After Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) labeled Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) a bully for criticizing last week’s tumultuous House Oversight Committee hearing, the Pennsylvania senator is defending his remarks.
During an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, Fetterman called the congresswoman’s allegations “absurd.” The senator elaborated, stating he was “simply responding to the kind of chaos and everything that Rep. Greene started as well. And if everyone on the committee was proud of what they produced, they are entitled to their opinion. Or if they feel that this is the kind of video that you want to send to a classroom of 8th-grade civics students across America, then again, that’s their choice.”
The confrontation between the two Democrats began last Friday when Fetterman commented on a meltdown involving Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and other members during a House Oversight Committee hearing. In an X post, Fetterman remarked: “In the past, I’ve described the U.S. House as The Jerry Springer Show. Today, I’m apologizing to The Jerry Springer Show.”
During the hearing, Greene told Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), “I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading.”
Ocasio-Cortez defended Crockett, stating: “I would like to move to take down Ms. Greene’s words. That is absolutely unacceptable. How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person.”
Greene retorted, “Are your feelings hurt?”
“Oh girl, baby girl, don’t even play!” Ocasio-Cortez shot back.
Following Fetterman’s comparison of the chaotic hearing to The Jerry Springer Show, Ocasio-Cortez responded on social media, asserting the senator “likely would not have stood up for your colleague and seem to be confused about racism and misogyny being a ‘both sides’ issue. But I stand up to bullies, instead of becoming one.”
