Two of the biggest political celebrities not named Kamala Harris or Pete Buttigieg are feuding like a couple of mean girls.
Reps. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) have spent the last several days attacking each other's position on whether members of Congress should be first in line to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Ocasio-Cortez, 31, received the vaccine last week, before at-risk elderly Americans were eligible to get the shot. She live-streamed it to her 8.2 million followers on Instagram, thinking she was being a responsible celeb by showing people they have nothing to fear from getting vaccinated.
Omar, 38, thought otherwise. She declined to receive the vaccine, calling it "shameful" that Ocasio-Cortez and other members of Congress are getting early access due to their "importance." Politicians, she wrote on Twitter, "are not more important than frontline workers, teachers etc. who are making sacrifices everyday." Vaccines should go to the people "who need it most."
Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) agreed, arguing that "AOC or any young healthy person" should be among the last to receive the vaccine. Ocasio-Cortez seized on the opportunity to lash out at Republicans, rather than her fellow "Squad" member. The congresswoman defended her decision to get vaccinated by blaming the GOP for "undermining public faith in science."
For the time being, Omar's definition of being a responsible celeb appears to be the most popular. Republicans and Democrats have been speaking out in opposition to AOC's belief in her own importance. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D., Hawaii) announced she would "stand in solidarity with our seniors by not [getting vaccinated] until they can." Rep. Matt Gaetz (R., Fla.) concurred.
Ocasio-Cortez isn't wrong to suggest that some Americans might be skeptical about getting the COVID-19 vaccine. It might have something to do with the fact that prominent Democrats, including Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, strongly suggested that a vaccine developed under President Donald Trump should not be trusted.
Celebrity-feud enthusiasts are hoping the fireworks will continue as the new generation of House Democrats struggles to accept the fact that Nancy Pelosi is never going to retire, and there's nothing they can do about it.