Ted Cruz tried to mock AOC's scientific knowledge - it didn't end well

[malaise]

Last edited Sat Feb 29, 2020, 06:46 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/28/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-ted-cruz-coronavirus
<snip>
If you were in search of a scientifically minded, steadying presence to guide the country through the potential fallout of the coronavirus, you could not do much worse than Vice-President Mike Pence. This being the Donald Trump administration, however, where qualifications and expertise are often seen as prohibitive factors for top jobs, that’s exactly who we’ve been given.

Cutting to the heart of the matter with her characteristic bluntness, Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez this week pointed out the absurdity of placing Pence in charge of a potentially looming health crisis.

“Mike Pence literally does not believe in science,” she tweeted on Wednesday. “It is utterly irresponsible to put him in charge of US coronavirus response as the world sits on the cusp of a pandemic. This decision could cost people their lives. Pence’s past decisions already have,” she said.

Ocasio-Cortez reminded people of Pence’s credentials for the job. While he was governor of Indiana, he oversaw an HIV crisis that was so severe that at its peak, 20 new cases of HIV were diagnosed every week.

“As governor, Pence’s science denial contributed to one of the worst HIV outbreaks in Indiana’s history,” she continued. “He is not a medical doctor. He is not a health expert. He is not qualified nor positioned in any way to protect our public health.”

Rushing to the defense of the administration the next day, Ted Cruz jumped into the fray.


Ted Cruz
✔
@tedcruz
As you are speaking as the oracle of science, tell us, what exactly is a Y chromosome?

Link to tweet

…

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
✔
@AOC
Mike Pence literally does not believe in science.

It is utterly irresponsible to put him in charge of US coronavirus response as the world sits on the cusp of a pandemic.

This decision could cost people their lives. Pence’s past decisions already have.

57.3K
3:43 PM - Feb 27, 2020
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“As you are speaking as the oracle of science, tell us, what exactly is a Y chromosome?” Cruz responded on Twitter. “And at what age of gestation does science tell us that an unborn child feels physical pain?”

He may have picked the wrong opponent – Ocasio-Cortez, it transpires, holds an award for microbiology from MIT.

Despite reports in the past of the two lawmakers, surprisingly, finding common ground on other issues, Ocasio-Cortez did not let the slight go unaddressed this morning. Touting her scientific background bona fides, and jabbing at Cruz, who, like Pence, gives primacy to his religious beliefs over science, she delivered an acerbic put-down.

“I’m surprised you’re asking about chromosomes given that you don’t believe in evolution,” she said.
Oops! That should leave a mark.

[SunSeeker]

1. K & R

[DFW]

2. A lawyer should know better

Cruz, a lawyer, challenges someone with an award in microbiology from MIT on a question of microbiology.

How well did he think THAT was going to end?

[malaise]

3. Sadly it's part of the demeaning of women

He made a big mistake here

[DFW]

4. It wouldn't be the first time--or even the millionth time

He probably thinks Marie Curie is something to be found on the menu of an Indian restaurant.

[LittleGirl]

5. Lol! eom

[malaise]

6. DUzy

[whathehell]

12. You would think so, but underestimating women,,

young, attractive ones, especially, seems an almost reflexive response
from many men... It's always fun to see it backfiring.

[DFW]

14. It backfires for quite a few Harvard Law grads who run into my younger daughter

My daughter's law firm hires several of them every year. Some of the more snooty and overconfident ones end up as beginners or interns in the firm's Frankfurt office. My daughter, who looks about ten years younger than her 35 years, became that firm's youngest partner ever at age 31. But she did not graduate from a "top tier" law school (lawyers have a directory where they can look this up), so the Harvard and Yale guys show up in Frankfurt with substandard English skills, horrible German skills, and a work ethic that makes them think that their Harvard diplomas are a ticket to leaving the office every day at 4:59 PM to go out and party.

Inevitably, this lands the worst offenders in my daughter's office, where they think they see this "German whiz-girl" who will be a pushover. Instead, they leave in tears when she dresses them down in flawless, accent-free American English, and in no uncertain terms. She busted her ass to get where she was (she is also wicked smart, something that the LSATs did not reflect, since they contained many English words she didn't yet know). She has no time for slick cats showing up in Germany waving their Harvard diplomas, and thinking it's a ticket to the circus. She tells them in no uncertain terms to get serious or get lost. It is an underestimation most of them don't make twice.

[drmeow]

13. no one ever said

He was a good (or even mediocre) lawyer

[brutus smith]

7. AOC is a gift to the Dem party!

[malaise]

8. She's a well needed breath of fresh air

I love her

[Nay]

11. I love her, too. So smart, so courageous, so able to go get 'em and rip their heads off . . .

my kind of gal! May she have a long and illustrious life in politics. We need her badly.

[Paladin]

9. I wish Cruz was getting a humiliating beat-down like this, every day. (nt)

[gredinger]

10. AOC is lit.

AOC for House Speaker. She's the voice of the progressives. She seems to know how to put Republicans in their place.

She's not afraid of taking the *much* higher road. She's won the hearts of the next generation.

We need her to lead Congress on getting the GND done.

[Catch2.2]

15. HAHAHA!!!!

Awesome! Love AOC!!!

[argyl]

16. Doesn't even bother with his questions. Just goes straight to a good smack in the mouth.

Like his questions have a damn thing do with a world health crisis anyway.

[malaise]

17. Speaks volumes about how little research they've done on their colleagues

Go AOC!