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I was pretty astonished. We shook hands, he introduced himself, and told me he wanted to show his support. I could barely get my question out - I wanted to honor his positivity, yet respectfully find a way to ask, “How?”

11:02 PM · May 10, 2019

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

@AOC

May 10, 2019

Replying to

@AOC

I somehow got it out: “With all respect sir, how do you... manage to support both of us at the same time?” This is what he said: “I’ve been saying for years that climate change is our most important crisis. You’re one of the only ones who‘s been willing to be decisive on it.”

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

@AOC

May 10, 2019

Then he said, “I like you. I can tell that you are genuine and fighting for us. You’re real and you get it.” I thanked him and his family from the bottom of my heart.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

@AOC

May 10, 2019

All of this is to say don’t let any politician, no matter the party, lecture you about what is “possible” or “electable.” Don’t ever let a politician imply that working people are “less-than” or “uneducated” - aka that they are the ones in the way of solving the climate crisis.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

@AOC

May 10, 2019

The forces getting in the way of solving our climate crisis are politicians themselves + lobbyists. It is the willingness to bend to corporate power - the same ones that use coal miners’ plights for a tax break, yet refuse to pay for those same miners’ healthcare for black lung.

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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

@AOC

May 10, 2019

If you don’t understand this man’s sign - or don’t approach it with a desire to - then you do not understand this political moment. The same folks who said Trump was impossible in 2016 are the same ones lecturing on what’s “electable” in 2020. Don’t buy it. Vote your values.

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Replying to

Then POOF!, this family magically disappeared, never to be seen or heard of again.

Replying to

It’s a question with an answer. A lot of Trump’s appeal isn’t to people who hate The Other. It’s also to people who feel they have become The Other. You are on very different sides of managing this situation, but you’re both not at all afraid to acknowledge it exists.

Replying to

You appeal to the same “left behind” by the system, working class people. So don’t be astonished. But thank God you are fighting for equality, justice, climate change without xenophobia & racism.