AOC Says Economy In ‘Crisis’ Sorry Joe
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., delivered a fiery speech at a union rally in Wentzville, Missouri, on Sunday, declaring that the U.S. economy was in a "crisis." Her comments appeared to directly contradict President Biden's messaging on the issue, which has been a central pillar of his re-election campaign.
"Our economy is in a special kind of crisis. Our whole economy is in a special kind of crisis," the progressive lawmaker told the crowd. She went on to call out "Washington insiders" and "Wall Street analysts" for not understanding the true state of the economy, saying "They'll say, 'Look at GDP. Look at the growth rate.' They'll say, 'Look at job numbers. How are we in a crisis?'"
Ocasio-Cortez then aligned herself with workers and their struggles, stating that the elites who are not personally affected by economic decisions have "easy" opinions to share. "Because those of us who do have to make those decisions feel the economy in the callouses of our hands and the aches of our joints at the end of a long day," she said. "So we don’t have any proper time left to spend with our children and loved ones."
The bold statement from Ocasio-Cortez comes at a time when the Biden administration is touting the strength of the economy under its tenure. The president and his allies have been using the term "Bidenomics" to describe their economic plan, and touting job growth and low inflation rates as measures of success. However, the congresswoman's comments suggest that the reality for many Americans is different from what is being touted by the administration.
A recent Washington Post-ABC News Poll revealed that nearly three-quarters of Americans have a negative view of the state of the economy. This is particularly true when it comes to food prices, with 91% of respondents rating them as "not so good or poor." These numbers may come as a surprise to the Biden administration, who have been promoting their efforts to boost the economy.
Biden himself has been vocal about his administration's achievements when it comes to the economy, but Ocasio-Cortez's speech suggests that the reality may be more complicated. "Since I’ve come to office, all they’ve really done is attack me and my economic plan," Biden said in a recent speech. "Even though we’ve created over 13 million jobs and have had 19 straight months of unemployment under 4%, there is still more work to be done."
Fox News Digital reached out to Ocasio-Cortez's campaign for comment on her statements but did not receive an immediate response. However, her pointed words spoke to the experiences of many working Americans who continue to struggle financially, despite the administration's claims of a strong economy.
In a country where economic issues are often at the forefront of political debates, Ocasio-Cortez's bold remarks are sure to reverberate beyond her Missouri audience and prompt further discussions about the true state of the U.S. economy. With the 2022 midterm elections approaching, it remains to be seen how this will impact the ongoing battle for control of Congress.