Former collegiate swim star Riley Gaines shut down Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) on Thursday for pretending to defend women.
During the second Republican primary debate on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez criticized Chris Christie for attacking President Joe Biden’s defense of teachers’ unions. Biden, Christie said, is “sleeping with a member of the teachers’ union.” The comment mirrors what Biden himself said two years ago.
Still, the remark was fodder for an Ocasio-Cortz attack.
“It’s disgusting, misogynistic, and if Republicans want to continue pissing off an entire nation of women, please be my guest,” she responded. “We’ll see you at the ballot box.”
Gaines, a fierce defender of women and fairness in athletics, took exception to Ocasio-Cortez’s assertion that she is a true defender of women.
How can that be, Gaines wondered, when Ocasio-Cortez voted against the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act and supports editing Title IX to allow biological men who identify as trans women to compete in women’s sports?
“Is this the same AOC that said upholding Title IX as it was intended is ‘indefensible and embarrassing’? Because surely the person saying women don’t deserve equal opportunities wouldn’t call someone else a misogynist without first claiming to be one herself,” Gaines responded.
“Words mean nothing without actions to support it,” she added. “AOC doesn’t care about women’s safety, privacy, equal opportunities, or dignity as made clear by her vote on HR 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.”
“This displayed contempt for women is the definition of misogyny,” Gaines declared, showing Ocasio-Cortez’s “nay” vote on the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.
Earlier this year, the Biden administration proposed a rule that would allow schools to prohibit trans athletes from competing on sports teams in the interest of preserving rights under Title IX. The rule generated criticism from activists on both sides of the issue, despite barring blanket bans but allowing fairness to prevent biological men from competing against biological women in high school and collegiate athletics.
In response, Ocasio-Cortez called the rule “indefensible,” “embarrassing,” and a “disgrace.”
Meanwhile, the House passed the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act this spring — no thanks to Ocasio-Cortez — but it was killed in the Senate.
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