Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Blasts Politico After New Report: ‘Gossip’ Citing Anonymous Sources
Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez blasted Politico on Twitter today for an article about how she’s reportedly looking at another member of House Democratic leadership to get primaried in 2020.
Politico reported today that Ocasio-Cortez, who defeated House Democratic Caucus chair Joe Crowley in a stunning primary upset, is looking at a challenge to Hakeem Jeffries, who was chosen to succeed Crowley in the leadership role.
Ocasio-Cortez took to Twitter today to blast Politico’s article as “gossip” and “birdcage lining”:
One disappointment about DC is the gossip that masquerades as “reporting.”
This story has:
– Not a SINGLE named or verifiable source
– Only ONE on-the-record comment, which is a denial.My dad had a name for junk articles like this:
“Birdcage lining.”
https://t.co/kIBMM2eiWb— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 18, 2018
For the record, this is the second @politico article about me in a short period of time with *0* named sources to back claims containing false information.
Their articles are printed + distributed to **Congressional offices** – w/ no named sources.
It’s really unfortunate.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 18, 2018
CBS News political reporter Grace Segers called out her tweets for sounding like when President Donald Trump says “fake news” and decries reports using anonymous sources. Ocasio-Cortez responded by pointing to another Politico article she said was false, saying that the President is exploiting people’s confusion.
This sounds a bit like the defense Donald Trump uses when an article cites multiple unnamed sources. If it contains anonymous sources, it is therefore "fake news." https://t.co/zr2AbMxyK3
— Grace Segers (@Grace_Segers) December 18, 2018
The story about Rep. Pallone + I getting into a “fight” in caucus was 100% false as well.
This is why public gets confused – & 45 exploits that confusion.
How about a learning moment – honest question so readers can distinguish: when is a journalist required to cite a source? https://t.co/SWHKjteR7m
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 18, 2018
It’s simply not true. The story about Pallone getting into a “fight” in caucus was completely untrue as well.
It cuts both ways – if all an article contains is anonymous sources for gossip (as opposed to whistleblowing) how can readers tell the difference between rumor and fact?
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 18, 2018
The other report she’s referring to is a Politico piece from last month on an alleged fight between her and Congressman Frank Pallone over climate change. At the time, she responded to that report and asked, “When did Politico turn into TMZ?”
This is completely false – I never even have a direct interaction with him today.
When did Politico turn into TMZ? https://t.co/5svbr8QFNN
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) November 15, 2018
Politico’s John Bresnahan stood by that story today.
This is the Pallone story that @Ocasio2018 is referring to in her last tweet. It is, of course, 100% accurate, and her chief of staff is quoted in it. Merry Christmas!!!https://t.co/Pg7kcEKyhi https://t.co/ujXZKwS3E2
— John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) December 18, 2018
It literally says “Ocasio-Cortez's chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, was not in the meeting.”
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 18, 2018
"Ocasio-Cortez's chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, was not in the meeting but said he heard it included 'a pretty lively discussion'of climate change."
— John Bresnahan (@BresPolitico) December 18, 2018
[image via screengrab]
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