The "Outnumbered" panel weighed in Monday on New York City Democratic socialist candidate Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez excluding the press from two town hall events.
Ocasio-Cortez reportedly barred reporters from attending an event - which was open to the public - in Queens last week.
The press was also reportedly turned away from a prior event. Kennedy noted that several of Ocasio-Cortez's recent press events haven't gone well, and that it seems she's coming up with excuses to not appear before reporters.
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Fox Business Network anchor Charles Payne said that the progressive candidate has "stepped in it so many times" and that she cannot get her act together.
"She can't articulate her own message," he said. "She's powerful, she's dynamic, but the idea that she's trying to put forth ... she hasn't been able to accomplish that."
Ocasio-Cortez defended the move on Twitter, writing that one of the events was designed to protect "vulnerable populations" like immigrants and domestic abuse victims to public discourse.
Additionally, with this town hall non-story: it was designed to protect + invite vulnerable populations to PUBLIC discourse: immigrants, victims of domestic abuse, and so on.
We indicated previously that the event would be closed to press. Future ones are open.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 17, 2018
She followed that up by saying that during the "very successful" event, people were more comfortable sharing their issues without the press listening.
To be honest, the event was very successful.
People were much more comfortable sharing their personal issues with healthcare, housing, and immigration. It was a safe + powerful environment for change.
My apologies if the situation upset or alarmed journalists or constituents.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) August 19, 2018
Melissa Francis said that Ocasio-Cortez is just throwing out a "tawdry" excuse by claiming that she's trying to protect abuse victims.
"It's so cheap," she said. "She's taking a page out of Hillary's book," referring to the then-presidential candidate's reluctance to take questions at times during the 2016 campaign.
Looks like the @HillaryClinton no questions from the media streak will continue. But she did eat chocolate. pic.twitter.com/Rr89bHe3kp
— Seth A. Richardson (@SethARichardson) August 25, 2016
Ocasio-Cortez, who shocked the political world in June by upsetting longtime Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) in a primary, drew criticism from many reporters Friday over the decision.
You cannot ban members of the press from events that are otherwise open to the public.
That is not how it works.
Period. https://t.co/sqe9HWTEEb
— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) August 17, 2018
Calling a legitimate story (reporting on a campaign's barring of press at an otherwise public event because the campaign felt it would be a distraction) a "non-story" is not a good look. https://t.co/VhYfr7y5BC https://t.co/GKS33R2Anh
— Ali Rogin (@AliABCNews) August 17, 2018
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