As millions of people are left unemployed and the value of some of America's most important commodities comes crashing to historic lows, Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez celebrated the news on Twitter in a now deleted Tweet.
This is the same woman who claims to be an economics major & a defender of the working class.
The resulting social media flare-up highlighted the unprecedented stakes of the current economic crisis heading into the 2020 presidential election, and underscored Republican complaints that their rivals were looking for ways to use the moment for political gain.
"You absolutely love to see it," Ocasio-Cortez, a self-described "democratic socialist," wrote on Twitter. She was responding to a post which stated: "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."
"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*," Ocasio-Cortez continued.
When Bernie Sanders' communications director Mike Casca responded "like some kind of new deal?", Ocasio-Cortez cheerfully replied, "Great idea!"
Ocasio-Cortez has pushed to radically restructure the U.S. economy with what progressives call a "Green New Deal," which could cost as much as $93 trillion, according to a study co-authored by the former director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Ocasio-Cortez's former chief of staff has admitted the Green New Deal was intended to remake the economy, not avert climate change.
Democratic Congresswoman from New York Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer listens during a press conference in the Corona neighbourhood of Queens on April 14, 2020 in New York City. - Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez hold a press conference amid the coronavirus pandemic to call on the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to begin approving disaster funds to help families in lower-income communities and communities of color pay for funeral costs. (Photo by Johannes EISELE / AFP) (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)