Beltway Intrigue and Mendo Street Art Collide: When AOC Wore the Velvet Bandit’s ‘Tax the Rich’ Slogan, Did She Commit an Ethics Violation?
Democratic party firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez made headlines in September 2021 when she attended the Met Gala, a party for America’s political, intellectual, and entertainment glitterati, wearing a gown embroidered with the now infamous slogan “Tax the Rich”.
The slogan struck a chord here in Mendocino County because the font was clearly a nod to the recognizable creation of the Velvet Bandit, a street artist that hails from Willits and has spread her unique brand of quirky, punny pop art throughout the North Coast.
Tax the Rich image that the Velvet Bandit believes inspired AOC’s dress. [From the Velvet Bandit’s shop]
View this post on Instagram
The House of Representatives prohibits lawmakers from accepting gifts valued greater than $50 and investigators assert AOC’s dress, handbag, shoes, jewelry, and make-up/hair services were given to her for free totaling thousands of dollars in goods and services. Her partner, Riley Roberts, even received a bow tie and shoes for the event.
The recent ethics report published by the Office of Congressional Ethics found that AOC did pay the rental value of the attire, but only after the ethics office began their investigation.
We reached out to the Velvet Bandit herself to see her reaction to the allegations AOC faces. She told us, “Honestly, I’m pretty bummed to hear that AOC didn’t pay her people (hairdressers and whatnot) for her appearance when she went to the Met Gala. It sounds pretty shady.”
Velvet recognized that “people make mistakes” but “coupled with the fact that the designer also borrowed my font for her dress I’m feeling a bit disheartened about the whole thing.” After seeing images of AOC’s dress recirculating online, Velvet said, “It stings to see images of that dress in the news again and again not get any credit for it.“
Despite the controversy, Velvet still has hope for AOC’s role in America’s political process: “I do hope she continues to be a voice for low and middle-class Americans, and I still believe that we need to tax the rich- and churches while we’re at it.”
Earlier:
- The Velvet Bandit: Mendocino County’s Very Own Street Artist
- Mendocino County’s Very Own Street Artist the Velvet Bandit Strikes Willits Charter School with Vivid Golden Poppies
- The Velvet Bandit Is Back at It with New Art in Willits and Hopland
- The Velvet Bandit Returns to Her Hometown of Willits to Sprinkle Joy and Make Political Points
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
The house of “representatives ” and senate are the biggest group of liars and criminals in the country. They make the laws that enrich themselves much to the detriment of the people they allegedly “represent ” To use the word ethics in regard to these criminals is an oxymoron of the highest order…..”off with their heads” ….we will all be better off…..These clowns make the mafia look like amateurs.
It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress. Mark Twain
Also by Mr. Twain…” If voting made any difference they wouldn’t let us do it”….
Yes, Jan6 re-dux, the new-tourists will make the old look, we’ll, like clowns.
I bet the Q Anon Shaman smokes fat nugs. In another life you guys would be bros.
I feel for him. All dressed up, parading around, seeking attention, like a drag show them halls of Congress.
The good ole boys club you know like boss hogg
She accepted the gift of a $35,000 ticket against the advice of her lawyer…
she made a party foul on that dress and deserves a booster shot of social justice injections… the bankers she works for are pissed.
Tax the rich? You’re at a $30,000/seat gala and you don’t see the hypocrisy? Bitch, you ARE the rich!
Of course AOC did nothing wrong. Otherwise she would have been removed from office. Even the Velvet Bandit says she hopes she can continue to represent us. Plus, she wasn’t elected by us. She represents New York.
Why are New Yorkers leaving?
You want to remove people from office for doing “something ” wrong there will be no politicians left…..oh wait, that would be great. All politicians in jail where they belong….for life.
Thanks for all the down votes. I’m not saying this is a Democrat or Republican problem. I’m saying we have a serious problem with the credibility some of our politicians. Yet some are great people. We need more of them.
Why not instead of an up or down vote, why don’t you say what you really believe.
Kym doesn’t let me.
On my birthday, which is in three days, there is again going to be a general amnesty to commenters. But not the ones that recently offended. Might want to be careful, we all know you are mistreated by me and never given any chances.
I can pull up the insults you’ve left up against me EVEN with me telling you that “I’m insulted” regarding my hands.
You managed to pull a justification out of your ass for it.
Then you tell me and Gray Fox you edit us differently because you “expect better” out of us than say everyone else.
