MSNBC host says conservatives have a 'fixation' with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — and they're using a familiar script to attack her

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) found herself the subject of new criticism over the weekend when the New York Post ran an article questioning whether she truly lived in her district. She responded, noting that she had recently moved but was unwilling to share her address, given that a man who prosecutors have deemed a domestic terrorist reportedly had her name on a hit list along with a cache of guns.

On Monday, MSNBC's Ari Melber argued that the Post's criticism continues a line of conservative obsessions with the young congresswoman.

"Now, the fixation with a freshman's residential choices shows the conservative energy vilifying a new woman in power," he said. "Critics noting that conservatives seem to be testing out the same kind of personal insult strategies deployed against Hillary Clinton or Nancy Pelosi."

He then showed a clip mashing up several outrageous conservative broadsides against Ocasio Cortez.

However, the New York Times' Mara Gay had a somewhat different view. While she agrees that, by all accounts, Ocasio-Cortez does, in fact, live where she says, Gay argued that the question the Post was asking was completely legitimate. Ocasio-Cortez, after all, attacked her predecessor for not spending enough time in the district.

Watch the clips below:

"The fixation on a freshman's residential choices shows the conservative energy vilifying a new woman in power" @AriMelber on article about @AOC's Bronx apartment: pic.twitter.com/5AsW4nDr0Y

— TheBeat w/Ari Melber (@TheBeatWithAri) February 25, 2019

"This is a relevant question" and "it's one I believe she should respond to in kind and not just ignore press inquiries and then tweet at will"@MaraGay on Rep. Ocasio-Cortez pic.twitter.com/3pBAk389Bq

— TheBeat w/Ari Melber (@TheBeatWithAri) February 25, 2019