CBS
Alexandria Ocasio Cortez went on Stephen Colbert's show on Monday night.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez batted criticism from her fellow Democrat lawmakers in an appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."
- She went on the show Monday night to discuss the government shutdown, her way of doing things, and her response to critics on Twitter.
- Ocasio-Cortez made the statement after Colbert asked her: "On a scale from zero to some, how many f---s do you give?" about the criticism.
- She replied: "I think it's ... erm ... zero."
Freshman congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she gives "zero" f---s about criticism from fellow Democrats telling her to rein in her unorthodox policy proposals.
Ocasio Cortez appeared on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" on Monday night.
Here is the exchange:
Colbert: Now, Congresswoman, for you and some other freshmen members of congress... you're getting pushback both privately and publicly from more established members of your own party saying "wait your turn," "go slow," "don't ask for so much so far right now you're new" ... "wait your turn for everything and don't make waves."
I want to ask this question in a respectful manner, knowing also that you're from Queens, so you will understand this question. On a scale from zero to some, how many f--ks do you give?
Ocasio-Cortez: I think it's ... erm ... zero.
Colbert: That's what I thought.
More and more reports have emerged in recent days that some Democrats are annoyed by Ocasio-Cortez and her political style, which has earned her acres of media coverage. It has also seen her criticise parts of her own party.
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Missouri Democrat, told Politico: "I'm sure Ms. Cortez means well, but there's almost an outstanding rule: Don't attack your own people."
Some Democrats are also said to be frustrated that Ocasio-Cortez (the representative for New York's 14th district) asked for positions on powerful committees, including the Ways and Means Committee.
She was ultimately not chosen for that by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, but did secure a different position on the House Financial Services Committee.
CBS
Ocasio-Cortez and Colbert chatted about the government shutdown over some ice cream on Monday night.
"It totally pissed off everyone," an unidentified senior House Democrat told Politico. "You don't get picked for committees by who your grassroots [supporters] are."
On Friday, Hollywood writer Aaron Sorkin (who wrote "The West Wing" and "The Social Network") went on CNN to urge freshman Democrats to stop "acting like young people." Ocasio-Cortez hit back two days later.
Hollis Johnson/Business Insider
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the youngest person ever elected to Congress at 29. Ocasio-Cortez, photographed for an interview with Business Insider, on January 4, 2018.
Ocasio-Cortez also expanded on what she thinks about her job and how she acts on Colbert's show on Monday.
She said: "Rule number one is to be authentic, to be yourself and don't try to be anyone that you're not."
"Don't try to talk like a young kid if you're not a young kid. Don't post a meme if you don't know what a meme is, that was literally my advice, and I said don't talk like the Founding Fathers on Twitter," she added.
Ocasio-Cortez is well known for confronting her critics on her Twitter page.
She joked with Colbert that she will debate people "if you have a blue check, if you're in my mentions, if you're being sassy in a way that I think is unjustified, and if I haven't eaten in two to three hours."