AOC flys first class while constituents suffer

[Arcangl86]

I would be surprised if she used her own money, she did not for the $35,000 ticket to the event where she wore the $30,000 dress. Who pays for these things?

In that case, she was invited by the person who designed the dress. She didn't pay a cent for the ticket and the dress was borrowed.

 

[Michie]

In that case, she was invited by the person who designed the dress. She didn't pay a cent for the ticket and the dress was borrowed.

I think most of the costumes go into the museum and it was donated to her for that purpose. Point is, the Met Gala is epitome of elitism and AOC willingly taking part is pretty much everything she claims to be against. It does not matter if the hideous gown had ‘Tax the rich’ scrawled on it.

She had critics of the vogue cover she posed for as well.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says critics of her Vanity Fair cover outfits are mad she 'looks good in borrowed clothes'

 

[Valletta]

My understanding is that the government will not pay for domestic first class travel for members of Congress. At the same time, government workers (including military) can have frequent flyer accounts with various airlines and accrue points for trips paid for by the government.

Because of this, because of the number of points that some Congresspeople accrue, they often use their points to upgrade their flights to first class. I also believe they can pay to upgrade to First Class, using their own money. Last, some airlines apparently will frequently give a free upgrade to members of Congress if there is space available on the flight.

Maybe you could urge Nancy and AOC to support a "No Congressional First Class Flights Act."
govinfo

 

[wing2000]

Maybe you could urge Nancy and AOC to support a "No Congressional First Class Flights Act."
govinfo

Oh why stop there?
Apply it to the entire government including the POTUS. We could save a bundle without flying Air Force One (+ plus the fleet of aircraft that go with it). Here's to flying with the commonors in coach!

 

[SimplyMe]

Maybe you could urge Nancy and AOC to support a "No Congressional First Class Flights Act."
govinfo

Actually, when Nancy Pelosi was Speaker in 2010, she instituted a rule that members of Congress had to fly tourist class (eliminating even Business class) on any flight under 14 hours. It sounds as if Pelosi, at least, would already support it.

Personally, I think the bigger issue is the use of Air Force jets for Congressional travel (unless it is taking a group of Congressional members), as those cost far more, typically, than even First Class.

 

[Valletta]

Actually, when Nancy Pelosi was Speaker in 2010, she instituted a rule that members of Congress had to fly tourist class (eliminating even Business class) on any flight under 14 hours. It sounds as if Pelosi, at least, would already support it.

Personally, I think the bigger issue is the use of Air Force jets for Congressional travel (unless it is taking a group of Congressional members), as those cost far more, typically, than even First Class.

It's out there, all Pelosi has to do is tell the Rules committee to hold a hearing.

 

[bèlla]

The Met Gala is a popular fundraiser. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the archbishop of New York, attended in 2018. The tickets are $30K.

The event included an exhibit: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination on display from the Sistine Chapel sacristy at the Vatican, many never seen outside Rome or in public at all, including jewel-encrusted tiaras and intricately embroidered papal cloaks, known as copes.

Many attendees wore religious themed attire. Described as
monkish capes, bejeweled crucifixes and Virgin Mary cosplay.

Cardinal Dolan defended the event calling it
“a celebration of what we call the evangelization of culture.” He said, “I did not find the spirit of the evening to be offensive or blasphemous at all.”

Given the Vatican’s involvement and Dolan’s attendance, AOC has nothing to explain. Her dress is relatively tame when compared to others.

After all…its harmless.

 

[mama2one]

I got upgraded to first class once

it was awesome!

so much space & ability to almost recline totally
yummy ice cream sundae for snack
one leg of flight returning home from other side of world

 

[Robban]

I got upgraded to first class once

it was awesome!

so much space & ability to almost recline totally
yummy ice cream sundae for snack
one leg of flight returning home from other side of world

Otherwise civil airflight can be likened to "flying sardin cans"

 

[Danthemailman]

"According to a person who knew AOC earlier in her political career, the self-proclaimed socialist has grown a taste for the finer things in life."
AOC books luxury front row seat for American Airlines flight from Austin to JFK | Daily Mail Online

I will be more than happy to purchase a first class “one way” ticket to either Cuba or Venezuela for that self proclaimed socialist, AOC. I will even help her pack.

 

[Michie]

I will be more than happy to purchase a first class “one way” ticket to either Cuba or Venezuela for that self proclaimed socialist, AOC. I will even help her pack.

I do not think she is what she proclaims to be in reality.

 

[Brihaha]

I think most of the costumes go into the museum and it was donated to her for that purpose. Point is, the Met Gala is epitome of elitism and AOC willingly taking part is pretty much everything she claims to be against. It does not matter if the hideous gown had ‘Tax the rich’ scrawled on it.