Insults are part of free speech. Nobody will agree or like everybody else. Threats are illegal. If there must be a line i guess that where it shd be? If an insult hurts it may he true. If not dont wear it. If its true change that and it wont hurt anymore
You have a birthday in three days? I have one in two days. I was born in 1958, y’know, back when rocks were soft, back when people were germs.
Happy early birthday! I’m still a whippersnapper compared to you–I’m a whole two years younger.
You can have a voice just be sure it agrees with liberal wokism and supports every type of perversion you are told is normal now.
After all what makes america great is you doing as you are told
Who wore it better…..AOC or Chick-fil-A ?
Velvet said, “It stings to see images of that dress in the news again and again not get any credit for it.“
What is she talking about, that slogan was commonly used in the sixties. Is she really trying to paint herself as the originator of that slogan or have I read something into the story that isn’t there? How old is this woman?
It’s her ‘font’ as she calls it that was imitated, the semi-spray paint style of the writing.
a honest critique always targets one’s own community first.
‘tax the growers’
They did and look what happened..
Consumers got cleaner cheaper weed.
Greedy growers are still bitter but forget that prices were dropping for 20 years pre taxing.
Unfortunately consumers still haven’t gotten cheaper weed for the most part.
But otherwise, yeah legalization has generally been a win for consumers
haha they did and they killed the industry in no time flat
It was dead already.
A even better slogan with a more inclusive bent would be
‘make life affordable’..
because isn’t that the problem?
That would come from raising taxes on the wealthiest.
Free healthcare, tuition-free college and trade school, improoved public transportation, better pay for educators and other public servants, more construction jobs improving infrastructure…
Very few things are free and if they are free they are either temporary or aren’t worth anything .
“Free” lol
“Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose”
kris kristofferson
Freedom wasn’t free either.
Current U.S. debt…..31 trillion….and counting.
where do you think the money from all this free stuff comes from…?
Taxes. Preferably more from the rich than the working class.
And that is already what we do.
The top 1% pay over 40% of all federal taxes.
The bottom 50% pay less than 3% of all the taxes.
How much more lopsided do you want things to get?
Sure, there are always some loopholes that should be closed and our grossly convoluted tax code could use a reform, but let’s not pretend the rich don’t pay taxes.
Thetop 1% also pay a smaller percentage of their income on taxes than the middle class. Not only can they afford to pay more, they ought to pay more since most of their income comes from the hard work of the middle class and the working poor. I won’t shed too many tears if someone is paying 50% on any earnings above a million dollars.
No, the top 1% pay a much higher percentage of their income than the middle class. 26% of income for the top 1% where as the middle class pays around 13%.
Once the 1% take deductions and tax breaks they pay a less percentage than any other group.
The blue circle should be the biggest circle. As long as the blue circle remains smaller than the green colored circles we will never balance the federal government’s deficit. Now, the tan circle could grow more as well. I suggest legalizing weed on the federal level with a 15% tax and levying a federal tax on gambling especially online near +20%. Also if your regulated by the ATF no deductions, no tax breaks.
Yep, expand that blue circle. Prez seems to be pitching expansion but in red-hat congress (= no go). Another option, collect nickel for every social-media post, a buck if more than five a day, sky-rocket to $100 per if more than ten. Added benefit: reduction in national inflammation.
“Once the 1% take deductions and tax breaks they pay a less percentage than any other group.”
Laughably incorrect! Nearly half of Americans pay no federal tax at all. You think the 1% pay less than that? The graph shown is what they actually paid in taxes, AFTER all deductions and tax breaks.
As far as raising corporate taxes, the corporations either move or pass the increased cost on to the consumers. How about we focus on reducing SPENDING… there is a thought!
You reduce spending once you can cover your expenses. The obvious elephant is corporate taxes. 80% of federal collection is from We The People. No doubt corporate America needs to pay their share and 433 billion is bullshit. We The People pay the fed 4 trillion the rest should come from companies that claim our democratic nation theirs.
We’re always just 1 tax raise away from utopia, aren’t we?
The US government takes in more income than at any point in history and is STILL simutasneously growing the debt faster than at any time in history and your genius solution is to give them more money cuz that’ll solve the problem? Brilliant.
Let me guess, you are clueless as to the correlation between $5 gas, sky high groceries and government deficit spending? Inflation aint goin away, you are going to get very much poorer in the coming years. You can thank yourself and the idiotic ideas of government dependence that you endlessly espouse. Enjoy!
amen!
Amazing is it not? Cause and effect, nothing is free. Give them a few more years of getting screwed and eventually they’ll figure it out.
Hint: They won’t.
