On Saturday, while advocating for Democratic candidates in Illinois, President Biden called a group of demonstrators “idiots.”
The president spoke at a rally in Joliet, Illinois, where he praised Democratic legislation that would regulate the cost of prescription drugs and launched a stinging attack on Republicans, whom he has repeatedly charged with scheming to “cut down” Social Security and Medicare.
Outside the event, a group of protesters gathered with placards that read “Socialism Sucks” and “Vote Pro-Life.” The words “Where’s Nancy” were purportedly yelled during the incident in which Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was struck with a hammer.
Outside a rally for Democrats with @POTUS in Joliet, Illinois: pic.twitter.com/EcHti9EbJW
— Akayla Gardner (@gardnerakayla) November 5, 2022
After arguing that Social Security and Medicare were a “promise” to previous generations of Americans, Biden told his audience, “I love those signs when I came in. “Socialism. Please, you idiots, give me a break.”
Prior to Tuesday’s election, Biden visited Illinois as part of a campaign swing across strongly Democratic regions of the nation. As polls show Republicans gaining ground in congressional districts that Biden easily won in 2020, the president, who has just returned from trips to California and New Mexico, will next visit Pennsylvania this afternoon.
Forecasters believe that the GOP will win back the House of Representatives. The Republican Party gained seats this week in the 9th, 47th, and 26th Congressional Districts of California, as well as in the 6th and 14th Congressional Districts of Illinois, as well as in the 3rd Congressional District of New Jersey.
The four Senate elections in Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Nevada are listed as “toss-ups” that will determine control of that chamber in Fox News’ Power Rankings, which predict that Republicans will win at least a 19-seat majority in the House.
In order to boost support for incumbents, Biden, former Presidents Obama and Clinton have boosted their public appearances. Republican gains could be even higher if Democratic voter turnout is low. They have adopted a strategy straight out of the Democratic playbook by criticizing the alleged plans of the GOP to reduce Social Security and Medicare benefits harshly.
In Joliet, Biden criticized Republican Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, reiterating assertions that fact-checkers have refuted about their alleged desire to end those long-standing entitlement programs.
Biden raged at the stage, asking, “Who the heck do they think they are? “I genuinely mean it, give it some thought.”
