A Fox News anchor claimed on Friday that newly-elected U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) cannot really be cash-strapped because she wore nice clothing in a magazine shoot.
There’s only one problem with that — the clothes weren’t hers.
Fox anchor Ed Henry lit into Ocasio-Cortez after the soon-to-be-lawmaker said on Thursday that she’s finding it hard to get an apartment in Washington, D.C. before her term starts in January.
There are many little ways in which our electoral system isn’t even designed (nor prepared) for working-class people to lead.
This is one of them (don’t worry btw – we’re working it out!)
⬇️ https://t.co/PEQ5ccSDSO— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 8, 2018
“[H]er resume doesn’t always match up,” Henry said after another guest praised the political instincts behind Ocasio-Cortez’s comments. “And some of the shoots during the campaign, she had these multi-thousand dollar outfits that could pay a month’s rent in Washington, D.C.”
“You’re right. While I live in Washington [and] it’s very expensive, but she’s been all over the map on some of this stuff — as a socialist,” Henry concluded, looking into the camera to emphasize his last point.
Henry was talking about a photo spread featuring Ocasio-Cortez that appeared in Interview Magazine in September. The pictures show her in a smart suit by Uruguayan designer Gabriela Hearst and a pair of black Manolo Blahnik stilettos. The entire ensemble cost around $3,500.
It’s not the first time Fox News has criticized the photo shoot. Soon after it came out, Fox and Friends accused Ocasio-Cortez of having “expensive tastes for a socialist.”
They have a point: It would be scandalous if Ocasio-Cortez was crying poor while spending thousands on designer clothes. But she wasn’t, as she pointed out herself when right-wing critics hit her over the shoot back in September.
a) The alt-right doesn’t seem to understand the concept of magazine shoots
b) You don’t get to keep the clothes, duh
c) I don’t “pretend” to fight for a Living Wage & Medicare for All. I do it.
d) Get used to me slaying lewks because I am an excellent thrift shopper pic.twitter.com/Nd2m6WoCxF
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) September 15, 2018
The fact is, the D.C. area is one of the most expensive rental markets in the country. Ocasio-Cortez gave up a restaurant job to run for Congress. Her financial disclosure shows that she earned about $26,500 last year.
Most people earning as little as that can’t afford to go three months without income before they start a new job — even if that job is in the U.S. Congress — much less afford the rent in an expensive new city.
Ocasio-Cortez was simply pointing out that Congress isn’t set up for people making $26,500 a year because most members of Congress don’t make $26,500 a year.
Neither do most Fox News anchors.