Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) was quick to correct GOP Senator Marco Rubio after he tweeted an obscure claim on Sunday morning that “not every democrat is a socialist but every socialist is a democrat.” Twitter users snapped back with hilarious, yet frighteningly true parodies such as “not every Trump supporter is a Neo Nazi, but every Neo Nazi is a Trump supporter” and “Not every Republican is a proud boy but every proud boy is a Republican.”
Rubio and his GOP crew often refer to universal social policies such as expanded healthcare access as socialist. This tactic is nothing new. Republicans have accused Democrats of being socialists for decades. “Socialism destroys nations. But always remember: Freedom unifies the soul,” President Donald Trump said during the 2020 State of the Union address.
Rubio’s statement that these two parties are somewhat interchangeable is simply false. The failed presidential candidate has long been outspoken about his disapproval of so-called “Democratic socialism.” Democratic values and socialist values are not one in the same.
Socialism is often seen as a state-controlled economy in which the state controls the means of production (factories, offices, resources, and firms) but some forms of socialism place the control in the hands of the workers. Socialists believe in free basic services such as health care and education.
Ocasio-Cortez stepped in on Twitter to inform Rubio that the GOP uses “socialist” ideologies when they serve the party’s goals. “Curious what you call GOP giving away billions in public funds to Wall St & fossil fuel companies? OR what you call YOUR ability to go to Walter Reed hospital & receive socialized healthcare for free?” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
The Congresswoman continued with the punchline “funny how it’s only ‘socialism’ when others get what y’all give yourselves.” In a second tweet, Ocasio-Cortez added, “Also, the idea that socialists like Dems… lol.”