this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2026
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Kennedy made the swipe at the Democratic lawmaker during an interview with Fox News, saying she is "kind of like Vice President Kamala Harris, but with more bartending experience." He went on to say that she has "never been accused of being a policy maven."

AOC reacted on social media, saying "my having been a waitress makes me 1000x more qualified to govern on behalf of working people than whatever lifelong politician nonsense you've swung from your whole career."

"Why should working people vote for you if this is what you think of them?," she added.

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[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 1 points 10 minutes ago

Every time they mock her for having had a working class job they just prove they think they’re elite.

[–] Tigeroovy@lemmy.ca 2 points 49 minutes ago

TBH I don't think any republican anywhere is qualified for any sort of leadership role of any kind.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 2 points 20 minutes ago

He's right. I'd rather vote for some PedoCon to represent me, than a smart, moral person who has actually held a real job. /S

GTF Outta here with that shit.

[–] Professorozone@lemmy.world 5 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I love the fact that he's making fun of her for NOT having an elitist background. What trash.

Whenever I'm arguing with someone about TACO I just point out that what we really needed was another rich, old, white man. That'll fix our problems.

[–] nomy@lemmy.zip 4 points 51 minutes ago

Not just rich, born rich.

If someone worked themselves to death 80hrs/week to build a fortune, forgoing family or personal development. That might not be "healthy" but at least we could all point at their work ethic and tenacity as something worthwhile.

But this fuck was just born into it. Never had to work a day in his life, just living off daddies dime.

[–] binarytobis@lemmy.world 21 points 2 hours ago

I don’t want anyone in any political office who didn’t work at least six continuous months in a food service job.

Bartending is not easy, i know it's not obvious for somebody out there, but it is not an easy task.

[–] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 16 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

People still mock her for her bartending work?

[–] madcaesar@lemmy.world 11 points 2 hours ago

Yup, pedophiles trying to distract how corrupt and demonic they are.

[–] Wilco@lemmy.zip 13 points 3 hours ago

She is correct.

Look at Trump, he has never really worked a day of his life. He is basically detached from the reality of 99% of us.

[–] Reygle@lemmy.world 5 points 3 hours ago

All she needs is heavy, HEAVY use of the words "prosecute" and "list" and she's got my full support.

[–] alonsohmtz@feddit.uk 28 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

One of the few politicians I'd vote for president.

[–] binarytobis@lemmy.world 12 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I don’t know much about AOC beyond the occasional headline, but I do know that every time a right winger complains about her to me like “Look! See, she’s absolutely crazy!” it’s because she’s doing or saying something that is common sense.

That’s probably a good sign.

[–] Omgpwnies@lemmy.world 5 points 2 hours ago

or "look at this commoner trying to be a politician, she even had a real job once.. what a loser!"

[–] MimicJar@lemmy.world 36 points 5 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) (2 children)

Just for numbers sake, "Accommodation and food services" (which would include bartenders) is the third largest US workforce at ~8%.

~~Congress~~ The US House of Representatives has 435 members, so at least 35 or so should have a background in bartending or similar work if we really are having a representative government.

Sounds like we need more AOCs.

[–] Hawke@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Congress has 535 members, you’re off by 100. It should be 43 members with food service experience.

[–] MimicJar@lemmy.world 4 points 2 hours ago

Whoops, I said Congress, but meant the US House of Representatives (since that is what AOC is).

The Senate has an even 100, so plus another 8 on their side.

[–] ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one 2 points 3 hours ago (1 children)

Congress has 435 members, so at least 35 or so should have a background in bartending or similar work if we really are having a representative government.

Sorry, best I can do is a bunch geriatric members of congress, political dynasties, and life long politicians.

[–] Hawke@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

You said the same thing three times…

There’s nothing wrong with life-long politicians, but we need more variety and less concern for getting reelected over doing what’s right.

[–] U7826391786239@lemmy.zip 144 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

i love how fucking terrified the GOP is of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. to be fair, they should be.

if the only thing you can think of to criticize is "you worked at a bar," then your position is absurdly, pathetically, hilariously weak

[–] ThePantser@sh.itjust.works 20 points 6 hours ago (2 children)

Trump "worked" at a McD, lol

[–] pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 4 hours ago

Didn't even last a day

[–] GalacticSushi@piefed.blahaj.zone 4 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

It was probably just that he was having a dementia episode at the time, but he seemed genuinely happier than I've ever seen him before when he was working that drive thru.

