Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez cannot do anything without someone on the right making a completely bad faith criticism about it.
This includes when the New York Representative tried to advocate for people in Puerto Rico who are still dealing with the effects of a 2017 hurricane.
AOC began by sharing an image of her grandmother's home to illustrate the conditions many Puerto Ricans find themselves in even four years after the hurricane.
Just over a week ago, my abuela fell ill. I went to Puerto Rico to see her- my 1st time in a year+ bc of COVID.\n\nThis is her home. Hurricane Mar\u00eda relief hasn\u2019t arrived. Trump blocked relief $ for PR.\n\nPeople are being forced to flee ancestral homes, & developers are taking them.pic.twitter.com/wnRxLalA2D— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1622656813
She talked about how the systemic issues on the island coupled with a corrupt local government is making things difficult for the people.
The Fiscal Control Board appointed to oversee a debt restructuring for the island also enacted an austerity plan that cut deeply into the island's healthcare, pensions and education.
Colloquially called "La Junta," the board and its ramifications have been incredibly controversial in Puerto Rico.
In the aftermath of Mar\u00eda, the Trump admin oversaw two key items: handing millions in public $ to unqualified donor pals (ex Whitefish).\n\nThe other was to impose extremely difficult eligibility rules for Puerto Ricans, which allowed mass rejections of recovery fund applications.pic.twitter.com/x6zrWum4hw— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1622658293
And for the record - my abuela is doing okay. It\u2019s not about us, but about what\u2019s happening to Puerto Rican\u2019s across the island.\n\nShe had a place to go to and be cared for - what about the thousands of people who don\u2019t?— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1622659436
However, right-wing personality Matt Walsh of the Matt Walsh Blog decided to focus on a different aspect of AOC's story. Namely Walsh wanted to talk about that first tweet that showed the conditions her grandmother's house is in.
Walsh asked AOC why her grandmother was living like that when AOC makes decent money as a Congresswoman.
Despite his completely off topic criticism, AOC responded and tried to get the conversation back to the point.
Shameful that you live in luxury while allowing your own grandmother to suffer in these squalid conditions— Matt Walsh (@Matt Walsh) 1622659148
You don\u2019t even have a concept for the role that 1st-gen, first-born daughters play in their families.\n\nMy abuela is okay. But instead of only caring for mine & letting others suffer, I\u2019m calling attention to the systemic injustices you seem totally fine w/ in having a US colony.https://twitter.com/mattwalshblog/status/1400160069652713478\u00a0\u2026— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1622659909
AOC has been fighting for the benefit of all Puerto Ricans.
While some advocate for Puerto Rico to become a state, this ignores the reality of what that would mean for Puerto Ricans.
Instead, AOC advocates for self-determination for the island, giving its inhabitants the chance to decide for independence or free association, instead of just becoming a state or keeping things as is.
Matt doesn't seem to understand that your grandmother isn't the only resident of PR and that it's up to our government to provide aid to help millions of citizens on that island.— Glenn-Simon Pardot (@Glenn-Simon Pardot) 1622660115
I think Puerto Rico should become a state! In the meantime we need to help out with that last big hurricane! I\u2019m so sad the people did not get their funds for that when they needed it because now prices are skyrocketing because there R shortages of supplies due to COVID-19!— D Hodder Ceramics (@D Hodder Ceramics) 1622673037
No intellectual honesty in their criticism; first you were too poor to be a Congresswoman now they think you\u2019re a rich elite who can\u2019t relate or help others. The double standards that women (& especially young WOC) face in politics are still very present. Glad your abuela is ok.— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28 (@Rep. Anna V. Eskamani \ud83d\udd28) 1622691379
In the meantime, the people of Puerto Rico need relief now.
Hurricane Maria hit the island in September of 2017.
In the aftermath, many were left without homes, the medical infrastructure was pushed to its limit and help from the federal government took a long time to arrive. Even once it did, many resources and supplies were left unutilized by the government of the island.
This is the continued state of Puerto Rico AOC is advocating to try and help.
Rather than engage with the issue, right wingers just wanted to attempt to get a zing in on AOC.
Tell me you didn't read the whole thread without telling me you didn't read the whole thread— CK (@CK) 1622677484
Honey, did you miss the part where she said her grandma had a place to go and she was speaking for the thousands that don\u2019t?pic.twitter.com/9HgiRq16TV— tmh (@tmh) 1622659655
And what about all the other Puerto Ricans living like this? You completely missed the point. Puerto Ricans are American Citizens and our government told then to go f*** themselves. We have a responsibility to act like a first world country not just hope the rich will solve— PO (@PO) 1622658400
READ ! If you are able to !\n\n"And for the record - my abuela is doing okay. It\u2019s not about us, but about what\u2019s happening to Puerto Rican\u2019s across the island.\n\nShe had a place to go to and be cared for - what about the thousands of people who don\u2019t?"— John Michael Sucker (@John Michael Sucker) 1622756702
Today, Puerto Rico is fighting against the privatization of their power grid and to keep their homes.
The relief funds provided by the United States require specific documentation about someone's home to access, which many on the island do not have. This may lead to developers seizing people's homes under the pretext the owner cannot prove their ownership.
On top of all of this, Puerto Rico's status as a tax haven for the wealthy has been highly scrutinized.
