It never ceases to amaze that the very people who deny fundamental biology accuse their political adversaries of rejecting scientific discoveries. This is precisely the behavior that Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and host Seth Meyers engaged in on Thursday’s Late Night.
Meyers, never one to bite his tongue when it comes to political matters, commenced the segment with an arrow directed at President Trump and Vice President Pence’s response to the coronavirus:
One thing that, you know, a lot of people are discussing is who the President has chosen to put in charge of this task force. He chose Vice President Pence. Is it safe to assume that you do not think that is the best of his options?
In an effort to supply fodder to Meyer’s ultra-leftist audience, Ocasio-Cortez stated affirmatively; “No, no. I think that we should have a person that believes in science…in charge…” Muffled by the cheers of the raucous crowd, Meyers quipped; “Sure. That sounds good.”
Ocasio-Cortez then seized the opportunity to extol her Medicare for All proposal; “…Ideally what we have is a person that believes in universal health care and paid sick leave and an agenda that actually- can help prevent the transmission of disease…”
Meyers then made a peculiar segue into the nexus between Medicare for All and the food service industry:
Well, it's interesting you mentioned, you know, paid sick leave because one of the things that's been pointed out by a lot of people, especially in the food service industry, these are people with jobs that are very important to them, you know, they're just making ends meet as it is. And, you know, they are the ones that are most likely to pass on whatever illness they have to other people and yet they don't have that opportunity.
If that was difficult to follow, you are not alone. Ocasio-Cortez attempted to elaborate on the correlation:
Exactly and the other issue, too, to compound on that, especially in food service, you know, a lot of people know that I used to work in a restaurant. And that just a couple weeks ago, Stephen Miller and the Trump Administration rolled out a public charge rule against undocumented people. And many of whom we know work in the food service industry. And basically, what it says is that if you are seeking medical care, that could be used against you in deportation proceedings and so the people who feed us are now scared to seek medical care…
Meyers then described Ocasio-Cortez’s relationship with Senator Sanders as “surreal”:
One thing that must be surreal for you is 2016, you knocked on doors for Bernie Sanders…And then two years later you get elected Congresswoman. Now you are actually on the stump with Bernie. When you go out on stage for these giant Bernie rallies, does it seem- does it seem as surreal to you that I imagine it does?
Ocasio-Cortez swooned: “…It's completely surreal…”
By the looks of the interview, it seemed that sitting next to Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez was a “surreal” experience for lefty Meyers.
Transcript below:
Late Night With Seth Meyers
3/6/20
12:59:41 AM
SETH MEYERS: One thing that, you know, a lot of people are discussing is who the President has chosen to put in charge of this task force. He chose Vice President Pence. Is it safe to assume that you do not think that is the best of his options?
ALEXANDRIA OCASIO CORTEZ: No, no. I think that we should have a person that believes in science-
SETH MEYERS: Sure. That sounds good.
OCASIO-CORTEZ: in charge. Ideally what we have is a person that believes in universal health care and paid sick leave and an agenda that actually- can help prevent the transmission of disease.
MEYERS: Well, it's interesting you mentioned, you know, paid sick leave because one of the things that's been pointed out by a lot of people, especially in the food service industry, these are people with jobs that are very important to them you know, they're just making ends meet as it is. And, you know, they are the ones that are most likely to pass on whatever illness they have to other people and yet they don't have that opportunity.
OCASIO-CORTEZ: Exactly and the other issue, too, to compound on that, especially in food service, you know, a lot of people know that I used to work in a restaurant. And that just a couple weeks ago, Stephen Miller and the Trump Administration rolled out a public charge rule against undocumented people. And many of whom we know work in the food service industry. And basically, what it says is that if you are seeking medical care, that could be used against you in deportation proceedings and so the people who feed us are now scared to seek medical care. This is not a situation that befits us as a country and it's one that, frankly, I think shows that we are as strong as the most vulnerable -- who we allow to be vulnerable and most vulnerable in our society.
(...)
MEYERS: One thing that must be surreal for you is 2016, you knocked on doors for Bernie Sanders.
OCASIO-CORTEZ: Yeah.
MEYERS: And then two years later you get elected Congresswoman. Now you are actually on the stump with Bernie. When you go out on stage for these giant Bernie rallies, does it seem- does it seem as surreal to you that I imagine it does?
OCASIO-CORTEZ: It's completely surreal just, you know, four years ago I was in the South Bronx as a volunteer, helping organize this massive rally in St. Mary's park and at the time, Bernie Sanders was one of the first Democratic candidates since, I believe Robert F. Kennedy, to campaign in the South Bronx. And to have a candidate that really saw our community was really impactful and now to be able to go out and bear witness to what so many communities are experiencing all across the country is just very full circle and gratifying.