They definitely won’t. They will keep begging for more, too stupid to recognize the source of their problems.
Liberalism is a mental disorder!
You are so delightfully naive that I’m tempted to think you got dropped on your head too many times as a baby.
NOTHING is free. Someone’s labor created it. Someone had to buy materials, pay for tools/books/etc. — asking for/demanding “free stuff” is literally asking for/demanding slavery.
Working people built this country. All I’m saying is that the people who got rich off of other people’s hard work should give back a little more. They’d still be rich, but fewer people would be so poor.
The answer to ending your miserable job, flipping burgers, is not for the boss to pay you more out of charity. By the way, i’ll take mine well done.
Ad hominem and Red herring.
Also not sure why you would denigrate someone who works long hours under shitty conditions for low pay.
“demanding “free stuff” is literally asking for/demanding slavery.”
Yup, and they do it while calling you fascist, oppressor etc. etc.
Stuck in snowbound trailers watching CPAC reruns, the right thanks the goddesses for fresh National Enquirer-er to salivate over. Thank you RHBB! you responded to my snow writing “Need Online Red Meat”
Next up Trump Secretly in Love With Mendocino Trans Woman
Barfed laughing my fruit loops. But being that Woman, shhh… don’t want every Donny voter over to ask him how 2nd term is going.
And their love child is Bat Boy
Very cool article.
Taxation is theft and most politicians are grifters.
AOC
Sooo true….
That’s some awesome anti-US anti-democratic propaganda.
Keep it real.
No, it’s anti-authoritarian and anti-statist, but you can frame it any way you want, hermano. And what, pray-tell, does it have to do with democracy?
How is this propaganda? It’s an opinion from an individual. To be propaganda, it would have to be a message given from a state or state media source.
You keep it real.
Please.
Bingo!
at least we can all at least agree on something.
Oh my, the scandal, the outrage, how dare she. Give me break. Both conservatives
bent about gifts, how hypocritical
can you be, we just watched Trump literally make hundreds
Of millions of dollars
Using his own properties
For
Profit while
president. And for the far
Lefties, ready to eat your own, never realize how far out you sound as you complain about the smallest
Of things while not acknowledging
Potential bigger benefits.
Just wait until you hear about the money laundering in Ukraine.
NYT reports “Intelligence suggests pro-Ukrainian group responsible for Nordstream Sabotage”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/07/us/politics/nord-stream-pipeline-sabotage-ukraine.html
“Using his own properties for profit”
she took gifts that she was not supposed to.
This is not comparing apples to oranges, it is like comparing apples to a diaper.
You are making excuses for a lying thieving fraud. Why I ask.
“Both conservatives bent about gifts, how hypocritical can you be, we just watched Trump literally make hundreds Of millions of dollars Using his own properties For Profit while president.”
Trump actually lost over a billion dollars of net worth while president.
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/trump-has-lost-1-billion-personal-wealth-running-president-n916221
“Honestly, I’m pretty bummed to hear that AOC didn’t pay her people”
What did you expect? Just like Bernie charging 2 and $300 then blaming Ticketmaster for something he could have controlled had he chosen to, the left are hypocrite scum who can’t do math.
“and I still believe that we need to tax the rich”
NEWSFLASH, the top 1% pay over 40% of just the federal income taxes. If you want money, maybe go get a job and do something useful for society instead of spraying graffitti and then crying that other people make more money than you.
And in a related vein, JC the bison hat wearing guy who entered the Capitol was escorted through the Capital by two officers. They let him in willingly and happily, even passing a group of 7 Capitol police swat officers who moved out of their way. Watch the videos just released. Jacob got burned by AOC and the rest of her Democrat buddies who lied about what really happened on Jan 6th. Jacob should be freed immediately and welcomed to Humboldt County as the citizen of the year for not being what was claimed. Instead, he was a patriotic American who doesn’t take the democrat controlled governments word for it. Hero forever. Just the type of people we want here, rebels and non conformists who hold bureaucrats responsible for tyranny
Bullshit!
I guess Joy Reid didn’t show the tapes? The truth can be painful, especially if you’re a liberal.
It’s would be normal procedure to follow assailant during a riot. If he started to destroy things his escorting (as you described) would of been quickly changed to detaining.
//American who doesn’t take the democrat controlled governments word for it.//
The United States is not a fascist government. Therefore he is a seditious American that has Facists ideology.
I still have all my weapons. Widespread looting and rioting is not occurring. Crime rates are rising because in our current world you need two jobs to make ends meet. Most jobs don’t provide health care. Universities cost a lot of money and most have to work but in order to get loans you have to be a full time student. You can’t be a full time student and get a job it’s either or. These are the American issue and neiher party is addressing any real American issue.
