Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calls out reporting of Steve King's 'racist' remarks

Democratic New York rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticised a reporter for describing Republican congressman Steve King as "racially tinged" rather than "racist".

The congressman got into hot water after he made a few comments defending white nationalism.

In a piece about immigration published on Thursday, the New York Times reported King saying, "White nationalist, white supremacist, western civilisation. When did that language become offensive?"

King's comment drew harsh criticism, with the Congressional Black Caucus calling for him to be stripped of committee assignments while the internet was ablaze with anger.

One of the people who spoke against him was Ocasio-Cortez, who has a wondrous history of calling out racists in her thus-far short term in office.

In a tweet, David M Drucker, a senior political correspondent for DC Examiner, said that King and House minority whip Steve Scalise had spoken after King's controversial comments. He wrote:

King initiated a convo today w/ @SteveScalise to inform them he would speak on the floor to address his racially-tinged remarks.

People grew angry at his categorisation of the comments as "racially tinged". Among them, Ocasio-Cortez sat up and tweeted: "You spelt 'racist' wrong."

She added:

At this point those who use the terms 'racially tinged' or 'racially charged' to describe white supremacy should be prepared to explain why they chose to employ those terms instead of 'racist/racism'.

If the answer is their own discomfort, they're protecting the wrong people.

In an act of contrition (rare on Twitter), Drucker thanked Cortez for the "edit".

Cortez responded in kind:

Thank you for being open. It's time we call it what it is.

Another day, another YAS QWEEN moment from Ocasio-Cortez.

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