Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is going after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, saying his exploitation of workers funded his trip to space.
Ocasio-Cortez spoke with TMZ outside of the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday where she tore into Bezos for his “joyride.”
“If he didn’t drive down Amazon wages, if he didn’t bust the union, if he didn’t have drivers, frankly, having conditions where they feel like they have to pee in bottles — that is what financed [his trip],” Ocasio-Cortez said.
She added, “It’s the exploitation of workers that financed his little jaunt into space. Well, not even space. The edge of space. And for what? We did this 60 years ago with NASA with the public. All of this for a billionaire to have a joyride into space? I think people would rather have healthcare.”
Bezos said during a press conference post-flight, “I want to thank every Amazon employee and every Amazon customer, because you guys paid for all of this. Seriously, for every Amazon customer out there, and every Amazon employee, thank you from the bottom of my heart very much. It’s very appreciated.”
Watch her comments below:
Ocasio-Cortez argued Bezos does not understand “the way Amazon abuses its market power and its monopoly power.”
The reporter mentioned Bezos’ donation to CNN contributor Van Jones.
“If it comes to a nice donation or paying your taxes so we can have healthcare, I would prefer Jeff Bezos pay his taxes,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
She was not the only one to criticize Bezos for his brief time in space.
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-Hawaii) tweeted before his departure, “Bezos, please stay up there. Do the world a favor.”
She added, “The only problem I have with Bezos’ Blue Origin space rocket ship into outer space is that it’s going to come back.”
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) also torched Bezos.
Jeff Bezos forgot to thank all the hardworking Americans who actually paid taxes to keep this country running while he and Amazon paid nothing. https://t.co/tjOeCWbUA8
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) July 20, 2021
“Jeff Bezos forgot to thank all the hardworking Americans who actually paid taxes to keep this country running while he and Amazon paid nothing,” Warren wrote.