Date: 2024-09-27 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00016241
Texas GOP congressman mercilessly ridiculed on Twitter for attacking Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with ’embarrassing’ NFL analogy
Peter Burgess
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has proposed a 70% marginal tax rate on the richest Americans, and one of her fellow House members who is totally opposed to that idea is Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw. On February 3, the Texas Republican hoped to discredit Ocasio-Cortez’ proposal by using a football analogy—which Twitter users were quick to denounce as horribly flawed.
Crenshaw tweeted, “Should someone propose a 70% tax on the Patriots so that NFL competition is more fair and equal? Asking for a friend.”
The congressman was referring to the football team New England Patriots, and Ocasio-Cortez responded with a tweet that mentioned Colin Kaepernick—the quarterback that National Football League (NFL) owners are refusing to sign because of his anti-racism protests. Ocasio-Cortez posted, “The average NFL salary is $2.1 million, so most players would never experience a 70% rate. The owners who refuse to hire Kaepernick would, though.”
Other tweets were equally critical of Crenshaw’s football analogy. Philadelphia-based attorney Adam C. Bonin tweeted, “The NFL has revenue sharing, a salary cap (and team spending floors), and a player entry draft designed to reward the weakest teams. That’s socialism, not capitalism.”
Similarly, Kace Phillips (a musician based in Dallas) tweeted, “The NFL is about as socialist as it gets. Revenue sharing, free agency, salary cap. And every year about 6 teams that didn’t make the playoffs the year before make it.”
Twitter user Adam G. compared Crenshaw to another Texas politician: Sen. Ted Cruz—and not in a favorable way. Adam G. posted, “I see @SenTedCruz has competition for most embarrassing and uninformed elected official from Texas.”
Author Kevin M. Kruse was especially snarky, tweeting, “I’ve seen politicians make it clear they don’t understand sports, and I’ve seen ones make it clear they don’t understand taxes, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen someone do both at once. Congrats!”