Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

AOC fires back at Liz Cheney over 'dead people' comment: 'I see you get your news from Facebook memes'

Republican congresswoman resurfaces conspiracy theory espoused by Donald Trump

Tom Embury-Dennis
Tuesday 02 April 2019 12:30 BST
Comments
'People are dying': Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez vents anger at Republicans for blocking Green New Deal

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has hit back at Liz Cheney after the Republican congresswoman accused her Democratic colleague of misunderstanding the history of the US constitution.

Ms Cheney, daughter of former vice-president Dick Cheney, on Monday shared a video of Ms Ocasio-Cortez in which she claimed the Democratic party used to be so popular politicians in the 1940s had to amend the Constitution in order to stop Franklin D Roosevelt being re-elected.

The comment was mocked by critics who pointed out Roosevelt died two years before Congress ratified the 22 Amendment, which prevented presidents from serving more than two terms.

“We knew the Democrats let dead people vote. According to @AOC, they can run for President, too,” Ms Cheney tweeted in reference to a conspiracy theory espoused by Donald Trump.

“I see from your dead people comment that you get your news from Facebook memes,” responded Ms Ocasio-Cortez, who linked to a Newsweek article she said would “clarify your misunderstanding” of the 22nd Amendment.

Despite the crticism, Ms Ocasio-Cortez was at least partially justified in her claim Roosevelt's popularity forced a constitutional change.

Lawmakers were already pushing for the 22nd Amendment when Roosevelt won an unprecedented fourth term in 1944.

He died less than three months after his inauguration the following year, before a Republican-controlled Congress ratified the amendment in 1947.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in