New York Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had a cheeky response after Florida Republican Representative Kat Cammack accused Democrats of drinking on the floor of the House of Representatives as the GOP struggles to coalesce around a candidate for House Speaker.
Cammack alleged Democrats have been getting drunk and are enjoying the chaos that has continued all week due to what The New York Times referred to as a "right-wing rebellion" designed to block former House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy from the speakership.
Cammack threw her support behind McCarthy but was met with loud boos on the House floor for accusing Democrats of sowing division, remarks that prompted Democrats to ask that her words be formally erased from the record.
You can hear what she said in the video below.
\u201c'They want us to fight each other \u2014 that much has been made clear by the popcorn, and blankets, and alcohol that is coming over there.'\n\nDemocrats objected loudly to this joke attempt by Rep. Kat Cammack, who failed to mention day 2 of House chaos comes from within the GOP.\u201d— NowThis (@NowThis) 1672864459
Cammack said:
"Diversity of thought is a good thing. It's one of the things that sets us apart from our friends on the other side of the aisle. Yes, diversity of thought is a good thing... but they want us divided."
"They want us to fight each other. That much has been made clear by the popcorn and blankets and alcohol that is coming over there."
After Cammack was booed, House Clerk Cheryl L. Johnson—whose primary duty is to act as the chief record-keeper for the chamber—asked all members "to abide by the established decorum of the House."
And although Democrats have requested that Cammack's remarks be struck from the record, the paralysis in the House has prevented members from adopting a rules package that would allow for the formal procedure to strike remarks from the public record.
A short while afterward, Ocasio-Cortez responded to a tweet from Punchbowl News journalist Jake Sherman, who'd reported on Cammack's comments.
She laughed off the accusation, writing:
"If only! If Dems took a shot every time McCarthy lost a Republican, we'd all be unconscious by now."
You can see her tweet below.
\u201cIf only! If Dems took a shot every time McCarthy lost a Republican, we\u2019d all be unconscious by now\ud83c\udf79\u201d— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) 1672866053
Many applauded Ocasio-Cortez's remark and offered their own criticisms of the ongoing debacle in the House.
\u201cBeginning the year a bit spicy \ud83c\udf36\ufe0f\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02 love this energy\u201d— Claire Cousin (@Claire Cousin) 1672934062
\u201cI actually wouldn't blame the Democrats for drinking on the floor at this point...\u201d— Tim Young (@Tim Young) 1672879138
\u201cYou got that right! You need a drink to deal with idiocy of the GOP trolls \ud83e\uddcc\u201d— Karen Christian (@Karen Christian) 1672898095
\u201cLove this AOC !!! We would be lying on the floor, spinning and praying we don't fall off! And them our livers would explode!!\u201d— John Levis (@John Levis) 1672870743
\u201cI\u2019m an alcoholic and I couldn\u2019t even keep up with that mess \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude02\ud83d\udc95\ud83d\udc95\ud83e\udef6\ud83c\udffc\ud83e\udef6\ud83c\udffc\u201d— Iris Jean (@Iris Jean) 1672878267
\u201cAmazing, A+, no notes.\u201d— Derek Summerville (@Derek Summerville) 1672867732
\u201cI mean if Republicants are just going to waste their time endlessly Dems might as well enjoy themselves\u2026.\u201d— \ud83c\udf19 \u4e02\u0166\ud835\udc04\u03bd\u4e47\u03b7 \ud83e\ude90 (he/him) (@\ud83c\udf19 \u4e02\u0166\ud835\udc04\u03bd\u4e47\u03b7 \ud83e\ude90 (he/him)) 1672874064
Ocasio-Cortez later addressed Cammack's comments during an Instagram Live session with Democratic Representative-elect Greg Casar of Texas following McCarthy's sixth consecutive loss on Wednesday, January 4.
Ocasio-Cortez, who worked as a bartender before running for Congress, said she would "be making fire cocktails and mocktails" if there was actually alcohol involved. She said Cammack's remarks amount to "projection" because "there are people grieving, on the Republican side, that they're not all that and a bag of chips."
She concluded her remarks by predicting that McCarthy—despite his many attempts—will not be the next Speaker of the House though she wondered "how many more rounds" it will take for him "to finally realize" that he will not be elected party leader.
As of Thursday, January 5, McCarthy has lost eleven rounds of voting and far-right Republicans remain unified in their opposition.
