GOP again sets their sights on Social Security and Medicare
On Feb. 7, President Joe Biden used his State of the Union speech to have Republicans literally standing on their feet for the preservation of Social Security and Medicare in the context of debt ceiling negotiations. “Some of my Republican friends want to take the economy hostage—I get it—unless I agree to their economic plans,” Biden baited Republicans. “All of you at home should know what those plans are. Instead of making the wealthy pay their fair share, some Republicans want Medicare and Social Security to sunset,” Biden said.
The resulting umbrage from Republicans was so over the top that Biden had no problem reeling them in. “I’m glad to see, I’m telling you, I enjoy conversion. You know, it means if Congress doesn’t keep the programs the way they are, they go away,” he continued, reminding them again that cuts to the programs were “being proposed by individuals,” eliciting more boos and jeers from the Republican side of the chamber. “So folks, as we all apparently agree, Social Security and Medicare is off the books, right?” he ad-libbed to Republican cheers. “We’ve got unanimity,” Biden exclaimed.
Of course, that unanimity was for public consumption only. Republicans wanted to keep Social Security and Medicare cuts in the mix. Even while McCarthy was reiterating that cuts to the program were completely “off the table” in the debt ceiling and budget bill Republicans were crafting, behind the scenes they were plotting the next attack.