By Yvette Tello

Last month, US representative Ted Yoho approached US representa- tive Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the Capitol steps to inform her that she was “disgusting” and “out of your freaking mind,” and as she walked away he described her as a “f*****g b***h” in front of report- ers. On the House floor Thursday, she defended not only herself; she defended principle and countless women on the floor of the House of Representatives by addressing this attack. What do you think? Should members of Congress be held to a higher standard? Should she just have accepted this and left it alone? Let’s talk about it.

Joseph Martinez: “She is an elect- ed official by the people of the largest city in the US. More impor- tantly, she is a woman who stood up for ALL women. Very powerful statement. I have a daughter and would in no way allow her to be disrespected.”

Mary Valadez: “She has earned her position & should be respected & not tolerate any abuse.”

Kellie Williams Smith: “I don’t like her at all but it makes him look like an ass. No need for that language coming from anyone in an elected position.”

Veronica Amaro: “I am not a fan of AOC, but I think she and every woman in this nation deserve re- spect. She has gained her seat and should use her platform now, more than ever, to represent all women in this country. Had she spat out those nasty words to that Senator, many would be casting stones at her. I applaud her and this shouldn’t have had to be on her agenda. Thankfully, like she said, it can be used to bring awareness and change. She may not be qualified for her position, in your opinion, but that doesn’t make her any less than a man. No one should be disrespected in that manner. As a Latina woman in a leadership posi- tion, I have had to deal with this type of behavior from men.”

Shawn Armstrong: “So of course most of you don’t hear both sides of the story and research and listen to what the gentleman said when he spoke to the reporter, you know she takes it out of context because that’s who she is.”

Mike Miller: “So let me get this straight, she says the guy rounded the corner and accosted her. So they ran into each other. You mean to tell me she said and did nothing to him. Ok let’s say that. AOC is a big mouth who has bad-mouthed many men up there. Called the President of the United States names and ac- tually tweeted that we need to keep this shutdown going til the election and that the businesses lost are justified to keep Trump from being elected again. So you mean to tell me she didn’t say one word to a man who bumped into her. She didn’t say bumped, she said accosted. Now men are not allowed to bump into someone. I refuse to believe she didn’t say one word to him. By the way, to accost sounds more like she was groped on the steps of the house, in public. Not buying it.”

Andy Squire: “She is an embar- rassment to the nation and her constituents. She has no business in her position.”

Ernest Paz: “Glad AOC spoke out about the incident! She’s awesome.”

Henry Shamdas: “She’s getting my attention too with how she handles issues and the way she speaks. Smart lady!”

Molly Jiang: “She did the right thing! She is a strong woman!”

Jeff Mahl: “A class act”

Ralph Valdez: “Nope that con- gressman is racist! He’s gotta go.”

Hope Robinson: “She did the right thing. She nor any other rep- resentative should have to take that kind of bull. Men especially have gotten away with bullying female co-workers long enough. Another example of the trump effect.”

Mary Svetlik Watkins: “She is dangerous. However she is right. A man can be outspoken and act and he’s a leader. A woman – even one with crazy ideas like AOC, is labeled a b***h.”

Anita Repya: “ She is more quali- fied for her job than the lying con we have in the white house.”