AOC Tries to Burn Lindsey Graham Over Government Paychecks vs. Employer Paychecks and It Does Not Go Well

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks at a news conference with Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., to call for legislation to cancel all student debt, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, June 24, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

I’m not quite sure this qualifies as “comic relief’ at a time like this, but at the very least it’s a much-needed distraction considering what’s going on right now.

I’ll get to the AOC part in a little bit. Stick with me for a moment as I explain the backstory.

In the midst of all the various ideas being floated around by lawmakers to help small businesses and their employees survive through the next several weeks of job layoffs and revenue losses, Sen. Lindsey Graham has urged the business owners to apply for a Small Business Administration loan to pay their employees:

“If you’re a bar owner or business owner and you’ve had to shut down, go to the small business administration and get a loan to pay your employees up to $80,000 per employee, and we’ll forgive that loan for the first six weeks, to keep the paychecks coming. Between those two ideas we are trying to stabilize people’s income,” he said.

The Hill shared a video clip of Graham talking about the House’s stimulus package and his own ideas, including the small business loan, which he said would be part of a “phase 3” stimulus option:

Sen. Lindsey Graham: "My focus is not giving people a check from the government. My focus is to make sure you get your paycheck from your employer." pic.twitter.com/3eDyh7ick0

— The Hill (@thehill) March 17, 2020

Because AOC is AOC, here’s how she reacted to Graham’s remarks:

Lindsey Graham has received a check from the government every month since 1995. https://t.co/LCUVCv63xt

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 17, 2020

Well, yeah. He kinda sorta works for the government. So of course he’s going to get a government paycheck. This ain’t rocket science.

Others made the same or similar observations:

Right, because the government is his employer.

— Kelly Campagna (@warriorwoman91) March 18, 2020

#BernieSanders has never received a paycheck that wasn't government issued.

— Milo™ (@chasbottom) March 17, 2020

Ditto, the same goes for all these ladies.

Nancy Pelosi 1987
Barbara Lee 1998
Adam Schiff 1997
Maxine Waters 1991
Lucille Roybal-Allard 1993

— Randy Wong (@Foo_Ling_Us) March 18, 2020

AOC makes $174,000 a year for pointing fingers, complaining and making ridiculous comments.

— politically_matt (@MattPolitically) March 17, 2020

Someone a friend, Congressional colleague, a staffer – please alert AOC that she needs to do a better job at self-distancing. At least three feet away from her iPhone.