Despite all the proclamations from Republican leaders saying cuts to Social Security and Medicare are not on the table, NBC Late Night host Seth Meyers reacted to President Biden’s State of the Union address on Wednesday by defending him against allegations he lied about GOP intentions to do just that.
After ridiculing Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s reaction to Biden’s claim, Meyers moved on to another target, “When you scream from the back, you look like a crazy person yelling at the bus driver because he refused to drop you off at the racetrack and Greene isn't the only one who made a big show disagreeing with Biden there was also Utah Senator Mike Lee, who pretended to be utterly confused as to what Biden could possibly referring to when Biden said he would not allow the country to default on its debt if Republicans demanded cuts to safety net programs.”
Meyers then played a clip of Biden, but the clip was less about what Biden’s words and more about Lee’s facial expression. Afterwards, Meyers retorted, “I'm sorry, you really confused or are you just acting like you're an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm? ‘You said you would cut Medicare, Larry.’ ‘Aahh. I don't think I did.’ ‘Yes, you did, Larry.’ ‘Not true, Susie.’ ‘Yes, it is, you bald [bleep].’”
In an attempt Biden was correct, Meyers had to reach back 13 years, “In-- in Mike Lee's case, it would be true because he campaigned on eliminating Medicare and Social Security when he first ran for Senate back in 2010.”
The video clearly shows Lee saying his purpose for running is to eventually eliminate Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. However, that was 13 years ago, he clearly hasn’t made any progress, and he is just one out of 49 Republicans.
After mimicking Lee’s facial expression, Meyers then claimed he wasn’t the only one, “Senators Rick Scott and Ron Johnson both floated plans that would sunset Social Security and Medicare by putting them up for periodic votes that would subject them to cuts and Georgia Republican Congressman Rick Allen said he would raise the retirement age, because he claims people come up to him and say they want to work longer.”
Raising the retirement age is not a cut and Republican leadership has consistently distanced itself from Scott’s plan. The only ones pretending that they have a non-zero percent chance of being enacted are Biden and his defends like Seth Meyers.
This segment was sponsored by Dove.
Here is a transcript for the September 8-taped show:
NBC Late Night with Seth Meyers
2/9/2023
12:51 AM ET
SETH MEYERS: When you scream from the back, you look like a crazy person yelling at the bus driver because he refused to drop you off at the racetrack and Greene isn't the only one who made a big show disagreeing with Biden there was also Utah Senator Mike Lee, who pretended to be utterly confused as to what Biden could possibly referring to when Biden said he would not allow the country to default on its debt if Republicans demanded cuts to safety net programs.
JOE BIDEN: We're not going to be moved being threatened to default on the debt if we don't respond. Folks –
MEYERS: I'm sorry, you really confused or are you just acting like you're an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm? "You said you would cut Medicare, Larry.” "Aahh. I don't think I did." "Yes, you did, Larry." "Not true, Susie." "Yes, it is, you bald [bleep]."
In-- in Mike Lee's case, it would be true because he campaigned on eliminating Medicare and Social Security when he first ran for Senate back in 2010.
MIKE LEE [FEBRUARY 23, 2010]: I'm here right now to tell you one thing. That you probably haven't ever heard from a politician. It will be my objective to phase out Social Security, to pull it up by the roots and get rid of it.
MALE AUDIENCE MEMBER: Nice. Hear, hear.
LEE: People who advise me politically always tell me that's dangerous and I tell them, in that case, it's not worth my running. That's why I'm doing this, to get rid of that. Medicare and Medicaid are of the same sort.
FEMALE AUDIENCE MEMBER: Sorry.
LEE: They need to be pulled up.
MEYERS: I mean, that's an insane thing to admit on camera in American politics. Have you ever been to a polling place? Half the people in there are on their way to cash a Social Security check "Have I two errands. I guess it's going to be a nap day.” It's almost as bad as complaining about the price of salsa for your crudité.
Here's my reaction to finding out that Mike Lee called on camera for eliminating Social Security [Mike Lee facial expression].
And he's not the only one. Senators Rick Scott and Ron Johnson both floated plans that would sunset Social Security and Medicare by putting them up for periodic votes that would subject them to cuts and Georgia Republican Congressman Rick Allen said he would raise the retirement age, because he claims people come up to him and say they want to work longer.
