posted 08-09-2018 05:07 PM                  

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro challenged democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to a debate, and is willing to donate $10,000 to her campaign if she accepts.

Shapiro tweeted a video on Wednesday in which he mocked Democratic National Committee chairperson Tom Perez for calling Ocasio-Cortez, a New York congressional candidate, the “future of the Democratic Party,” before issuing his challenge.

“Miss Ocasio-Cortez, I’m really excited that you’ve been elevated to that position and I would love to have a real conversation with you about the issues. You’ve noted that you think Republicans are afraid to debate you or talk to you or discuss the issues with you,” Shapiro said.

“Not only am I eager to discuss the issues with you, I’m willing to offer $10,000 to your campaign, today, for you to come on our Sunday special,” he continued. “We can have an hour long conversation about all the topics under the sun, really probe your belief system.”

Shapiro said he would also debate Ocasio-Cortez for charity.

“However you want to do it, I am more than willing to talk to you,” Shapiro said. “Let’s make this happen.”

Shapiro, Daily Wire editor-in-chief, said that he wants to make “America a more civil and interesting place,” and feels a conversation with Ocasio-Cortez could do just that.

Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign spokesperson did not immediately respond when asked if Shapiro’s challenge would be accepted.

Ocasio-Cortez’s unanticipated victory over veteran Rep. Joe Crowley in the Democratic primary over Crowley's New York seat put her in a national spotlight earlier this year.

Ocasio-Cortez lit up social media on Wednesday night when she appeared on CNN’s “Cuomo Prime Time” and stumbled when discussing Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the House minority leader.

“This is painful. It’s Miss South Carolina on maps bad,” Shapiro tweeted in response to her interview.

Donald Trump Jr. captioned video of her interview with, “OMG this is insane and yet the liberal campaign to make her the rockstar face of the left will continue ... let’s face it, I guess they don’t have much else.”

Ocasio-Cortez’s talk with Cuomo isn’t her first media appearance to whip up criticism since her upset victory over Crowley. She has struggled to explain how many of her platforms -- such as Medicare for all and a federal jobs guarantee -- would be funded.

Still, she has emerged as a liberal darling since bursting onto the scene – though not everyone is a fan.

Comedian Lewis Black, who also considers himself a socialist, told The Daily Beast in a recent interview that Ocasio-Cortez isn't the answer.

posted 08-11-2018 05:47 PM                  

As seen on Fox & Friends
by Fox News Insider
Posted in:

// Joe Crowley // Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez // Debate // Ben Shapiro // Trending

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez recently rejected Ben Shapiro's Twitter request for a debate and dismissed the challenge as "catcalling," but tweets from several months ago show the Democratic Socialist congressional candidate using a similar strategy against her primary opponent.

Shapiro tweeted a video on Wednesday offering to donate $10,000 to Ocasio-Cortez's campaign if she comes on his program for an hour-long conversation "about all the topics under the sun."

Thursday night, Ocasio-Cortez compared the offer to "catcalling" on Twitter.

"Just like catcalling, I don’t owe a response to unsolicited requests from men with bad intentions," she wrote. "And also like catcalling, for some reason they feel entitled to one."

A tweet from May, however, shows Ocasio-Cortez taking matters into her own hands to get her primary opponent,

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incumbent Rep. Joe Crowley, agree to a debate with her.

"My opponent seems to be avoiding a debate, and isn’t acknowledging me. It’s just the 2 of us. So weekend I stopped by his office, said hello, & asked for a debate in person," Ocasio-Cortez wrote alongside a photo of her at Crowley's campaign office.

Ocasio-Cortez went after Crowley again a month later, saying she was "disappointed" when he failed to show up to a community debate.

Erielle Davidson, a contributor to The Federalist, said Ocasio-Cortez was willing to engage in dialogue in May, but several months later she has changed her tune.

"I think what it comes down to is she's probably just scared that Ben Shapiro might be able to out-debate her," Davidson said. "She doesn't want to be in a situation where she's going to be challenged."
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/08/11/alexandria-ocasio- cortez-accused-joe-crowley-avoiding-debate-rejects-ben-shapiro