In an attempt to defend Biden’s student loan “forgiveness” plan and defend against Republican critics, the White House attempted to troll those lawmakers who spoke out against the scam.
Their attempt failed miserably and instead placed a giant spotlight on the lunacy prevalent in the White House today.
In a series of biting tweets, the White House’s verified Twitter account highlighted how GOP Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Markwayne Mullin, Kevin Hern, Mike Kelly (PA), and Vern Buchanan all received loan reprieves under the Paycheck Protection Program.
Essentially, they’re conflating student loan forgiveness with PPP forgiveness as if those two programs are by any means related or comparable.
PPP loans were given to business owners struggling to remain operational and fully staffed as a result of the China Virus pandemic. Not to mention, if it weren’t for Democrat lockdown policies, there would be no need for PPP loans.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene had $183,504 in PPP loans forgiven.https://t.co/4FoCymt8TB
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 25, 2022
That tweet drew a response from conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, who pointed out that the PPP program was created by Congress in response to government-imposed pandemic suppression measures that shuttered businesses across the country. PPP was a program aimed at helping small businesses stay afloat amid the pandemic.
So it is now the White House's position that if the government forces you to shut down your business and provides you just compensation to keep people employed, that's the same thing as you failing to pay the college loans you voluntarily undertook. Geniuses. pic.twitter.com/omisWPetaY
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 25, 2022
The White House also called attention to a slew of tweets and other comments made by other Republican members of Congress.
Congressman Vern Buchanan had over $2.3 million in PPP loans forgiven.https://t.co/bXpwJlWRm4
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 25, 2022
Congressman Kevin Hern had over $1 million in PPP loans forgiven. https://t.co/XsBaqxNZN4
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 25, 2022
Congressman Matt Gaetz had $482,321 in PPP loans forgiven.https://t.co/XPgC0pETkp
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 25, 2022
Absent from the White House’s Twitter targets were any of the Democrats who voiced concerns about the student loan forgiveness plan. A handful of Democrats in Congress, particularly ones vying for reelection in tough races, such as Reps. Chris Pappas Tim Ryan raised concerns about the forgiveness plan.
Left-leaning economists such as Larry Summers and Jason Furman also criticized the move.
Biden’s plan, which he unveiled on Wednesday, will cancel $10,000-$20,000 in student debt for borrowers who earn less than $125,000 per year.
In keeping with my campaign promise, my Administration is announcing a plan to give working and middle class families breathing room as they prepare to resume federal student loan payments in January 2023.
I'll have more details this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/kuZNqoMe4I
— President Biden (@POTUS) August 24, 2022
The move came after months of speculation and mounting pressure from Biden’s base to provide relief to the roughly 40 million people with about $1.7 trillion in student loans.
Meanwhile, those who will eventually benefit from Biden’s plan (if it’s allowed to move forward) mostly occupy the upper crest of American society. Harvard lawyers, engineers, and other white-collar professionals will likely be the main beneficiaries of student loan forgiveness.
Author: Nolan Sheridan
