Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) explained Wednesday why President Joe Biden’s attack on Republicans — claiming they want to cut Social Security and Medicare — is downright false.
What did Biden say?
During the middle of his State of the Union speech, Biden claimed that some Republicans want to “take the economy hostage” and “sunset” Social Security and Medicare.
“Some of my Republican friends want to take the economy hostage — I get it — unless I agree to their economic plans,” Biden said. “All of you at home should know what those plans are.
“Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans, some Republicans, want Medicare and Social Security to sunset,” he claimed.
The claims triggered a sharp reaction from some Republican lawmakers, who shouted “liar” at the president. Republicans believe Biden is intentionally deceiving Americans about his administration’s economic agenda. Biden responded to the shouts by saying he enjoys seeing their “conversion” to his position.
But what’s the truth?
Donalds was asked about that moment during an interview on “CNN This Morning” and whether Biden “helped” himself by suggesting he has won converts in the Republican Party.
“What you are even talking about? Joe Biden created this fallacy that we were cutting Social Security and Medicare. No Republican has said that,” Donalds told CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins.
Collins then defended Biden. She pointed out that one Republican, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), has perhaps floated cutting Social Security and Medicare over his plan to “sunset” all federal spending every five years, which would presumably include social-safety spending. But even PolitiFact pointed out that Scott’s “proposal does not specifically call for a phase-out of Medicare and Social Security” or enjoy support among Republicans.
After noting insolvency concerns with Social Security and Medicare, Donalds completely shut down the narrative.
“Let’s make a clear point: The delineation is with respect to the debt ceiling,” Donalds said. “No Republican has said we’re going to look at Social Security and Medicare. No Republican. The president has tried to conflate the two to make a political argument. He is wrong.”
After all, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has said definitively that Social Security and Medicare cuts are “off the table” in the debt ceiling debate.
“[I]t’s off the table. We’ve been saying that for a month now. The only person saying that we’re talking about Social Security cuts is Joe Biden. He’s been lying to the American people,” Donalds explained. “No Republican on the Hill has said, ‘Hey, for debt ceiling, we’re going to look at Social Security and Medicare.’ It is not true.
“I’m one of the most vocal members of our conference,” he added. “I am telling you, not true.”
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