Nintendo has reported that 13.41 million copies of Animal Crossing: New Horizons have been sold. And, lucky for them, one of those copies now belongs to U.S Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.). Earlier this week, on May 7, she even visited the virtual islands of several supporters.
“Hi there! Very new to this,” she tweeted after an interview with The Intercept’s Aída Chávez, in which she confirmed she recently got a Nintendo Switch. “I would like to visit random people’s islands and leave a doodle or note on their bulletin board. Can I do that? If so, how? Should I open my DMs for the first time since the Zuckerberg hearing for the Dodo codes??”
Hi there! Very new to this.
I would like to visit random people’s islands and leave a doodle or note on their bulletin board.
Can I do that? If so, how?
Should I open my DMs for the first time since the Zuckerberg hearing for the Dodo codes?? https://t.co/pQlm0ES1cM
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 7, 2020
In the umpteenth example of her levels of fearlessness, which she uses to often represent the poor and the marginalized in ways too few politicians have done in the history of this country, she opened her direct messages. God give me her strength, honestly.
Of course, it didn’t take long for the GOP to criticize the Representative for playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons. “Curious for your thoughts on Trump’s gold bills,” Ocasio-Cortez replied to former Republican congressional candidate DeAnna Lorraine.
Curious for your thoughts on Trump’s golf bills
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 8, 2020
It’s worth noting that the very first case of COVID-19 has been dated as far back as Nov. 17, 2019. It is known through the Trump Golf Count website that, as of the writing of this article, Trump has golfed at least 25 times since then. Additionally, he has spent up to 127 days at Mar-a-Lago; cost over $59 million in flights, and conducted 299 visits to golf clubs since his presidency.
Later on May 7, Gene Park at The Washington Post interviewed Justin Mirsky, the first supporter Ocasio-Cortez visited that night. Before leaving, she made sure to leave a note on the bulletin board of his family’s island. The note reads: “To Justin, mama, and family – Thank you for welcoming me to your lovely island. It is such an honor to visit your home away from home!”
@AOC left us beautiful note. #AnimalCrossing #ACNH #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/aUSBHZPQ9Z
— Justin (@jmirsky87) May 8, 2020
She made sure to take a picture of the memory and tweet about the visit, as well.
Update 2: first ever House call (get it??) in the books!
It was so sweet. Island belonged to a family of three. We exchanged fruit, took pictures, and I signed a bulletin note using my touch screen.
I was floored by how fast they typed and they taught me about the app. ? pic.twitter.com/KJsI6Gjh9p
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 7, 2020
Among the Twitter users she visited is Drew Silverberg, who confirmed that her island’s name is BoogieDown. Intellectual.
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Thanks for the visit, @AOC! pic.twitter.com/6tR3v58BUy
— Drew Silverberg (@DrewSilverberg) May 8, 2020
Her last tweet about the game was her third and final update of the night, in which she opened her direct messages for another round of Dodo Codes. She also pointed out her custom design — a purple shirt that says “AoC” in a speech bubble. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: I am asking you to give us the code for this shirt when you get the Able Sisters on your island, please and thank you.
UPDATE 3: Okay! After a few visits earlier I am reopening for a few more #AOCHouseCalls?.
DMs are opening again for 4 minutes, drop me your Dodo code and a note and I may stop by!
(Yes that is a hand drawn campaign shirt & no I haven’t sorted out exporting screenshots yet ?) pic.twitter.com/K7Idxnj09W
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 8, 2020
I’m constantly amazed by how Ocasio-Cortez manages to sleep in the middle of all the work she has to do, let alone engage with her supporters in continuously creative ways like when she showed up on a Twitch charity stream. That she took the time and energy to deal with the absolute mess that must’ve been her direct messages in order to visit several supporters doesn’t seem as immediately notable as her incredible, inspirational, and invigorating speeches on the House Floor. However, it’s yet another example of how she’s one of the politicians in Washington dedicated to listening to, representing, and supporting the people.
Since she created the “#AOCHouseCalls” hashtag, it seems like visiting islands in Animal Crossing: New Horizons is something she’ll be doing again in the future. May one of us at Fanbyte, or our readers, ever be so lucky to get a visit from her.
