On Thursday, far-left Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), speaking literally about a common expression on hard work, said it was “physically impossible” for people to pull themselves up by their own “bootstraps” or “shoelaces.”

“This idea of a bootstrap,” started AOC. “You know this idea, this metaphor of a bootstrap started off as a joke.”

“Because, it’s a physical impossibility to lift yourself up by a bootstrap, by your shoelaces,” she continued. “It’s physically impossible!”

Ocasio-Cortez, a former bartender who is now a congresswoman, added: “The whole thing is a joke.”

WATCH:

.@AOC on America’s rags-to-riches ideal: “It’s a physical impossibility to lift yourself up by a bootstrap, by your shoelaces? It’s physically impossible. The whole thing is a joke.” pic.twitter.com/9WNf8UE06T — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) February 6, 2020

Ocasio-Cortez was seemingly referencing a piece from the HuffPost: “Why The Phrase ‘Pull Yourself Up By Your Bootstraps’ Is Nonsense.”

Here’s a bit from the post:

“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” It’s a common phrase in American political discourse, particularly present in conservative rhetoric about self-reliance.

The concept is simple: To pull yourself up by your bootstraps means to succeed or elevate yourself without any outside help. But when you examine this expression and its current meaning, it doesn’t seem to make much sense.

To pull yourself up by your bootstraps is actually physically impossible. In fact, the original meaning of the phrase was more along the lines of “to try to do something completely absurd.” AOC was roundly mocked for the comments, not just for the bizarre literal take, but for the anti-American sentiment, which is disproven every day in America.

“Long gone are the days when, say, a lower-middle class, outer-borough bartender could ascend to the commanding heights of America’s ruling elite,” The Daily Beast’s Lachlan Markay said, clearly speaking of Ocasio-Cortez herself.

Long gone are the days when, say, a lower-middle class, outer-borough bartender could ascend to the commanding heights of America's ruling elite https://t.co/NCA8R28XkR — Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) February 6, 2020

“In other news, cats don’t actually have people’s tongues, nor do pots have the ability to call kettles black,” joked Daily Wire Editor-in-Chief Ben Shapiro.

In other news, cats don't actually have people's tongues, nor do pots have the ability to call kettles black https://t.co/XN6pA1OsNV — Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 6, 2020

Blaze TV’s Lauren Chen posted:

“Not sure what’s funnier: >AOC taking metaphors literally >AOC, a former bartender who is now a congressman, dismissing the idea of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps.”

Not sure what's funnier: >AOC taking metaphors literally >AOC, a former bartender who is now a congressman, dismissing the idea of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps https://t.co/VuMYnlEmtR — Lauren Chen (@TheLaurenChen) February 6, 2020

Ocasio-Cortez also made headlines on Tuesday, when she announced that she would boycott President Donald Trump’s annual State of the Union Address.

The Democrat wasn’t alone, of course. According to reports from The Hill and Axios, the following Democrats boycotted the speech, too (and four more Democrats walked out mid-speech):

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) Rep. Al Green (D-TX) Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL) Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)

“After much deliberation, I have decided that I will not use my presence at a state ceremony to normalize Trump’s lawless conduct & subversion of the Constitution,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a Twitter thread on Tuesday. “None of this is normal, and I will not legitimize it. Consequently, I will not be attending the State of the Union.”

“This is a deeply personal decision for each member to make, and a choice I did not take lightly. I will be hopping on Instagram Live later this evening to connect with my constituents and follow up with their questions about #SOTU,” AOC added.

Instead of attending the speech, the congresswoman spoke to viewers via Instagram. While responding to questions, Ocasio-Cortez mocked conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, who announced earlier this week that he was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.

Limbaugh, who was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the SOTU, is a “virulent racist,” AOC claimed, The Daily Wire reported Wednesday. Furthermore, the Democrat said Limbaugh’s reaction to the award was “disingenuous,” calling the cancer-stricken host a “joke” who “needed an “Oprah moment.”

Here’s the transcript: