Conservative pundit trolls AOC by seeking $50k for her grandma, raises DOUBLE the sum, stops when money is ‘rejected’
Conservatives ridiculed Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for using the dilapidated condition of her grandma’s Puerto Rico house to score points against Donald Trump. One pundit, however, set about raising some money for poor old abuela.
“Just over a week ago, my abuela fell ill. I went to Puerto Rico to see her – my 1st time in a year+ [because] of COVID,” Representative Ocasio-Cortez said in a tweet on Wednesday, referring to her grandmother. The post also included two photos of her grandma’s house, in which drooping ceiling panels were visible, apparently damaged by water.
Also on rt.com ‘Go help her’: AOC accused of virtue signaling after she uses photo of grandma’s dilapidated home in Puerto Rico to attack TrumpThough AOC used the post to attack former president Donald Trump for allegedly blocking hurricane relief funds to the Caribbean island, conservatives were quick to point out that Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017 – and to attack the Democrat for not helping her grandmother fix up her house herself.
Matt Walsh, a conservative pundit, took things one step further on Friday, and launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise some much-needed cash for abuela’s home.
As you’ve heard, @AOC’s abuela is living in a dilapidated home that was ravaged by Hurricane Maria. AOC is unable to help her own grandma for whatever reason, so I have set up this Go Fund Me campaign to save her home. Please give if you can. #HelpAbuelahttps://t.co/F1N0Jxgnxg
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) June 4, 2021
The funding drive angered Democrats, who accused Walsh of being “sick in the mind” and of running a “fraudulent” campaign. They called him a “racist” too for good measure.
You truly are sick in the mind.
— SPV (@MatrixTMN) June 4, 2021
Please report Matt Walsh's fraudulent GoFundMe campaign here:https://t.co/ADGr4m4iXVYou can also find the Report link on this page:https://t.co/qpmir89UTrHe has no means to get money to AOC's grandmother. This is fraudulent fundraising activity and Matt Walsh is a fascist.
— MountainRambler (@RamblerMountain) June 4, 2021
It also enraged some conservatives, who suggested that Walsh’s time would be better spent fundraising for the Trump supporters still locked in solitary confinement after the January riot on Capitol Hill, and others who mocked him for handing money to his political “enemies.”
If you are gonna rise money, rise it for people in solitary confinements without a trial for Jan 6, not this troll event!
— Darshan (@NormalcyIsBad) June 4, 2021
That you're raising money for a family that hates the American people and not for capitol protesters who have been unjustly jailed, some in solitary confinement, with no trial date set, for six months. You're a cynical opportunist.
— Schmood Elite (@SchmoodElite) June 4, 2021
Owning your enemies by giving them money pic.twitter.com/NyrAxm5w8l
— Bryan Paris 📈🛡️☀️ (@bparispoker) June 4, 2021
Imagine giving someone $500 of your own money and thinking you came out on top 🤣🤣🤣 #DumbestMicdropEVER
— therealgreg (@windmillchemo) June 4, 2021
Still, plenty of Walsh’s fellow conservatives cheered the apparent “trolling,” and opened their wallets. By 5pm Eastern Time, the crowdfunding campaign had raised just under $60,000, smashing the target amount of $48,990.
However, on Saturday, after raising $104,153, the campaign was shut down by Walsh. Citing an email from the crowdfunding platform, he said “someone” in the family told GoFundMe that AOC’s grandma would not accept the money, suggesting that it was a response from the lawmaker herself.
“Abuela could have accepted the money and donated it to charity, but it seems AOC preferred to insult the 5,800 people who donated,” Walsh wrote.
The donations are now expected to be refunded in full.
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