Following her upset victory in the Democratic primary earlier this year, the soon-to-be Congresswoman representing New York's 14th district—Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—has quickly become a darling of the Democrats and one of the most notable faces of the progressive movement. A former bartender and the youngest person ever elected to congress, Ocasio-Cortez has championed economic reform and used her voice to bolster the working class.
So it's no wonder many Republican naysayers have tried to foster doubt about her intentions at every turn.
Earlier on Thursday, Conservative reporter Eddie Scarry did so in a tweet, which he later deleted (screenshot is below).
People were quick to mock Scarry for his ill-advised tweet.
@eScarry Oh my god, she's wearing a JACKET AND COAT? SCANDALOUS. Thank you for this brilliant reporting, Eddie. You're an invaluable asset.— Daniel Baryon (@Daniel Baryon) 1542323080.0
Ocasio-Cortez's superpower is making conservatives admit that they think only rich people should have clothes and h… https://t.co/NvhFN2nPor— Ken Klippenstein (@Ken Klippenstein) 1542319260.0
@eScarry HOLY SHIT A BLAZER!— 😾Cat😾War😾 (@😾Cat😾War😾) 1542322501.0
@eScarry I've seen thousands of dumb tweets, but this is truly an all-timer— Scott McLaughlin (@Scott McLaughlin) 1542323165.0
And even Ocasio-Cortez herself clapped back dropping a bit of truth on ole Eddie.
If I walked into Congress wearing a sack, they would laugh & take a picture of my backside. If I walk in with my b… https://t.co/mc8yvMWXhO— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1542323604.0
Hours after posting the tweet, he deleted it with the following disclaimer:
To which Ocasio-Cortez responded:
Oh, does @eScarry think he can delete his misogyny without an apology? I don’t think so. You’re a journalist - rea… https://t.co/T4gnxpTQ7v— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1542331157.0
Scarry's attempt at "owning" Ocasio-Cortez is not an isolated incident. The American Right has repeatedly tried to cast doubt over Ocasio-Cortez's working-class background.
Shortly after her primary victory, conservatives criticized her for saying she grew up in the Bronx when she'd moved to Westchester for a better education at around five years old. They failed to mention that she moved back to the Bronx after completing her education and the work she and her family put in to stay there. Ocasio Cortez pulled no punches in a Twitter response.
@johncardillo Hey John, 1. I didn’t go to Brown or the Ivy League. I went to BU. Try Google. 2. It is nice. Growi… https://t.co/74AClMTRrY— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1530467584.0
@johncardillo 3. Your attempt to strip me of my family, my story, my home, and my identity is exemplary of how scar… https://t.co/PdSUsueaRS— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1530467670.0
With Scarry's most recent tweet, Americans began asking why so many on the Right are obsessed with defaming Ocasio Cortez.
@eScarry y'all seem determined to make it extremely transparent how much you want her to step on you in heels— 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚒𝚡𝚒𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 (@𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚒𝚡𝚒𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕) 1542322527.0
@eScarry @ReaganBattalion I’ve never seen conservatives as spooked by a rookie politician as you guys are by… https://t.co/lJZiFflE26— PixelatedWhiteGuy (@PixelatedWhiteGuy) 1542322283.0
Soon, users were less concerned with defending Ocasio-Cortez and brought the reads to Scarry himself.
When it came to criticizing Scarry, there was a lot to unpack: The creepy picture, the ridiculousness of the tweet, the outfit in Scarry's profile picture, and more.
@eScarry i'm sorry, this is so stupid i have to respond to you again. you have serious problems.— drew olanoff (@drew olanoff) 1542322685.0
@eScarry Imagine typing this, hitting send, and thinking you nailed it— Lucas Barton (@Lucas Barton) 1542322794.0
@eScarry As we all know, people who *really* struggle to look good dress themselves in ill-fitting jackets, wrinkle… https://t.co/L1Cy78Sya1— St. Simeon the Thankful Holy Fool 🦃 聖シメオン (@St. Simeon the Thankful Holy Fool 🦃 聖シメオン) 1542323679.0
Others shared stories of how they afforded their own professional outfits that defied assumptions like Scarry's.
@eScarry Bitch I have an H&M blazer that I bought for $10 on clearance that looks just like this get the fuck out of here— Maria Del Russo (@Maria Del Russo) 1542322637.0
@eScarry Oh please. I have Gucci blazers I paid $50 for on Poshmark. There's no telling how much those cost. And a… https://t.co/jQblZIYmox— Aunt Piddy 🏳️🌈 (@Aunt Piddy 🏳️🌈) 1542323331.0
@eScarry Maybe she got it at a thrift store,or as a gift? Maybe it’s something that’s stayed in style forever? Wh… https://t.co/84GZd8MvY2— She's Come Undone (@She's Come Undone) 1542323682.0
@eScarry Just because I have a Calvin Klein tuxedo I found at the thrift store for $25 doesn't mean I'm the fucking Monopoly Man.— King Crackle (@King Crackle) 1542323609.0
The amount of replies condemning Scarry soon became so overwhelming, people were only replying "for the ratio."
@eScarry Even The dictionary is dunking on you Eddie... congrats! https://t.co/E7l2e8JBCA— Ron L Pitts™ (@Ron L Pitts™) 1542323925.0
@eScarry Here for the ratio. https://t.co/aReJE2YoNm— Pumpkin Spice Tara (@Pumpkin Spice Tara) 1542323008.0
@eScarry just stopping in for the ratio https://t.co/kgPsyViT06— Caleb Hull 🎅🏻🎁 (@Caleb Hull 🎅🏻🎁) 1542323184.0
@eScarry Nice ratio😂 https://t.co/LXj7BLhWZV— Debbie🏳️🌈 #EqualityAct 🌈 (@Debbie🏳️🌈 #EqualityAct 🌈) 1542323289.0
Unfortunately, Scarry has demonstrated the same lack of self awareness that led to this tweet in his subsequent replies.
He later deleted the tweet before amending it with a spin that left Twitter reeling:
While Scarry may not have learned anything, he did demonstrate something important. When it comes to rising stars like Ocasio-Cortez, Scarry and other Republicans are scared.
UPDATE: This post was updated from its original form to include the screenshot of the deleted tweet as well as Scarry's response.