Tuesday was the start of congressional orientation in Washington, D.C. Of course, that means that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and an unabashed wearer of clothes, was there. And according to USA Today, she took part in a “climate change protest” at House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s office.

That led to a lot of Democrats arguing (at least on Twitter) over whether that was a good move for Ocasio-Cortez on her very first day.

Journalist and publisher John Stoehr posted an interesting and important thread that ended up going viral explaining exactly why liberals should “stop believing what conservatives say liberals believe.”

1. Something happened at the Capitol Tuesday to reaffirm my long-held view that liberals should stop believing what conservatives say liberals believe. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

He started by explaining how liberals tended to “accept as true things liberalism’s enemies say about it and them.”

2. One of the biggest obstacles in the history of American liberalism has been this tendency among liberals to accept as true things liberalism’s enemies say about it and them. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

Then he gave an example. A sit-in was in progress outside Pelosi’s office when Ocasio-Cortez arrived for orientation.

3. Newly elected members of the US Congress arrived for orientation. @Ocasio2018 spoke at a sit-in featuring about 200 people outside Nancy Pelosi’s office. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

4. The “protest,” as it was called, was organized by an advocacy group aiming to raise awareness about climate change and to advocate for more green-energy jobs. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

He wrote a bit about Ocasio-Cortez’s involvement with the sit-in.

5. This was manna to Ocasio-Cortez, who made history as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress after unseating US Rep. Joe Crowley, the former No. 3 in the House Democratic leadership. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

6. The 29-year-old Latina has been stumping for liberal candidates across the country, making liberal arguments in unapologetically liberal ways. That she spoke with activists demanding action from leading liberals should have come as no surprise to anyone any time anywhere. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018



Even though Ocasio-Cortez herself explained that she was there because she wanted to work with Pelosi, a spokesperson for Paul Ryan sent an email to Capitol Hill reporters claiming that Pelosi was getting “protested” by Ocasio-Cortez.

7. But then came this bit of disinformation from the spokeswoman of Paul Ryan to Capitol Hill reporters, which set the tone for the entire day: “Huh, well this is unconventional,” AshLee Strong wrote in an email. “The incoming speaker is getting protested by one of her freshman.” — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

8. From this point onward, Ocasio-Cortez wasn’t doing what a young dynamic liberal legislator does. No, no, no! She was “protesting” Pelosi! — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

9. AshLee Strong paved the way for every Capitol Hill reporter to tell a story they had been wanting to tell even though the narrative” was based on a falsehood: that this unruly mob can’t be controlled. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

10. This “narrative” drew the ire of liberals who would have otherwise cheered Ocasio-Cortez. It rekindled the battle between the youngs and the olds, between “centrists” and “leftists,” and between “insurgents” and “the establishment.” — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

People obnoxiously accused AOC of “grandstanding.”

11. Worse, it inspired some liberals to trot out the old (often vaguely sexist) nomenclature: Ocasio-Cortez was grandstanding. She was showboating. She was this, that, and whatever. Too many liberals accepted as true what liberalism’s enemies said about it and them. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

But Stoehr writes that she was just doing what “young dynamic liberal legislators are supposed to do—bring new energy and ideas to the table.”

12. Thing is, when you actually listen to the women, a different picture comes to light. Not only was Ocasio-Cortez doing what young dynamic liberal legislators are supposed to do—bring new energy and new ideas to the table— — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

13. she was charting her own course while forging alliances with established powers. She created a bridge between an energized under-30 base & the party’s leadership. She’ll likely be an invaluable ally as Pelosi plots a way forward. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

14. Few can say they’ve accomplished more on their first day. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

Conservative news outlets took the idea of Ocasio-Cortez as some sort of troublemaker who was responsible for Democratic infighting and ran with it.

15. Bloomberg reported the incident was a challenge to “party unity.” The Times said earlier these renegades may be unwilling to “toe the party line.” Fox’s Laura Ingraham thrilled at the sight of Nancy Pelosi trying to wrangle newly elected “insurgents.” None of it was true. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

16. As is the case when women rise to power, people are eager to project onto them what they want to see, and are not listening to what they are actually saying. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

17. Reporters can be trusted to frame politics in conservative terms. That’s what happened. Right-wing media can be trusted to cement the view that the Democrats are “a mob” and risk “overplaying their hand.” That’s what happened. But liberals ought to know better. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

Stoehr included actual quotes of what AOC said.

18. Here is what Ocasio-Cortez said to activists: Should Leader Pelosi become the next Speaker of the House, we need to tell her that we’ve got her back in showing and pursuing the most progressive energy agenda that this country has ever seen. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

19. Later, to the news media: AOC: One of the things I admire so much about Leader Pelosi is that she comes from a space of activism and organizing. And so I think that she really appreciates civic engagement. What I’m here to do is to support the folks who are here. … — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

20. AOC: This is about uplifting the voice and the message of the fact that we need a Green New Deal and we need to get to 100 percent renewables because our lives depend on it. … ***We are here to back [Pelosi] up.*** — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

And Pelosi’s actual response to the activists, which was decidedly welcoming and supportive.

21. To which, Pelosi said: We are inspired by the energy and activism of the many young activists and advocates leading the way on the climate crisis … — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

22. Pelosi: We welcome the presence of these activists, and we strongly urge the Capitol Police to allow them to continue to organize and participate in our democracy. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

Turns out, it really wasn’t even a protest at all.

23. Um, yeah, no. This was not a protest, as Republican AshLee Strong said. It was activism. This was not disunity. It was unity. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

24. This isn’t the Tea Party. This isn’t a conservative party. It’s a liberal and democratic party. Reporters should cover it as such if only for the purpose of accurately representing reality. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

25. But liberals weren’t listening either. They should have been. Instead, they accepted as true what liberalism’s enemies said about it and them. — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

26. Hi! Thanks for reading this thread. Please share! And please consider signing up for the Editorial Board, a daily newsletter about national politics. THANKS! https://t.co/D2NbmxtL4U — (((John Stoehr))) (@johnastoehr) November 14, 2018

Stoehr feels strongly that liberals need to look at the source of the news instead of turning on each other. The right loves nothing more than when it looks like the left can’t get it together.