Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was in rejoiced over news that the oil market prices turning negative for the first time in history amid the coronavirus pandemic, writing “You absolutely love to see it” in a tweet that she quickly deleted on Monday.
In response to news about oil prices falling to “negative values,” a tweet from Brandon Smith read, “Oil prices now at ‘negative values,’ meaning oil producers have to pay people to take it off their hands and store it because when demand plunges (like now), that is less expensive for them than building more storage and/or shutting wells down.”
“You absolutely love to see it,” Ocasio-Cortez tweeted in response to her 6.7 million followers. “This along with record low interest rates means it’s the right time for a worker-led, mass investment in green infrastructure to save our planet. *cough.*”
The progressive freshman quickly deleted the tweet after it prompted criticism that she is celebrating the market turmoil and the possibility of further job losses as more than 22 million Americans are already out of work amid the coronavirus pandemic. Ocasio-Cortez replaced the deleted tweet with a series of tweets that made the same arguments without the sentence “You absolutely love to see it.”
“Now is the time to create millions of good jobs building out the infrastructure and clean energy necessary to save our planet for future generations,” she tweeted. “For our economy, our planet, and our future, we need a #GreenNewDeal.”
Now is the time to create millions of good jobs building out the infrastructure and clean energy necessary to save our planet for future generations.
For our economy, our planet, and our future, we need a #GreenNewDeal.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 20, 2020
In another tweet, Ocasio-Cortez argued it was a “snapshot” of a “turning point” for the climate change movement.
“This snapshot is being acknowledged as a turning point in the climate movement,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “Fossil fuels are in long-term structural decline. This along with low-interest rates means it‘s the right time to create millions of jobs transitioning to renewable and clean energy. A key opportunity.”
This snapshot is being acknowledged as a turning point in the climate movement.
Fossil fuels are in long-term structural decline. This along w/ low interest rates means it‘s the right time to create millions of jobs transitioning to renewable and clean energy. A key opportunity. https://t.co/UqT8DI5u2I
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 20, 2020
Fellow lawmakers criticized Ocasio-Cortez’s tweet and shared screenshots of the deleted tweet to remind her that a screenshot of her original message last forever.
“Oil & gas workers are losing their livelihoods. Rep. Ocasio-Cortez's response was "you absolutely love to see it" House Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) tweeted. “Then she deleted it because she doesn't want people to see the truth: Dems are willing to sacrifice people's jobs & livelihoods for their radical socialist agenda.”
Oil & gas workers are losing their livelihoods.
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez's response was "you absolutely love to see it."
Then she deleted it because she doesn't want people to see the truth: Dems are willing to sacrifice people's jobs & livelihoods for their radical socialist agenda. pic.twitter.com/0uMnlRVM6a
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) April 21, 2020
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) asked the progressive lawmaker in a tweet, “Which part of the millions of blue-collar workers losing their jobs & small refineries closing their doors forever is what you “love to see” (per your deleted tweet).”
Which part of the millions of blue-collar workers losing their jobs & small refineries closing their doors forever is what you “love to see” (per your deleted tweet) @AOC?
Asking for those in Texas & across USA whose livelihoods (ability to put food on the table) are AT RISK. pic.twitter.com/2NC8L5rUv4
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 21, 2020
Another Texas Lawmaker, Rep. Jodey Arrington also responded to Ocasio-Cortez, saying “West Texas & hard-working men & women in the oil patch power the bright lights of NYC... including the hospitals!”
I don’t “love to see” oil & gas workers & their rural communities suffering as a result of this devastating price collapse, @AOC.
Places like West Texas & hard-working men & women in the oil patch power the bright lights of NYC... including the hospitals! pic.twitter.com/ITEJ6RLk2s
— Rep. Arrington (@RepArrington) April 20, 2020
Oil prices plunged below zero on Monday for the first time in history as the coronavirus pandemic have caused the global economy to slam the brakes, and leaving no buyers to fill the supply chain of worldwide oil production. Key U.S. oil benchmark, West Texas Intermediate, which closed at $18.27 a barrel on Friday, ended Monday at negative $37.63, meaning traders are paying $37.63 for someone to accept a delivery of a barrel of oil.
The Dow Jones industrial average fell 592 points, or 2.4%, to 23,650. The S&P 500 index closed down 1.79% at 2,823, and Nasdaq dropped 1% to 8,560.
