Aaron Sorkin Blasted for Mansplaining Politics to Congressional Freshmen
by EG
Aaron Sorkin's TV shows (The West Wing, The Newsroom) often feature middle-aged white male characters explaining things, in a very verbose manner, to flightly female characters. That's the dynamic that seemed to be on display in a recent interview, in which Sorkin criticized the work of a "new crop" of Congressional Representatives, many of them women, who are determined to do politics differently. Not surprisingly, Sorkin's remarks didn't sit well in many quarters. Read on for details.
Via Deadline.
Aaron Sorkin finds a lot to like in the 2020 field of Democratic presidential hopefuls, but there’s one aspect of the party he is less upbeat about: newly elected members of Congress.
“I really like the new crop of young people,” he told Fareed Zakaria in an interview that aired on CNN today and was excerpted on Twitter by progressive activist Jordan Uhl. “They now need to stop acting like young people. It’s time to do that.” The Democrats, Sorkin went on, have “a great opportunity to be the non-stupid party.”
Digging himself deeper, he elaborated, “It’s not just about transgender bathrooms. That’s a Republican talking point they’re trying to distract you with.”
News Flash: Medicare for All & equal rights aren’t trends.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 20, 2019
When people complain about low turnout in some demos, it’s not because communities are apathetic, it’s bc they don’t see you fighting for them.
If we don’t show up for people, why should you feel entitled to their vote? https://t.co/oGRsG9NZV3
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York — part of the “new crop” Sorkin referred to — responded to the interview in a tweet. “News Flash: Medicare for All & equal rights aren’t trends,” she wrote. “When people complain about low turnout in some demos, it’s not because communities are apathetic, it’s bc they don’t see you fighting for them. If we don’t show up for people, why should you feel entitled to their vote?”
Aaron Sorkin is a television writer, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a sitting congresswoman, and Piers Morgan is a failed Dancing With the Stars contestant. Decide for yourself who knows what about politics. https://t.co/3MZs2iqMP8
— Evan DeSimone (@Smorgasboredom) January 20, 2019
Sorkin, who recently wrote the Broadway adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird, also created political drama The West Wing, as more than a few folks on Twitter pointed out. David Hogg, the graduate of Parkland High School who became a nationally known activist after the shooting at the school, dismissed Sorkin in a tweet: “Stop acting like the world can’t change.”
Get the rest of the story at Deadline.
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