Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was observed crying after the House approved money for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system after altering her vote from “no” to “present” at the last minute.
On Thursday, the House approved a $1 billion bill to replenish Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ missile defense system, which had been depleted during a week of continuous rocket strikes by Palestinian terrorists this summer. The financing was initially included in a larger spending package, but it was voted on separately after progressives, including Ocasio-Cortez, threatened to scuttle the spending plan on Tuesday if it was not removed.
With two representatives voting ‘present,’ the financing bill passed by 420 votes to nine. Despite her prior opposition, Ocasio-Cortez changed her vote at the last minute from “no” to “present.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Washington), who voted to arm Israel, consoled the New York Congresswoman on the House floor.
It’s unclear why Ocasio-Cortez changed her vote at the last minute, or if her tears were an indication of real sadness over the choice or a ploy to appease her progressive fans. Despite her campaign for defunding law enforcement some months prior, AOC has already split with her base, and voted ‘present’ on a plan to finance the Capitol Police by $2 billion earlier this year. By a single vote, the measure was passed.
AOC with fellow progressives Ilhan Omar (Minnesota), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan), Cori Bush (Missouri), and Ayanna Pressley (Massachusetts) are dubbed “The Squad” and are viewed as driving the Democratic Party to the left.
Despite this, Omar, Tlaib, Bush, and Pressley all voted against financing the Iron Dome, with Tlaib issuing a scathing criticism of Israel’s “violent apartheid” occupation of Palestine and “war crimes” against Palestinians.
AOC’s decision was quickly criticized by lefties online, and several pundits saw the vote as evidence of the New York progressive cozying up to the Democratic establishment in order to further her career.
