Politics

‘You are obsessed’: Ayanna Pressley slams Mike Pence for referencing Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s nickname during debate

The mention came as the vice president was attacking the Green New Deal.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., left, and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., listen as U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham testifies during a hearing in February. Alex Brandon / AP

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Massachusetts Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley is castigating Vice President Mike Pence after the Republican made reference to a nickname for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during Wednesday night’s vice presidential debate

The reference to the nickname for the New York congresswoman came during the debate as Pence attacked Sen. Kamala Harris for co-sponsoring the Green New Deal with “AOC,” claiming the legislation authored by Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey would “crush American jobs.”

Pressley criticized Pence’s use of the term, rather than the title, for her colleague on Twitter. 

“Pence you are obsessed,” the Massachusetts congresswoman wrote. “She’s a prolific legislator, a historymaker, a movement leader, I get it. But stop being so familiar. Titles matter & she’s earned hers. It’s CONGRESSWOMAN Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, AUTHOR of the Green New Deal.”

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“If you can’t keep the name of another legislator out of your mouth while the Senator schools you, then put some respect on it,” she added.

Ocasio-Cortez also hit back at the vice president for use of the nickname.

“For the record @Mike_Pence, it’s Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez to you,” she wrote. 

In his debate with President Donald Trump last week, former Vice President Joe Biden reiterated that doesn’t support the Green New Deal, rather he has his own climate plan which proposes accelerating investment in renewable energy to spark economic growth with a target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. 

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Both Markey and Ocasio-Cortez have emphasized that they support Biden and his “aggressive” climate plan.

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Dialynn Dwyer is a reporter and editor at Boston.com, covering breaking and local news across Boston and New England.

 

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