Democratic Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema posted a photo of herself brandishing a ring that read "F*** Off" a little over a month after she voted against a measure to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
The Arizona Democrat, 44, posted the picture on Instagram on Sunday as she continues to face a backlash from within her own party for voting against the $15 minimum wage, and for teaming up with Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) on an $11 proposal.
Several progressives criticized the senator over the weekend, with one Arizona Democratic Party leadership member calling the picture of her "F*** Off" ring a "gut punch" to those who elected her.
"Sen. Sinema thinks the f*** off ring is a witty way to send a message to the people upset at her actions," the Arizona Democratic Party's education coordinator Brianna Westbrook tweeted. "The reality, the f*** off ring is a gut punch to the people that worked their ass off to elect her. Shameful."
Rising with the Hill co-host and ex-Democratic House candidate Krystal Ball also tweeted: "Presuming here the F*** Off ring is directed at the working class."
Joan Greene, an Arizona Democrat who ran for the House of Representatives last year, also reacted on Twitter, saying: "AZ/USA are relying on sound judgement [sic] & policies that help our families & businesses. Liv[e]able wage, healthcare, environment protection, strong economy are not partisan issues.
"Instead of showing contempt hold a town hall & listen to the people. Work together. Thrive together." Newsweek has contacted the office of Sen. Sinema for further comment.
The Democratic senator was previously criticized for voting down the $15 minimum wage measure in President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill with a thumbs-down gesture.
At the time, Sinema's office tried to label the criticism of her dramatic gesture as sexist, saying it was "commentary about a female senator's body language" and her physical demeanor.
Releasing a statement explaining her vote against including the $15 minimum wage in the budget reconciliation process in March, Sinema said there needed to be an "open debate and amendment process on raising the minimum wage, separate from the COVID-focused reconciliation bill."
It was first reported by HuffPost last week that the Arizona Democrat and Utah Sen. Mitt Romney were working on bipartisan proposals for an increase of the federal minimum wage to $11. Romney later confirmed this to CBS News.
"We've pretty much come to the meeting of the minds among ourselves, meaning Senator Sinema and myself, but there are many other people who want to be part of that discussion," the Utah Republican said.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.