Only thing Republicans care about is controlling voting so they remain in power and ratings.
“It’s would be normal procedure to follow assailant during a riot”
Who did he assail? Or, do you not know the meaning of the word? And, is it also protocol to try and unlock doors for the “assailant” you are following?
“The United States is not a fascist government.”
So, the government who colludes with companies to control political speech is not fascist? While you’re looking up the word assailant, do yourself a favor and look up the word fascist.
“Only thing Republicans care about is controlling voting so they remain in power and ratings.”
Is that why they are allowing the entire third world to cross the border here to get on welfare, want to add D.C. and Puerto Rico as states, and want 16-year-olds and illegals to vote?
Liberalism is a mental disorder!
I am not liberal. My criminal past understands exactly how the officers are responding.
//So, the government who colludes with companies to control political speech is not fascist?//
Are you pointing out Fox News admitting lying to its audience. Fox News Corporation relation to Trump during his presidency is a factual association that a media platform was used as a propaganda platform. Liars, they lied, our president lied. It’s classic Russian propaganda (just like Russia controls and lies to their citizens) and Republicans not only supported lies they tried to overthrow a democratic election. Refusing American votes based all on lies.
In Florida they arrested 20 citizens for voter fraud, So, what is happening with these accused citizens. I don’t seem to be hearing anything since their arrest.
//Who did he assail?// He signed up for a tour of the capital? You let unknown humans with a mental disability walk the halls of your home?
I’m mo designer, but I see numerous differences between the Velvet Bandit font and the font on the dress.
Exactly, what a joke. Similar font everywhere. Her “art”, just like the font, looks like clip art.
Velvet take your blinders off. She’s just as bad as the rest of em. C’mon now.
It’s all a parody to “Eat the Rich.”
“When the people shall have nothing more to eat, they will eat the rich” ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Used your font, lol. K, well, I like your art work but it’s not uniquely different in my opinion. As far as ethics it’s pretty weak especially compated to George Santos. Ethically look into how public information is being released to the “soap opera” known as Fox News by the Speaker of the House.
The Velvet Bandit might be stepping on someone’s toes here.
But fame can be fleeting, and the Revolution must go on. Masks and all.
AOC’s blurb about it on Twitter:
.aoc Verified The medium is the message.
Proud to work with @aurorajames as a sustainably focused, Black woman immigrant designer who went from starting her dream @brothervellies at a flea market in Brooklyn to winning the @cfda against all odds – and then work together to kick open the doors at the Met.
.
The time is now for childcare, healthcare, and climate action for all. Tax the Rich.
The font is not the same. Notice the diffence at the top bar of the capital T. Also allof the letters in “the” are quite different, as is the “H” in “rich”.
The rich are taxed. Not a new sentiment or a new font. Who cares.
“The Rich” is a somewhat vexed term. Speaking of the very, very rich, a 2021 study showed the wealthiest 400 billionaire families in the US paid an average federal individual tax rate of just 8.2 percent. For comparison, the average American taxpayer in the same year paid 13 percent.
I guess we can all argue now about whether or not that is “fair.”
The bottom 49 percent paid nothing. Is that “fair”
“I guess we can all argue now about whether or not that is “fair.”
No need. your numbers are bullshit, made up and meaningless.
Shouldn’t every American like the horned Buffalo be able to get a Capitol Police escort to the Capitol Senate chambers? We all pay taxes. Obviously, Buffalo horn simply walked in like a tourist escorted by police tour guides. He hurt nobody and damaged nothing. They had a hundred opportunities to use their sworn powers to stop, detain, and arrest. Videos do not lie. Yet, that is not what happened! Why? I think everyone will figure it out. If this was 180 degrees, he would be on every late night comedy show, heralded as a hero for standing against the maaaannnnnn dude. However, wrong party and easy mark. In any case, him and all his fellow protestors need to be released immediately. And the Buffalo horn man needs to become the Mayor of Greater Humboldt. And that is how karma should work out in this country for everyone.
The people who protested peacefully on January 6th are not in jail
The vandals who broke into a closed building and/or assaulted law enforcement are and deserve to be.
The Left wing is extreme and out of touch. But then so is the Right wing. Both extreme and completely out of touch with the voters. It’s sad to see.
“Tax the rich” is an old trope. Many have said it over the years. “Spray paint” font is also a punk cliche. I don’t know if this is really a theft of the artist’s work because it seems I’ve seen both things everywhere since the 80s in urban areas.
