GOP opponent says AOC ‘literally ran’ away when challenged to debate

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Kevin Sheehan, Bruce Golding | New York Post




US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez turned tail on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue to avoid a potential Republican challenger as they both marched in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade on Sunday, her political opponent said.

Talk-radio producer Rich Valdes told The Post that he tried to challenge the freshman Democratic congresswoman to a debate on the merits of capitalism versus socialism when he spotted her near West 47th Street.

But Ocasio-Cortez “cut her handshaking short, jerked her hand back and jetted to the other side of the street,” Valdes said.

“She literally ran!” he said.

“I thought this was a good time to try and get a response but I honestly only saw the back of her head as she trotted across the street.”

Valdes’ account was echoed by Guardian Angels founder and radio host Curtis Sliwa, who said the incident unfolded when Valdes approached the progressive firebrand about 12:30 p.m.

“As soon as she saw him she did a pirouette — a spin — and she ran north on Fifth Avenue, ahead of her delegation, just to get away from Rich,” he said.

“I heard Rich yelling after her, ‘OK, AOC. You can run — but you can’t hide!'”

Sliwa’s wife, lawyer Nancy Sliwa, also snapped photos that show Valdes walking several steps behind Ocasio-Cortez, then facing the camera with a look of exasperation.

On Thursday, Valdes told members of the Queens Village Republican Club that he would move from New Jersey to Ocasio-Cortez’ district, which covers parts of The Bronx and Queens, in an effort to unseat her.

Ocasio-Cortez’s spokesman, Corbin Trent, denied that she ran away from Valdes.

“She kept walking! The parade moved! It’s a procession! Give me a break,” he said.

Trent said that Ocasio-Cortez “doesn’t owe anybody a debate,” and said of Valdes: “Tell him to run for office and she’ll debate him.”

Trent also wished Valdes “good luck” in trying to oust his high-profile boss, who boasts more than 4.3 million Twitter followers.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-California) — who’s serving her 17th term in Congress — has fewer than 2.6 million followers.

[DemonGeminiX]

Coward.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I can't wait until she hits Twitter to see how she spins this

[Muddy]

I wouldnt have a street debate either at a festival..

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I wouldnt have a street debate either at a festival..

In the spirit of “todos juntos” I tried to politely introduce myself to ⁦@RepAOC⁩ at the Puerto Rican parade where we we both marching, hoping to invite her to debate the issues, but she ran away.

[Muddy]

Again, I would not want to be invited or to have an impromptu debate in the street at a Puerto Rican festival. 'Have your people call my people'.. Like it or not, she is a Congressman and he isn't.

[DemonGeminiX]

Again, I would not want to be invited or to have an impromptu debate in the street at a Puerto Rican festival. 'Have your people call my people'.. Like it or not, she is a Congressman and he isn't.

Congresswoman

[Muddy]

Congresswoman

I dint know if that was acceptable these days... Same with actor / actress...

[PorkChopSandwiches]

No surprise, she needs someone to explain her thoughts to her first so she can regurgitate her calculated idiocy

[Teh One Who Knocks]

By Julia Marsh | New York Post


U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s spokesman sent a profane tweet to a potential Republican challenger as he ripped him for wanting to debate his boss.

“Yo @RichValdes what in the actual f--- makes you think you’re entitled to a debate with AOC,” spokesman Corbin Trent tweeted Sunday at the conservative talk radio producer who’s mulling a run against the freshman congresswoman.

Earlier that day, Valdes said he tried to challenge Ocasio-Cortez to a debate on the merits of capitalism versus socialism as they both marched in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Valdes claims the democratic socialist “jetted to the other side of street” when he tried to approach her.

Trent told The Post after the missed encounter that Ocasio-Cortez didn’t run away from Valdes, and that she “doesn’t owe anybody a debate.”

But he wanted to send Valdes a direct message too.

“Pro tip: stalking her at a parade ain’t gonna make it any more likely to happen,” Trent said to Valdes in the tweet.

He deleted it the next day, Valdes said.

“I did indeed send that,” Trent admitted to The Post in a telephone interview Thursday.

“I did indeed delete it. It didn’t seem that helpful,” he said.

Trent said he didn’t regret the move, but rather “regrets that people chase people around.”

“I regret that so many people right from presidential candidates to right-wing commentators to random people that start organizations think that they’re entitled to people’s time. I think she’s spending a ton of time in the district talking about what she’s doing, talking about why she’s doing it and making a case for her policies,” Trent said.

Valdes responded, “If Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez condones her spokesperson’s belligerent behavior and language, that’s on her. It speaks volumes to how much she respects civility and respectful civil discourse. Something we desperately need today.”

Valdes added that he never chased Ocasio-Cortez, but simply walked over to her.

[lost in melb.]

I would run too

[fricnjay]

Ben Shapiro offerd her 10K to debate and she called it "cat calling" so then Candice Owens double down for 20K with no response then Charlie Kirk offered her 100k again with no response. She KNOWS she cant hang so she only talks when she can control the narrative.

[Muddy]

That's a fair statement.. But it's also not a requirement for her to be able to debate two of the biggest trolls online because they have a point to prove.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

That's a fair statement.. But it's also not a requirement for her to be able to debate two of the biggest trolls online because they have a point to prove.

Yeah, but this guy that approached her at the parade, whether it was the right venue or not, is going to run against her next year. She's going to have to step up and debate him eventually or she's going to look scared. And having her spokesman be outwardly hostile to her future opponent isn't helping her image either.

[Muddy]

Yeah, but this guy that approached her at the parade, whether it was the right venue or not, is going to run against her next year. She's going to have to step up and debate him eventually or she's going to look scared. And having her spokesman be outwardly hostile to her future opponent isn't helping her image either.

If he's going to be on the ballot then I would agree a debate is in order.. I don't agree with either side at this points guerrilla tactics.