Biden on people calling him a socialist: ‘Give me a break, what idiots’

Authored by thehill.com and submitted by BelleAriel

President Biden on Saturday said people holding signs calling him a socialist were idiots, while warning that Republicans want to cut health care benefits for Americans three days before Election Day.

“Social security and Medicare are more than government programs, they’re a promise. They’re a promise. Work hard and contribute and when the time comes, things will be easier for you,” he said in remarks at Jones Elementary in Joliet, Ill. “It’s a rock-solid guarantee, an iron-clad commitment. Generations of Americans have counted on it and it works.”

“I love those signs when I came in — socialism. Give me a break, what idiots,” the president added. “No one ever doubts I mean what I say, sometimes of course I say all that I mean.”

There were dozens of protesters standing beside the road to the elementary school with signs bearing comments ranging from “Let’s go Brandon,” to “where’s Nancy,” as well as “socialism sucks.”

The president warned in his remarks that millions of Americans would lose health care coverage, benefits and protections under congressional Republicans’ plans. Some Republicans have pledged to repeal aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act, which was passed earlier this year with only support from Democrats, if they take control of Congress this midterm cycle.

“Everything I just talked about — $2,000 cap on prescription drugs, $35 a month cap on insulin, more power for Medicare to lower drug prices — all gone, all gone if they succeed,” Biden said. “Well, they’re not going to succeed at least for the next two years because I’ll veto it.”

He warned that congressional Republicans “are also coming for your Social Security and Medicare benefits.” He mentioned a proposal released in February by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) that included a proposal to sunset government programs every five years, meaning lawmakers would need to vote to extend Medicare and Social Security.

“I mean, what’s with these guys?” Biden asked. “In other words, it goes out of existence if we don’t vote to keep it, isn’t that wonderful?”

Additionally, he noted that Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) suggested earlier this year that funding for Social Security and Medicare should be approved yearly through the budgeting process.

The president was joined for his remarks in Illinois by Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), as well as Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.).

Biden has recently ramped up his warnings that Republicans would stop health care benefits, along with pre-Election Day warnings that inflation would be worse under a Republican-controlled Congress.

The president on Tuesday made a similar plea in Florida, when he focused his remarks on how a Republican-controlled Congress could threaten Social Security and Medicare benefits for millions of Americans.

Following his visit to Illinois, Biden will head to Philadelphia for a rally with former President Obama to boost Democratic senatorial candidate John Fetterman.

The Illinois stop is another on a list of typically blue strongholds the president is visiting in the days before Election Day on Tuesday. He also traveled to New Mexico and California this week and will make stops in New York on Sunday and Maryland on Monday.

RickTracee on November 5th, 2022 at 20:55 UTC »

October 10, 1952, Harry Truman said this:   Socialism is a scare word they have hurled at every advance the people have made in the last 20 years.

Socialism is what they called public power. Socialism is what they called social security.

Socialism is what they called farm price supports.

Socialism is what they called bank deposit insurance.

Socialism is what they called the growth of free and independent labor organizations.

Socialism is their name for almost anything that helps all the people.

When the Republican candidate inscribes the slogan "Down With Socialism" on the banner of his "great crusade," that is really not what he means at all.

What he really means is "Down with Progress--down with Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal," and "down with Harry Truman's fair Deal." That's all he means.

alienalf1 on November 5th, 2022 at 19:47 UTC »

People who don’t understand socialism calling someone a socialist

Beetlejuice_hero on November 5th, 2022 at 19:41 UTC »

Elise Stefanik, #3 Republican in the House and enthusiastic Trump ass-licker, represents upstate NY which has FIVE Federally funded rural airports.

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik today announced that the Department of Transportation (DOT) will provide up to $20.7 million in grant funding to continue Essential Air Service in Ogdensburg and Plattsburgh through the Alternate Essential Air Service (AEAS) program. Link

None of these people are "Conservatives" or against "Big Government." It's all bullshit.

It's ALL bullshit.

Cut welfare for those lazy :wink wink: "inner city" people? Oh yes definitely.

Cut funding for PBS? Of course!

Cut that juicy multi-billion pork-filled Lockheed Martin contract that props up our economic wasteland of a district? Oh no no no, we want that, keep that.

Cut giant Federal subsidies that ensure our rural airports stay operational? How dare you!

It's AAAAAAAAAALL bullshit.