When I saw the headline my first thought was ‘Naw, she didn’t actually say that to her constituents.’ I was casually browsing and didn’t pay close attention to the source and assumed somehow an article from The Onion had showed up in my newsfeed. That thought was enough to make me click on it just to get a dose of satire, only to learn the article was real and yes, Iowa Senator Joni Ernst really did say that in response to the hell she was catching at an event.
Even in red states Republican Congress Critters are catching plenty of hell at town halls. Well those that actually have the guts to have town halls at least. Ernst is one of the brave ones, at least on this measure. As this article from Rolling Stone tells us she tried to convince those in attendance to ‘look at the big picture’ when it came to Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill.” However even in red states it’s dawning on people how much those small hospitals in rural/small-town America depend on Medicaid. For some years now there has been a steady rate of closures of such places. If Trump gets his way a whole lot more will be on the chopping block!
Such places in this country are already underserved, with women having to too often travel 30-40 miles (or more) just to deliver a baby. Farmers get injured a lot, and that extra time to get to an ER can wind up costing them more than a finger or two. It can cost limbs, or leave them disabled enough that they can’t work like they once did. I could go on but you get the point. Medicaid funds are the lifeblood of the typical rural/small town hospital. As I said even with it many have had to close and substantial cuts mean lots more will have to do so. Keep in mind that between nurses, aides, janitorial/housekeeping staff, admin workers and such in many small towns the hospital is one of the biggest, if not the biggest employer these days!
Not that they’d (‘HORRORS’) consider voting for a Democrat, but these largely Republican places which make up those huge swaths of red on electoral maps have started to realize how much they need that ‘goddam gubmint’ money after all. Even if it means “those people”, those “others” as in non-whites and worse liberals also benefit too. So, they are speaking up to their (Republican) elected officials. Often in fact they are raising holy hell!
So with that in mind let’s take a look at what went down at Ernst’s town hall. As I said regarding the Medicaid cuts in the “BBB” Ernst tried to convince the crowd to think ‘big picture.’ To trust he when she said what Trump was up to wouldn’t actually hurt THEM. The crowd wasn’t buying it:
The Iowa Republican tried to justify the cuts – which are expected to kick at least 10 million people off the health care program – during a town hall event on Friday, an attendee appeared to yell out: “People are going to die!”
Ernst began to respond but then stopped herself, exasperated.
“Well, we all are going to die,” she said, smirking as the audience jeered.
You can skip to about the 1:30 mark for the moment under discussion. That dismissive ‘Well, we are all going to die’ is appalling. Somehow I don’t think she’d have that attitude if she contracted a serious illness like cancer, or were to be badly injured in a car wreck. Or it such things happened to her loved ones or friends. Oh hell no – she’d be demanding the very best care possible to ensure survival.
The thing is, Ernst tries to slide some misinformation past the audience with the claim she and fellow GOPers are ‘only’ taking away federal money from ‘illegals’ who shouldn’t be getting Medicaid care in the first place. Yes, she acknowledges it’s always been illegal for undocumented folks to receive federally funded Medicaid. But she doesn’t tell the whole truth on the matter. Fortunately there’s a fellow Congress Critter who has Ernst and the GOP out on this:
Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) pointed out while arguing against the bill last week that of the millions of Americans projected to lose coverage because of the “big, beautiful” bill, exactly zero are undocumented, as undocumented immigrants are ineligible for Medicaid. The tax bill does, however, cut federal Medicaid funding to states that use their own funds to provide care for undocumented immigrants. The cuts, which will affect millions of vulnerable American citizens, are in service of giving the wealthiest Americans a tax break.
You see the difference? It’s subtle and let’s face it, MAGAs tend not to do ‘subtle.’ What is boils down to is some states come up with money from their own budgets to cover medical care to those who are undocumented, or in MAGA terms ‘illegals.’ So what’s really going on is that Trump and his GOP enablers are going to punish states for using their own money as they see fit. By cutting Medicaid funding which never went to “those people” in the first place! It’s nothing but a magic trick, albeit in this case a cruel one. What I find surprising isn’t just that some MAGAs see how the magician tried to pull of the trick, but are speaking up. TO the very politicians they elected!
I don’t know what the hell has happened to Ernst. Ever since she came on the scene I had serious doubts about her. I’d long known about the Koch Brothers so the fact they coughed up the money to make her candidacy viable was enough of a warning for me. Add in that ad of hers playing on her ‘farm gal’ personae, equating castrating pigs with cutting pork (wink wink federal spending) and as a native Midwesterner (in my case Illinois) I had little use for her. Still, on one issue that she chose to champion I couldn’t help but admire her guts.
Ernst had credible military service and is a combat vet. Having been sexually harassed starting in training and even eventually sexually assaulted she leveraged her position on the Armed Services Committee to fight for better more opportunities for women in our military AND to get sexual harassment and sexual assault curtailed. That made her sudden reversal on Hegseth so perplexing. Just what the hell happened? What pressure or even threats caused her to cave.
Senator Ernst knew damn well what Hegseth was not AND what he was along. He was NOT qualified. Hell, she’d make a superior SecDef compared to him! Of course, she’s actually qualified for the job which means that despite her seat being safely Republican (Iowa!) that would have immediately DIS-qualified her in this second Trump administration. Anyway Ernst damn well knew what Hegseth WAS – a drunk and serial sexual abuser who’s own mom had called him out over his treatment of women! Yet she voted to confirm him.
Given how Ernst would disregard years worth of effort on what to her was a very personal yet worthwhile to countless others issue I can’t say I’m surprised now. She has to know how awful Trumpy’s BBB is but he wants her vote and she’ll by grab give it to him. As we can see she will also sling her share of bullshit to sell it. She’s up for re-election next year. I have a feeling that her ‘Well, we are all going to die’ will come back to haunt her. Dare we hope Iowans, especially if these Medicaid cuts happen decide they can do better than Joni Ernst? Is her schtick wearing thin enough to make her vulnerable? We’ll have to wait and see.
***From Ursula*** Zoomers, if you’re able to contribute in any way, we could use help. I’ve been ill and recuperating from a brief hospitalization. Times are tough for political commentary to begin with, and that’s been the case since November 5. Half the country is in a major depression. But we need to keep on keeping on. This too shall pass and there will be a brighter, post-Trump day if we work for it. Please join us and help if you can. Thank you. Ursula
I really hope she gets knocked out of her Senate seat. That’s a bloody damn rude and INCONSIDERATE thing for her to say. I hope she gets hammered for it. I had heard that tRump put pressure on her to approve Hegseth, and it must really have been something for her to change her vote. She’s become a liability. I do, however, agree that she would have been MUCH better than Hegseth is in that position. Too bad she couldn’t get it. And now? UGH.
Phuck that rich nazi bitch. May you die before the next poor child does BECAUSE OF YOU BITCH!
For the republicans to only be half heartedly lying or saying the sneaky silent part out loud as here, they are all aware that there will be no midterms as Trump will declare Martial Law and cancel them to save their skins.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so blatant about it.
Count on it. The fix is in, and they know it.