A House Republican told AOC not to talk to cameras. She fired back.

[RandySF]

As the House Energy and Commerce panel entered the early morning hours Wednesday of its marathon megabill markup, Texas GOP Rep. Randy Weber told Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to address members of the committee — not the camera.

Around 3 a.m., the prominent New York Democrat attempted to address a question to committee Republicans about what the consequences might be for patients having miscarriages under the GOP’s proposed work requirements to qualify for Medicaid. The broader legislation would exempt pregnant patients and those undergoing postpartum care from having to work as a condition of getting Medicaid services, but does not explicitly mention whether people experiencing a loss of pregnancy would need to be actively employed during that time, too........

Ocasio-Cortez then joined in.

“There are 13.7 million Americans on the other side of that screen there. Hello, hello,” Ocasio-Cortez said, waving to the camera. “I’m talking to you because I work for you. They deserve to see what is happening here because there are plenty of districts, including Republican ones, where 25 percent of your constituents are on Medicaid, 40 percent of your constituents are on Medicaid.”

Weber asked Ocasio-Cortez to yield her time.

“I will not yield because it was a terribly disrespectful comment, and I will not yield to disrespectful men,” she said.



https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/05/14/congress/house-republican-tells-aoc-not-to-talk-to-cameras-she-fired-back-00347626

[Onthefly]

1. Well done, AOC!

[Walleye]

2. I think the work requirements are basically just to put more red tape and paperwork between the patient and the governme

So maybe they will just give up and, what I don’t know, die

[Red Mountain]

5. And it's not clear exactly how they save money

unless they force people out of the program.

Administrative costs for a work requirement are going to be higher.

[Walleye]

6. Yep, saving money is the right wing excuse for cruelty

[Maeve]

9. Yes, and another chance to call the poor and disabled 'lazy' eom

[Walleye]

15. It's even worse than it usually is. Republicans have decided the cruelty is the most important plank in their platform

They will rationalize and mansplain every brutal act.

[ShazzieB]

41. Exactly!

Republicans want to make it as hard as possible for anyone to get Medicaid or anything else, because it gripes their withered, wizened little souls to see anyone get ANY kind of help EVER! They begrudge every penny of support that any individual ever gets from Medicaid, SNAP, or any other government program. Even things people earned, like VA benefits, Medicare, and Social Security. Those miserly scrooges would choke every bit of it off, if they could get away with it!

I find it impossible to comprehend such a profound level of stinginess. I'm happy to have my tax money spent to HELP people.

[Walleye]

42. I'm with you. It's exactly what they do. They don't even want us to vote.

[SocialDemocrat61]

3. Yes but

she’s too inexperienced to be ranking member on a committee

[chicago guy]

11. Why cast doubt

I understand sarcasm we need to support not cast doubt in any form

[SocialDemocrat61]

13. Do you really understand sarcasm?

Because if you think that’s casting doubt, I don’t think you do.

[Marcuse]

45. Clever sarcasm is often misinterpreted as parroting Republican talking points.

[ms liberty]

17. You've been here since 2010. You should know by now that sarcasm is DU's middle name!

I'm joking, not criticizing!

[bonzotex]

4. Yes! More this! n/t

[bdamomma]

7. Love her

passion and dedication. Speak to tell the truth!!!!

[Magoo48]

33. What you said times two.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

8. Good for her

[gab13by13]

10. Why is it only AOC who is being told not to talk to cameras?

Every Congressional Democrat should be told that by Magats. Maybe Hogg is right, eh? We don't need fights between moderates and progressives, how about picking the best fighter?

[Shipwack]

28. Maybe she's not the only one...

Maybe she's the only one that let it be known it was asked of her.
Maybe other Dems complied in the spirit of comity.

Or maybe she is the only one they worry about. Of course, Schumer getting on the mike and threatening to write a strongly worded letter has them shaking in their boots, too.

[IbogaProject]

12. These are tools for discrimination

I bet minorities and other disfavored groups will get more negative government attention and that is the goal of these tools.

[Dr. T]

14. Conservative Repuglicans claim to be "pro life".

They claim to be morally superior. Dems need to flip the script. OAC's early morning heroics are a step in that direction.

Heal the sick, feed the poor. As our founding fathers would say, these truths are self-evident.

[kentuck]

16. I would vote for her for President.

Who is better?

[Intractable]

21. I'd easily vote for her. The question is whether she can win the swing states.

[iemanja]

38. Possibly Buttigieg

Last edited Wed May 14, 2025, 08:40 PM - Edit history (1)

but I like AOC too.

[Fla Dem]

18. Yep, another older guy (71) trying to put a younger woman in her place (35).

WTG, AOC!

[AllaN01Bear]

20. and gets his eh?!?!

[AllaN01Bear]

19. so there too also. bravo

[AllaN01Bear]

22. i know a dozen ppl in my immidiate circle who are on medicaid ( ca its called medi cal)

would be highly affected including me.

[AllaN01Bear]

23. hey idiots , half of us on medicaid do work and many cant work .

[LittleGirl]

24. 3 of my 5 nieces have had miscarriages

This is a life and death discussion.

[Blue Owl]

25. You tell those fuckers AOC

[JohnSJ]

26. Absolutely. These THUGS need to be put in their place and called out. Their arrogance, and the medias

"collaboration" with that arrogance is disgraceful, because in most cases, our wonderful media will not even cover this.

[dalton99a]

27. Kick

[Pisces]

29. We need more fighters!!

[get the red out]

30. She gives me hope

along with Rep Crocker! They know what needs to be done to reach the people.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

31. AOC's response made me smile

Link to tweet

🔥 @AOC: “I will not yield to disrespectful men.”

Republicans try to cut AOC off as she turns to camera 👋🏽 and Ferris Bueller’s the truth about their efforts to strip health care from 14 MILLION Americans. (To make way for more tax cuts for the rich)

[Uncle Joe]

32. Kicked and recommended

Thanks for the thread RandySF

[Magoo48]

34. She is an inspiration.

[mackdaddy]

35. Her strong voice is not going to influence any of those Repugs vote. Completely different story about the 'other' voters

, the 13 million on the 'other side of the camera'.

That of course is why they do not want her to talk to the people they supposedly represent.

[llmart]

36. Well, that was a very polite way of actually telling Weber to fuck off.

These weenie men are afraid of strong women.

[bdamomma]

39. Really

afraid, such insecure wimps.

[iemanja]

37. She works for us

What a concept. The Republicans obviously think they work for Trump, not the people who elected them. AOC knows better.

[bdamomma]

40. The GQP

has such contempt and disrespect for the American people is disgusting. I hope they go over the cliff soon.

[Dem4life1970]

43. AOC brings the receipts

and she is *fearless*. She has more 💪 in her right pinkie than the entire GOP House Caucus. Plus she is trying to make life better even for THEIR constituents (the people they don't care about). She speaks from a position of strength for people who have no voice.

[drmeow]

44. Gotta give Weber credit for this, though

"Weber apologized about 12 hours later as the markup was still ongoing.

“Alexandria, you didn’t deserve what I hit you with last night at 3 o’clock,” Weber said. “I shouldn’t have done that and I apologize.”

“I completely accept,” Ocasio-Cortez replied. “These markups, they run late into the night — we’re at 3 o’clock in the morning, we’re tired.”"

[EllisWhy]

46. It's easy to spot the Democrats that MAGA fears...

...they're the ones that actually f***ing fight.