Iowa Senator Joni Ernst Proves Yet Again That Republicans Aren't Really Pro-Life

 

As you might know by now, Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst was confronted during a town hall on Friday regarding her defense of cuts to Medicaid. When an audience member shouted out that "people are going to die" as a result of said cuts, Senator Ernst contemptuously stated with a smirk on her face, "We're all going to die," to which the audience booed and jeered. 

The backlash notwithstanding, Ernst doubled down by making an "apology" video in a cemetery in which she sardonically advised people seeking eternal life to embrace Jesus Christ. 

Ernst's remarks are reminiscent of those of Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick who during the early days of COVID in April 2020 said that "there were more important things than living" like reopening the economy. 

At the time, I made the case that conservatives aren't really pro-life or, at the very minimum, very selective about it:

Last night Texas Republican Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick told Tucker Carlson "there are more important things than living" whilst defending the Lone Star State's decision to reopen its economy this Friday. Less than a month ago, Patrick made headlines when he suggested he and others over 70 would be willing to die to get the economy going again.

Mind you this is the same Lt. Gov who scarcely two years ago blamed abortion and video games for gun violence claiming, "We live in a violent country where we've devalued life."

Considering the fact that COVID-19 has, as of this writing, infected more than 20,000 Texans while claiming the lives of more than 500 people, it is clear to me that Patrick who is guilty of devaluing life. 

The same can be said for Ernst. While Ernst laments the loss of life of those who are murdered by illegal immigrants she has no such compassion for those who will lose their life as a result of the Medicaid cuts which she supports. Indeed, she revels in her contempt for people in need of Medicaid.

Unfortunately, Ernst will probably get away with such contempt and can afford to make snarky "apology" videos. While Ernst is up for re-election next year, Iowa has become a reliably pro-Trump, Republican state. Her 2020 race against Theresa Greenfield was expected to be a nail-biter, but Ernst won by 6.5 points despite a poor debate performance against Greenfield.

While Democrats can and must remind voters of Ernst's words regarding Medicaid cuts, there remains a very good chance that it won't be enough. 

But the next time a Republican tells you that he or she is pro-life please remind them that Joni Ernst doesn't think very much of your life if you are in need of Medicaid.