Iowa Sen. Ernst’s Dismissive Response to Death

#NoMoreIowaProud

Many have written about Sen. Joni Ernst’s (R-IA) town hall “gaffe.” It generated widespread state and national coverage. What could I possibly add?

Here’s a recap in case you missed it. Sen. Ernst heard comments at a public meeting. Attendee India May said of proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, “People will die!”

Ernst’s defense of her support for those funding cuts went viral.

“Well, we all are going to die. For heaven’s sake, folks.”

Not exactly what you want to hear from your senator in response to a serious concern.

I see this as Ernst’s Marie-Antoinette moment. You remember Marie-Antoinette. She was the Queen of France before the Revolution. When someone told the Queen that her subjects had no bread, she (supposedly) said, “Let them eat cake.” We know how that ended for Marie-Antoinette.

Now, almost every politician makes public comments they regret. Most follow up with either a clarification or an apology.

But Ernst chose to double down with a snarky "apology" video recorded in a cemetery.

Yes, of course, we will all die someday. But we don’t deserve a preventable death because we can’t afford food or healthcare. And we certainly don’t want our senator having a hand in our early death.

I’m not suggesting we overthrow our government like the French people did. But voters don’t like it when elected officials dismiss their concerns. Or actively work to harm them.

You don’t care about Iowans’ needs, Joni. You should start updating your resume now.