Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez Rips Misogynist Rep. Yoho's Non-Apology (Video)
New York Congresswoman Alexandia Ocasio-Cortez took to the floor of the House of Representatives on Thursday in response to comments made and a non-apology apology by Florida Republican Rep.Ted Yoho.
Yoho, a former veterinarian who’s decided to retire from office at the end of his term, hasn’t exactly been known as the sharpest tool in the shed during his time on Capitol Hill.
On Monday, the Florida Congressman got into a heated exchange with Ocasio-Cortez on the steps just outside the House. As he walked away (in front of reporters) Yoho called her a “fucking bitch.”
House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy had a chat with Yoho on Tuesday, and on Wednesday the Florida Republican made a short speech saying he regretted the "abrupt manner of the conversation," but sort of denied using the vulgar term.
From New York Magazine:
“I rise to apologize for the abrupt manner of the conversation I had with my colleague from New York,” Yoho began. He was off to a decent enough start, though calling the conversation “abrupt” does not exactly align with the description of the “brief but heated exchange” that appeared in The Hill Tuesday. Nor does it align with AOC’s own description of the “virulent harassment,” which began with Yoho calling the New York City congresswoman “disgusting” for suggesting that rising poverty in NYC is responsible for the city’s current crime wave.
Yoho then seemed to confirm the profane quote attributed to him, but said, “The offensive name-calling words attributed to me by the press were never spoken to my colleagues, and if they were constructed that way, I apologize for their misunderstanding.” In other words: I said it, but I said it so she couldn’t hear it.
The “apology” only got worse from there. After becoming briefly emotional while remembering his time as a young adult on food stamps — “I know the face of poverty, and for a time it was mine” — Yoho committed to conducting himself “from a place of passion and understanding.”
Then he offered this gem: “I cannot apologize for my passion, or for loving my God, my family, and my country.” He did not explain what any of that has to with accosting a congresswoman and calling her a “bitch.”
Ocasio-Cortez said Yoho's remarks were insufficient.
"I will not teach my nieces and young people watching that this is an apology, and what they should learn to accept," she wrote. "Yoho is refusing responsibility."
On Thursday, she took to the floor and gave a barn-burner of a speech, addressing the broader questions of misogyny raised by Yoho’s behavior, pointing out that this sort of demeaning language was something that all women endured at one point or another.
Watch the speech. It’s a worthwhile use of 10 minutes of your time. I cut off the first two seconds so you don't have to watch the Trump for President ad that YouTube thinks is appropriate here.
https://youtu.be/LI4ueUtkRQ0?t=3
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