Meghan McCain Grills AOC on Socialism: “It is Like the Apocalypse”

There’s “far apart on the political spectrum,” and then there’s Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Meghan McCain. On Wednesday morning, those opposing political views came to a head during Ocasio-Cortez’s appearance on The View, where she sparred with McCain on everything from the 2020 Democratic primary to Bernie Bros. While the two remained relatively civil for the entire interview, there were a few moments of tension when McCain grilled Ocasio-Cortez on socialism and progressive policies. “To conservatives like me, it is like the apocalypse,” said McCain. “It’s a huge ask for people like me, this seismic shift from capitalism to socialism.”

While McCain stayed quiet during the first segment, she picked things up after the commercial break. Referencing Ocasio-Cortez’s earlier remark that Fox News acted like her midterm election win was “the apocalypse,” McCain insisted that she really does feel that way about a potential Bernie Sanders presidency. “What you’re proposing and what Bernie Sanders is proposing, to conservatives like me, it is like the apocalypse,” she said, adding that Sanders is asking voters to buy into “radical ideas” that would create a “complete paradigm shift” in the country. McCain went on to ask how Sanders plans to pay for programs like Medicare for All and free college tuition, but Ocasio-Cortez was ready with a comeback.

“It’s funny because progressive policies are aways talked about in 10-year price tags. Conservative policies are always talked about in one-year price tags,” said the congresswoman, earning a round of applause. She added that “we don’t ask” how Trump pays for his military increases, yet are obsessed with knowing how progressive policies will be funded. When pressed on the latter, Ocasio-Cortez offered a concise explanation. “Tuition free public colleges. That can be paid by a simple Wall Street transaction tax,” she said. “Medicare for All, what you do is you take your premium and some of your healthcare costs that you give to a Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Aetna, whomever, and you lower that number … and it transitions over to a payroll tax.”

After some more back and forth, McCain decided that the discussion was futile. “I don’t think we’re going to find a middle ground on this, so do you mind if we move on to the next subject?” asked the conservative co-host. McCain then brought up Sanders’ online Bernie bros, who she said have sent her “by far the most violent, misogynistic” criticism she has ever received. “He has a real problem,” she said of the Senator. “I don’t think he’s done enough to tamper it down.”

Ocasio-Cortez assured McCain that she’s also received her fair share of online criticism, but insisted that “we have to always reject hate, vitriol, and denounce that kind of behavior.” However, she admitted that that proves difficult when people can create a new account and stay “anonymous” online.

“Do you think [Sanders] has done enough to try and stop it?” asked McCain. “He works very hard,” replied Ocasio-Cotez, adding that the Sanders campaign sends out “messaging emails” about online behavior. “He’s got to do more,” replied Whoopi Goldberg. “He’s got to stand up and say it every day if he has to and say, ‘Stop it.'”

Watch portions of AOC’s View interview in the clips above.

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