Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa had a grim message for her constituents furious over proposed cuts to Medicaid that could end health coverage for millions of Americans.
Over a chorus of groans from the crowd at a town hall in Butler County on Friday morning, Ernst said her Republican colleagues were making “corrections” to the federal healthcare program to stop “overpayments” and prevent “illegals” from receiving benefits.
“People are going to die,” one person shouted out.
“Well, we’re all going to die,” Ernst snarkily replied.
When she was greeted with a mixture of stunned groans and shout-backs, the senator exasperatedly added: “For heaven’s sakes, folks.”
Democratic officials and advocacy groups pounced on the moment, accusing Ernst of airing what the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee called a “stunningly callous” remark that points to a wider failure among Republican members of Congress to face criticism over threats to a program that supports millions of lower-income Americans.
“Joni Ernst said the quiet part out loud: Republicans don’t give a shit about whether their own constituents live or die as long as the richest few get richer,” according to Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin.
We are all going to die? I don’t plan to. Prove me wrong.
As far as the current Republican Party goes, they are all festering pus balls. Again, prove me wrong. Grr.
Jerry, Republicans get bashed at these Town Meetings, even in Red States. No one is happy with the Medicare and Medicaid cuts.
As I said in an email yesterday, the GOP has apparently been telling their members not to do in-person town halls and to just do phone events where calls can be screened and monitored. Even in deep red Louisiana, our congressman (the smarmy Steve Scalise) only did a phone-in town hall—which I declined to attend.
Deb, the Republicans can only hide out for so long. Many voters realize their healthcare is being sold to billionaires.
“We’re all going to die.”
Let’s hope Senator Ernst follows through and drinks bleach.
I wouldn’t wish that on anyone, Jeff. If it did happen, however, I wouldn’t be above a little smile.
Jerry, “Well, we’re all going to die” does not resound as an apt defense of gutting our healthcare system.
Jeff, I find it bizarre that Ernst defended the cuts to heathcare with the “We’re all going to die” statement. What was she thinking? Her constituents were not pleased!!!
I’d like to think the next election cycles will toss Trump, his sycophants, and the GOP overall into the trash bin of fetid history, but I’ve thought that before and look where we are. I’m surprised Ernst didn’t hand=pick her audience the way Trump and his cronies here in Texas do.
Fred, I’m guessing Ernst and her Republican colleagues will be a lot more careful about Town Hall meetings as the vote on the Big Beautiful Bill approaches. Some voters are just waking up to the realization they may be losing their healthcare to Trump’s billionaire supporters.
What you said!
Jackie
They want to stop overpayments and illegals getting benefits! Curse the rotten bastards!
Bob, I’m all for stopping overpayments, preventing illegals getting benefits, and cutting fraud and abuse. But many poor people–especially those in rural areas–are going to find their benefits eliminated. And a lot of rural hospitals will close. It won’t be pretty…
Call me a cockeyed optimist, but I think these dire predictions are just political posturing!
Bob, we will all know how this works in a year or so. I’m betting against Tariffs, cutting the CDC and NIH (and hundreds of research studies on cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other diseases), and slashing Medicare and Medicaid that will NOT improve our Lives.