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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being dragged for “bad theater” after she appeared to break down on the House floor just moments after she voted “present” on an effort to provide $1 billion in funding for Israel’s Iron Dome.
The 31-year-old made a last-minute decision to amend her vote to “present” on Thursday — going against her fellow Squad members who had opposed the bill.
Moments after the bill overwhelmingly passed 420-9, the New York Democrat appeared to start crying and was comforted by fellow lawmakers.
Critics were quick to accuse Ocasio-Cortez of “theatrics.”
“Theatre and bad theatre at that,” Meghan McCain tweeted.
“AOC literally in tears after voting ‘present’ on the Iron Dome funding. More Jew hating theatrics from the squad,” Jerusalem Post columnist Emily Shrader said.
“Why is @AOC crying? Because Jewish and Christian women and children won’t shake in terror as unguided rockets rain down on their homes and schools,” said Josh Mandel, an Ohio GOP Senate candidate.
“Why is AOC crying because fewer rockets will fall on Israeli citizens and cities? The Iron Dome doesn’t have offensive capabilities. It’s a defensive weapon used to stop rockets launched by terrorists from killing innocent people. Why does that make her sad? Will anyone ask?” Daily Caller editor David Hookstead questioned.
“The ONLY reason AOC changed her vote from ‘NO’ to ‘PRESENT’ on today’s #IronDome bill is because she wants to take on @SenSchumer next year. Those tears aren’t fooling us,” StopAntisemitism.org tweeted.
The criticism came as the New York Times edited an online article about the vote after facing backlash on social media for suggesting far-left lawmakers, including AOC, had faced pressure from “powerful” rabbis and lobbyists, Fox News reports.
“Minutes before the vote closed, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez tearfully huddled with her allies before switching her vote to ‘present.’ The tableau underscored how wrenching the vote was for even outspoken progressives, who have been caught between their principles and the still powerful pro-Israel voices in their party, such as influential lobbyists and rabbis,” the Times report initially said.
It was later changed to say: “The tableau underscored how wrenching the vote was for even outspoken progressives, who have been caught between their principles and the still powerful pro-Israel voices in their party.”
There was no editor’s note on the story and it was unclear if the report was changed following the online backlash.
The passing of the bill came just days after some far-left lawmakers threatened to tank the short-term funding bill.
Democrat Reps. Andre Carson of Indiana, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Marie Newman and Chuy Garcia of Illinois, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Cori Bush of Missouri voted against the measure. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) also voted the bill down.
Reps. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) and AOC opted to vote “present.”
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