Instagram Story
In an Instagram story posted by AOC, the US congresswoman responds directly to a question posed on the topic of things “you’ve been afraid to ask about.”
Source: Mariia Shalabaieva/Unsplash
“How do I tell my friends who are Jill Stein voters they are wasting their time and effort?” the question above AOC read.
Spicy Thoughts
AOC prefaced her response to the question by saying “Y’all this is a little spicy, but I have thoughts.”
Source: Vocería de Gobierno/Wikimedia Commons
She attempted to soften the blow of what would come next, saying “I should save this for a live, I’m not coming for people who are thinking about this.”
AOC’s Problem
The Democrat congresswoman then proceeded to explain the “problem” she had with Jill Stein running for president.
Source: nrkbeta/Wikimedia Commons
“What I have a problem with is the fact that if you are running for president, you are the de facto leader of your party,” AOC said. “If you run for years in a row, and your party has not grown, has not added city council seats, down ballot seats and state electives, that’s bad leadership. And that to me is what’s upsetting.”
Not Serious
AOC would continue making further comments, accusing Stein of being non-serious for continuing to run for president without good results.
(Photo by Steven Ferdman/GC Images)
“If you have been your party’s nominee for 12 years in a row… and you cannot grow your movement pretty much at all…you’re not serious,” said AOC.
Predatory Campaign
In the Instagram post, AOC would take the criticism a step further, slandering the motivation of Stein and accusing her of predatory behavior.
Element5 Digital/Unsplash
“To me, it does not read as authentic, it reads as predatory,” AOC said. “What does this person do to grow power?”
Stein Claps Back
An X post containing a clip of AOC’s criticism of Stein on September 1 received over 12 million views, eventually being seen by Stein herself.
Source: Draw Angerer/Getty Images
“What’s seriously predatory is pretending your candidate is ‘working tirelessly for a ceasefire’ when in reality they’re actively arming and funding genocide,” Stein wrote in response.
Which is Predatory?
Stein in a second post followed up by further twisting the predatory insult back against AOC and the Democrats.
Source: Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash
“Democrats sue to kick us off ballots, hire operatives to infiltrate and sabotage us, lock us out of debates, fight ranked-choice voting, then act concerned that Greens have only won 1400 elections. So which party is authentic, and which is predatory?” wrote Stein on X.
Monitoring The Feud
Stein then began reposting other X users who were on her side in the feud, with some accusing AOC of getting “marching orders” from Democrat leadership to attack Stein.
Source: John Schnobrich/Unsplash
“AOC-Pelosi got herself a new script and marching orders and @ButchWare invited her to watch the slow death of the un-Democratic party with us!” wrote the Green Party of Santa Clara County.
Not Voting For Harris
One user said that the rant from AOC convinced them that Jill Stein was the correct choice and that they would now “crawl through miles of broken glass to vote for Stein.”
Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons
“Oh my goodness,” Stein wrote in response to the X comment. “Same. Was going to vote 3rd party in this blue state of Massachusetts anyway. AOC tipped my vote to The Green Predator,” wrote another X user.
Ignorant of the Greens
Progressive commentator Briahna Joy Gray weighed in on the contention that the Green Party is only focused on garnering attention during presidential races.
Source: nrkbeta/Wikimedia
“The argument that the Greens ‘only show up every four years’ is an incredible tell: It reveals that the person making the argument only pays attention every 4 years and is this deeply ignorant of all the work that’s being done while their back at brunch,” Gray wrote on X.
Elected Office
According to the Green Party’s website, the group asserts “at least 143 [party members] hold elected office in 20 states across the United States as of July 1, 2024.”
Source: chris robert/Unsplash
Of those, 131 Green Party members have been directly elected, while others have either been appointed or joined the Green Party while already in office.