Gillibrand mocked for calling child care, paid leave 'infrastructure'

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N. Y., is getting flak after she tweeted examples of infrastructure that seemed to stretch the meaning of the word.

Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines infrastructure as "the system of public works of a country, state, or region," "he resources (such as personnel, buildings, or equipment) required for an activity," "the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization)," or "the permanent installations required for military purposes."

Politically, it is often considered to refer to transportation, roads, bridges and items of that nature.

"Paid leave is infrastructure. Child care is infrastructure. Caregiving is infrastructure," Gillbrand tweeted Wednesday morning.

This quickly led to a barrage of mockery and criticism. Some took an absurdist approach, implying that Gillibrand's tweet is removed from reality.

"Unicorns are infrastructure. Love is infrastructure. Herpes is infrastructure. Everything is infrastructure," Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiro tweeted.

"Brunch is infrastructure. Kendall Jenner is infrastructure. The Snyder Cut is infrastructure," The Federalist publisher Ben Domenech said.

Others, such as Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., and Donald Trump Jr., countered with their own real example of infrastructure: the wall along the southern border that was started by former President Donald Trump... (Read more)

Tweets mentioned:

https://twitter.com/user/status/1379773312482607106

https://twitter.com/user/status/1379795401969168390

https://twitter.com/user/status/1379801946916331527

https://twitter.com/user/status/1379811077748314114

https://twitter.com/user/status/1379801269980782598

https://twitter.com/user/status/1379790861547012100

https://twitter.com/user/status/1379828946930388993

https://twitter.com/user/status/1379816678876450817

https://twitter.com/user/status/1379816659825917953

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