by Green New Deal Gets Pink Plastic Makeover
In what can only be described as the most predictable culture war skirmish of the season, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has apparently inspired a “Climate Barbie” doll that has conservatives clutching their pearls harder than a Victorian grandmother at a burlesque show. The doll, which reportedly comes with a tiny Green New Deal briefcase and a miniature subway card, has triggered a tsunami of outrage from people who definitely weren’t going to buy it anyway.
The Climate Barbie, which hit toy store shelves last week, features AOC’s signature style: professional attire, bold lipstick, and what manufacturers describe as “an unwavering commitment to environmental justice, but in plastic form.” The irony of creating a plastic doll to promote environmental causes has not been lost on anyone, though the manufacturer insists the doll is made from “ethically sourced petroleum byproducts,” which is apparently a thing now.
Conservative commentators have condemned the doll as “liberal indoctrination” and “socialism in toy form,” with one Fox News pundit breathlessly declaring that the doll represents “everything wrong with America today.” When pressed on what specifically was wrong with a doll that encourages young people to care about climate science, the pundit reportedly short-circuited and had to be rebooted.
The doll comes complete with accessories including a solar panel playset, a compost bin that actually works (sort of), and a dream house made entirely of sustainable bamboo that costs more than most Americans’ actual houses. There’s also an optional Bernie Sanders action figure sold separately, though he mostly just stands in the corner muttering about millionaires and billionaires.
Mattel, the toy giant behind Barbie, has denied any official involvement with Climate Barbie, though sources indicate they’re quietly watching sales figures with great interest. “We’ve made Doctor Barbie, Astronaut Barbie, and President Barbie,” said one anonymous executive. “A congresswoman worried about the planet seems pretty tame by comparison.”
Social media has exploded with reactions ranging from enthusiastic support to apocalyptic prophecies about the downfall of civilization. One viral tweet proclaimed, “First they came for Dr. Seuss, now they’re coming for Barbie,” which doesn’t make sense chronologically or logically but received 50,000 retweets anyway.
Progressive activists have embraced the doll as a positive representation of young women in politics, though some have criticized the toy for not adequately addressing intersectional climate justice or including a detailed 50-page policy platform. “It’s a start,” said one disappointed activist, “but where’s the Green New Deal legislation in miniature form that children can actually read and understand?”
Meanwhile, AOC herself has responded to the controversy with characteristic social media savvy, posting a photo of herself next to the doll with the caption “Not sure which one is more plasticthis doll or GOP climate policy.” The tweet garnered millions of likes and approximately 10,000 angry responses from accounts with eagle avatars and American flags in their bios.
As the debate rages on, toy stores report that Climate Barbie is selling briskly, primarily to progressive parents who want to annoy their conservative relatives at Thanksgiving and collectors who recognize a future eBay goldmine when they see one. The doll’s success has already spawned knockoffs, including “MAGA Ken” and “Moderate Democrat Skipper Who Accomplishes Nothing,” though neither has achieved the same cultural impact.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/alexandria-ocasio-cortez%c2%92s-climate-barbie/
SOURCE: Bohiney.com (AOC’s Climate Barbie Causes Conservative Meltdown)