It was all the attention he was getting for doing so. You can bet they curated those coming through who were MAGA.

[–] tonytins@pawb.social 107 points 7 hours ago (3 children)

AOC lives rent free in these people's heads.

[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 13 points 4 hours ago

I mean, she's almost tailor-made to make them practically short out.

One, she's obviously a smoke-show and we might as well acknowledge that fact. Add to that, she is obviously very smart and a great speaker, and not afraid to speak up. Being a woman and a POC compounds their feels. She's also often aligned with the likes of Bernie on many issues.

Add all this up, and it's no wonder most Republicans behave like confused middle-school boys and don't know what to do with their conflicted feelings and end up saying/doing things that more or less boil down to the equivalent of pulling her hair and snapping her bra.

It usually comes out so incoherent and cringe - I seem to remember some winger(s) saying something about how she was a "hypocrite" for dating a white guy?

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 34 points 7 hours ago (3 children)

... And their AI-generated fantasies. Eww....

[–] null@lemmy.org 7 points 4 hours ago (1 children)

Ben Shapiro has spent at least $1,000 generating AOC foot porn.

[–] daannii@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago

That's what they need all those data centers for

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[–] daychilde@lemmy.world 12 points 5 hours ago

I'm more than happy not to charge her rent.

…that sounds creepy, but I just mean I'm glad she's in politics fighting the progressive fight, and I support her. lol

[–] not_that_guy05@lemmy.world 75 points 7 hours ago (1 children)

They are making fun of a normies citizen what became a representative of the people. Do they not realize that?

Rich folks should be banned from being in politics, honestly.

[–] Assassassin@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 2 hours ago

Rich people should just be banned

[–] Sabin10@lemmy.world 21 points 6 hours ago

Imagine not being a wealthy nepobaby

[–] X@piefed.world 12 points 6 hours ago (3 children)

Responding to the fascists seems to me a lot like trying to have a meaningful conversation with one of those inflatable dancing tube men things. You’re well within your rights, but you’re trying to have a conversation with nothing more than a bag of wind that always goes limp the moment someone pulls its cord.

[–] thevoidzero@lemmy.world 11 points 4 hours ago

I take it as her response is for people, not for him. Sometimes people need someone to spell out things. Like the representative thing, so they can understand billionaires might not have their best interest at heart over someone that actually has gone through the same struggles they are under.

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[–] heiligerbimbam@lemmy.wtf 9 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

I would celebrate so much if she became president one day. Those old white men would be so pissed off.

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works 4 points 4 hours ago (2 children)

I hope she runs for NY governor or something soon. I'd like to see her as president, but I don't think her campaign would have much success if her only political experience is as a congresswoman. Historically, it's hard for a presidential candidate to succeed without first having some experience in an executive role (like governor, or as a general). Plus, imagine how much she and Mandami could get done together if he were running NYC and she were the governor.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I think the party has already made a deal with her: if she agrees to not run for President in 2028, they will clear the field for her to take Chuck's Senate seat instead.

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I think she could do better than that.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

The Senate is a good gig, it can be a lot easier to get foreign policy experience there than as a Governor.

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Sure, but not executive experience.

If you look at most successful candidates for president they were either governors or generals (or lately CEOs). You can guess what the attacks against AOC are going to be. One will certainly be that she doesn't have the experience, especially as a key decision maker. Personally, I think she'd be a fine president right now. But, to convince enough other people I think she'll need to prove to them that she knows what she's doing at the "big desk".

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 1 points 17 minutes ago

Obama was never a Governor. JFK was never a Governor. It is very possible to win the Presidency as a sitting Senator.

I think she would make a fine President now, but a better one with two Senate terms under her belt.

[–] deifyed@lemmy.wtf 1 points 2 hours ago (1 children)

I mean; she can't possibly have less experience than the current president

[–] merc@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 hours ago

And look how that has worked out.

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