow freshman Democrats tried to find McConnell (R-KY), hoping to hand him a letter demanding the end of the shutdown, The Huffington Post reports. But McConnell proved to be slippery and their hunt was unsuccessful. Ocasio-Cortez and crew documented their attempt on Twitter.
“800,000 workers are missing their paychecks and we’re pushing to get them paid ASAP. We’re here doing our job — the House has voted to reopen government whole or in part several times — so why can’t we find GOP senators to ask them to do theirs? #WheresMitch.”
800,000 workers are missing their paychecks and we’re pushing to get them paid ASAP.
We’re here doing our job – the House has voted to reopen government whole or in part several times – so why can’t we find GOP Senators to ask them do theirs? #WheresMitch pic.twitter.com/FogCPg6ayZ
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 16, 2019
She couldn’t resist adding this tweet, either.
“We at the house are doing *our* job passing bills reopen government, so why won’t @senatemajldr do his?
We left to drop off letters to:
— His Sen Majority Leader Office
— The GOP cloakroom
— The Senate floor
And he’s nowhere to be found. #WheresMitch?”
We at the House are doing *our* job passing bills reopen government, so why won’t @senatemajldr do his?
We left to drop off letters to:
– His Sen Majority Leader office
– The GOP cloak room
– The Senate floor
– His Senate officeAnd he’s nowhere to be found. #WheresMitch? pic.twitter.com/jZcWei6PM7
— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) January 16, 2019
She followed that up with several more tweets, as did her colleagues.
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) couldn’t resist tweeting:
“Love playing hide and seek with the kids. Never thought it would be happening in Congress with @Senatemajldr. #WheresMitch?”
Love playing hide and seek with the kids. Never thought it would be happening in Congress with @Senatemajldr.#WheresMitch? https://t.co/FWv0paISyn
— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell) January 16, 2019
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) had this to say:
“He needs to face the American people and explain himself. These are the same bills the Senate supported before we took the majority in the House. Stop playing games with peoples’ lives. #WheresMitch #EndTheShutdown.”
He needs to face the American people and explain himself. These are the same bills the Senate supported before we took the majority in the House. Stop playing games with people's lives. #WheresMitch #EndTheShutdown https://t.co/Q6Xg6K5i89
— Rashida Tlaib (@RashidaTlaib) January 16, 2019
Ocasio-Cortez knows how to finesse the social media, and she has a Twitter following of more than 2.44 million users. She pulled off a stunning defeat during the primary, unseating 10-term Democratic Rep. Joseph Crowley in New York’s 14th Congressional District.
You can watch Ocasio-Cortez’s fiery first speech on the House floor in this video.
Featured image by C-SPAN via YouTube video