She had critics of the vogue cover she posed for as well.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says critics of her Vanity Fair cover outfits are mad she 'looks good in borrowed clothes'

Since the Met gala is the epitome of elitism, one could argue AOC was courageous. She wore the "Tax the Rich" dress in front of the very elites who need taxed accordingly. Without fear of retribution. I thought her display was brilliant and courageous. Too bad they ruined that lovely dress tho. She certainly made a point.

 

[Michie]

Since the Met gala is the epitome of elitism, one could argue AOC was courageous. She wore the "Tax the Rich" dress in front of the very elites who need taxed accordingly. Without fear of retribution. I thought her display was brilliant and courageous. Too bad they ruined that lovely dress tho. She certainly made a point.

It could be looked at on many different ways. I did not see it as courageous but having your cake and eating it too.

 

[Brihaha]

It could be looked at on many different ways.i did not see it as courageous but having your cake and eating it too.

AOC is not an elitist. She's working class. She had determination to run for congress and was successful. Congresspersons may reckon themselves elite and citizens may see them as elites. Few of them are actually in the class of elites on whom AOC wants to increase taxes. What cake does she want anyhow? Easing the middle class burden of taxes by raising the burden on super wealthy people helps 99% of Americans rather than helping the 1% evade their tax burden. Most Americans don't even taste the cake as it is now.

 

[Michie]

AOC is not an elitist. She's working class. She had determination to run for congress and was successful. Congresspersons may reckon themselves elite and citizens may see them as elites. Few of them are actually in the class of elites on whom AOC wants to increase taxes. What cake does she want anyhow? Easing the middle class burden of taxes by raising the burden on super wealthy people helps 99% of Americans rather than helping the 1% evade their tax burden. Most Americans don't even taste the cake as it is now.

I did not say she was an elite. But she certainly does not mind partaking of the spoils of the elite. It’s no skin off my nose either way. All politicians seem to have that weakness. Nothing new under the sun.

 

[Brihaha]

I did not say she was an elite. But she certainly does not mind partaking of the spoils of the elite. It’s no skin off my nose either way. All politicians seem to have that weakness. Nothing new under the sun.

I can agree with that. I guess "having her cake and eating it too" led me to think you were casting her as elite. I appreciate your replies. Have a good day my friend.

 

[Michie]

I can agree with that. I guess "having her cake and eating it too" led me to think you were casting her as elite. I appreciate your replies. Have a good day my friend.

Thank you!

 

[ThatRobGuy]

Good grief! The RW media obsession with this person.

The article notes that the price differential is $100 to $200 more for 1st class. Not really that much for someone with a ~$200k/year job. (Especially if it was an upgrade she paid herself on an official trip where the government covered the economy ticket. It's also possible that this was a campaign related travel.)

The article also breathlessly comments on her (gasp) $35,000 car and that she "lives above a Whole Foods". Oooh. There are cheaper cars, though this one is electric so there might be some sort of government discount, and apparently, her apartment building (in NY or DC, not stated) has a grocery store in the ground level.

I don't think the treatment of AOC is that different than any other politician/public figure who gets raked over the coals when found to be doing some things that are seemingly in direct opposition to their messaging.

Public figures (especially politicians) sort of set themselves up for that when they take "die hard" positions for/against certain things, only to be caught engaging in those things. In AOC's case, she's set herself up for "hypocrisy critiques" on several different fronts over the past few years. Calling yourself a "socialist" (of any variation) in the US is a bold move, and one that's divisive enough, that unless you're willing to commit to 100% "living" that ideal (both in terms of your personal life and public optics), you're setting yourself up for it.

For instance, if a hypothetical political candidate is going to tout the premise of "we need to eat way less red meat, and we need to raise taxes on it to dissuade people from eating so much of it", they'd better never let anyone catch them out in public eating a 16oz t-bone (even if it's the only steak they had all year)...because as they used to say in those cheesy 80's cop dramas "the press is gonna have a field day with this!"

How many times have we seen the talking point pop up when a conservative "family values" personality gets caught cheating on their wife or something to that effect?

Or like when Rush Limbaugh used to do his loudmouth obnoxious routines about how "drug users should be thrown in jail", only to find out that he was illegally pill popping.

Deep down, people (as a whole) tend to get a little bit of satisfaction in being able to spot perceived hypocrisy in someone who they felt either talked down to them on a certain issue, or who was trying to stop them from doing something they want to do. I'm guilty of that myself...

 

[SummerMadness]

They should sit with the regular people and listen to them.

People in first class are regular people too.