I could put “I love you” in cursive script a heart on a painting and it doesn’t mean I can now complain about Hallmark for ripping me off.
Ya might get an interview though where you can express your feelings over Hallmark’s intrusion upon your creation. Hopefully it’s not part of your 15mins of fame.
Warhol was another cliche. He didn’t paint he just used projectors to paint his canvasses. It’s fancy clip art married to post modernism.
She went from bartending to $29,000,000 in three years. Is she a criminal? You tell me….right.
Got a source for your outlandish claim?
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/16/fact-check-aoc-has-assets-less-than-100-000/10307384002/
The numbers vary but no one reputable thinks AOC is worth that much. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/16/fact-check-aoc-has-assets-less-than-100-000/10307384002/ or https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/midterm-elections-2022/aoc-net-worth-fact-check-b2211074.html
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/mar/10/facebook-posts/aocs-net-worth-over-1-million-s-pants-fire/
The good news is that as this so-called civilization is in it’s final downward spiral toward chaos and anarchy most everyone will very soon be dead. Let us all enjoy our asinine opinions about the meaningless…..”the sound and fury signifying nothing. “
The soap opera called conservative news is not real. The bible belt believes this cause that is how the bible ends. Spoiler alert it has a happy ending for the faithful. I however will burn in hell for eternity which makes it a crappy read for myself.
The problem with tax the rich is that they never do, they stick it to the middle class. How about sticking it to the truly rich. No offense for getting rich, but once you hit billionaire status, the following billions need to be heavily taxed. Heck forget billions, let’s make the cutoff 100 million possessing these amounts of cash is abuse of society.
Shake it if you got it, they say. Is it a protected First Amendment right to wear clothing that you feel represents your political perspective? Should the rules be different for political appointees compared to members of the general public? Does gender matter in this discussion? There are plenty of other questions to consider.
Just think if (seems lightyears ago) Bernie had won the nomination then Presidency. Two terms, plus a Congress that gave him benefit of the doubt, given how much real-change most everyone agreed was needed. Would corporations of all kinds be reigned in a tad, and livable-wage work opportunities increased, including for center-right middle ‘Merica (thus curbing the Crazies within). Would he say to Putin “take Ukraine, but minimal bloodshed — use laughing-gas”, would he say to Xi “buy out the Taiwanese nationalists, they like money, we all do, distributed”. Silly, sure. Maybe.
What we have now:
The OGOP (OLD Grand Old Party) and Dem moderates (which are maybe 90% of Dem Party) know the country needs to stabilize. This given two things, coupled.
One, the potential for the Crazies to tour again but on steroids, pulling guns, attacking the grid, whatever, and nationally-so. Xi and Putin, the Cabal, they love the Crazies.
Two, the Cabal. Xi is heading into Taiwan. He is. (Putin in Ukraine was real grab-attempt but also trial ballon, to assess West’s conviction and capacity).
The Old GOP and Dem‘s will increasingly respond to the Crazies and the Cabal, by ramping things up against Xi but maybe also Putin (if he’s still around, in months ahead). One thing is sure, time is short and conditions bleak. Xi will want to go in before or during ‘24, but later if he has to. If he goes later, the Old GOP has some decent-enough leaders but, thus far, they’re not running for Prez, King-crazy (Don) yet to be scuttled or disbarred. Currently, Biden concerns the Cabal, he’s Cold War-Horse. Harris, doesn’t have the experience/chops, probably doesn’t want Prez, wouldn’t get elected anyway. (Hillary, she had the chops.) So if time allows, who has the chops and gets the votes, to keep the Crazies diminished and handling Xi (and Putin, if he’s still around) and deftly enough, enough to keep one or other, or splinter faction within, from going nuclear.
Just like many men and women on the north coast that work under the table to make ends meet so does the officials we elect to represent us in Congress. I worked as an Aid and later a Liaison for a member of the House of Representatives, what started as a way to access education at George Washington University led to an understanding of the under table dealings that shape the political landscape we call government. I watched interest groups and representatives of industries and corporations wine dine and extend unique opportunities to those that agreed support. The appointment books would list names with citizens of the actual district lucky to get 15min and those with political pull getting an hour plus lunch for 2 more, I forever changed my views and made me think Eddie Murphy had it right in “Distinguished Gentleman” we elect upstanding con Men to represent no matter party affiliation or level of government every election cycle. So the next time a Senator or Congressman says he has your interest at heart should know it is only if it aligns with the interest group that pays the most.