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 are promises. It is a promise. Work hard and contribute and when the time comes things will be easier for you,” he said in a speech at Jones Elementary in Joliet, Illinois. “It’s a rock-solid guarantee, an ironclad commitment. Generations of Americans have relied 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 whatever I think.”
There were dozens of protesters standing along the road leading to the elementary school with signs bearing comments ranging from “Let’s go Brandon”, to “Where is Nancy”, as well as “socialism sucks”.
The president warned in his remarks that millions of Americans will lose health care coverage, benefits and protections under Congressional Republicans’ plans. Some Republicans have pledged to repeal aspects of the Cut Inflation Act, which passed earlier this year with the sole support of Democrats, if they gain control of Congress this midterm cycle.
“Everything I just talked about – $2,000 cap on prescription drugs, $35 per month cap on insulin, more power for Medicare to lower drug prices – it’s all gone, it’s all gone. gone if they are successful,” Biden said. “Well, they won’t succeed at least for the next two years because I will veto it.”
He warned that Congressional Republicans are “coming for your Social Security and Medicare benefits as well.” He pointed to a proposal released in February by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) that included a proposal to cut government programs every five years, meaning lawmakers would have to vote to expand Medicare and social Security.
“I mean, what do they have with these guys?” Biden asked. “In other words, it disappears 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 be approved annually as part of the budget process.
The president was joined for his remarks in Illinois by the senses. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), as well as Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.).
Biden recently stepped up his warnings that Republicans would halt health care benefits, as well as pre-election warnings that inflation would be worse under a Republican-controlled Congress.
The president made a similar call in Florida on Tuesday, when he focused his remarks on how a Republican-controlled Congress could threaten Social Security and Medicare benefits for millions of Americans.
After his visit to Illinois, Biden will travel 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 visits in the days leading up to Election Day on Tuesday. He also visited New Mexico and California this week and will stop in New York on Sunday and Maryland on Monday.
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