AOC calls out JD Vance over 'pro-family' remarks: 'He just wants an excuse to surveil & subjugate women'

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) responded Monday to Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) following his defense of past remarks criticizing Democrats for being "antifamily."

Vance, the GOP vice presidential candidate, reiterated his stance during appearances on three Sunday morning political shows, proposing to expand the child tax credit and barring surprise medical bills as part of his pro-family platform. On CNN, he acknowledged that not everyone is able to start a family due to various reasons, but emphasized his desire for more family-oriented policies:

"I'm pro-family. I want us to have more families. And obviously sometimes it doesn't work out, sometimes for medical reasons, sometimes because you don't meet the right person. But the point is that our country has become anti-family in its public policy."

In response, Ocasio-Cortez, who has been busy of late slamming GOP members on social media, took to X to question Vance's commitment to pro-family policies by highlighting a series of initiatives backed by Democrats and questioning whether he would support them. Policies included raising the minimum wage, offering paid parental leave, and expanding access to healthcare.

Ocasio-Cortez then accused Vance of using family rhetoric as a pretext to impose restrictions on women, writing on social media, "Oh right, he doesn't. He just wants an excuse to surveil & subjugate women":

Democratic attacks on Vance over family policy reached a boiling point last week when he voted against an expansion of the child tax credit. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) seized on the controversy surrounding Vance's remarks by bringing up the measure for a vote, despite slim odds that it would pass, The Hill reported:

"Senate Republicans love to talk about how they are the party of family and business. So it's very odd to see them come out so aggressively against expanding the child tax credit and rewarding business with the [research and development] tax credit."

The exchange between AOC and Vane is part of an ongoing clash that's bound to go on as the elections get closer. On July 22 she compared to VP candidate to former GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush after Vance, while delving into partisan culture wars, said that "Democrats believe it's racist to do anything."

"Vance's stump has got a nice Jeb Bush quality to it" said AOC on X.

Vance was also in the news on Sunday after suggesting that his mass deportation plan should "start with 1 million" immigrants:

"I think it's interesting that people focus on, well, how do you deport 18 million people? Let's start with 1 million. That's where Kamala Harris failed. And then we can go from there,"