Representative Jonathan Jackson
Despite Republican trickery with the legislative language, Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-1st) makes it perfectly clear that Medicare cuts are on the table and that he and Democrats will fight like hell to prevent it.
And Democrats, unlike the Republicans won’t be intimidated by the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers he said attended Trump’s inauguration. They had been pardoned from the January 6th insurrection by Trump in time to attend his inauguration.
“These lawmakers are operating under fear and intimidation,” Jackson said during the March 1st Rainbow PUSH Coalition live broadcast.
Referring to the $880 billion-a-year state-federal Medicaid program, created in 1965 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, that offers health coverage to millions of low-income and disabled people that just a week ago Trump pledged to “love and cherish,” Rep. Jackson said don’t believe that.
When the House voted on House Resolution 14 on Wednesday, February 26th, dealing with the Medicaid cuts, Jackson said, “They had written the language down like a three-card monte and a swift and slighted hand.
“They said, ‘We didn’t say Medicaid cuts,’ but we had just voted 217-215 to put it into the Energy and Commerce Committee which deals with 85 percent of all the commerce in the U.S. government which is Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare.
“So, when they say they are going to extract $880 billion and you put that in this committee, where is it coming from? It’s coming to Medicaid now,” said Jackson.
For those who say they are not on Medicaid, Jackson explained that “Forty-one percent of the babies born in the U.S. get hospitalized through Medicaid. For those who say they are in Medicare, Jackson said, “Medicare cannot exist if there is not Medicaid. It’s insurance. Yes, they are coming for you,” he warned.
He also warned that the Republicans “are coming” for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP). Jackson said this program, Medicaid, was created in 1965. “It’s not that long.”
“So, now they’ve taken out the Civil Rights Division. They’ve taken out the Medicaid. Now they’re going for the SNAP. Now they’re putting their hands on your personal data. Now they’re going after Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI). When are you going to get involved?” bellowed Rep. Jackson to a cheering crowd.
Looking over the multi-cultural crowd, Rep. Jackson said, “I want you to know that I am DEI. I’m not confused.” Jackson has repeatedly said if his name were not Jackson, he would not be in office today.
He then turned his attention to the recent Oval Office shoutout between Uranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump and Vice President JD Vance who broke his silence during the meeting and in front of the White House Press Corp shouted out, “Hold on. Hey, I want to respond to this” referring to Trump’s efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
On live TV, Vance said to Zelenskyy, “The path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy.”
Zelenskyy reminded Vance of the many broken promises of Putin A bristling Zelensky – himself unaccustomed to public rebukes after three years of stalwart Western support – indignantly laid out the ceasefires Russia had broken in the past.
“What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about? What – what do you have – what do you – what do you mean?” he asked.
“I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,” Vance said. “I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office to try to litigate this in front of the American media,” Vance shot back to Zelenskyy. “You should be thanking the president for trying to bring an end to this conflict.”
Zelenskyy’s attempted response was cut short by an angry Trump who bellowed, “You don’t have the cards right now. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”
A few minutes later, Trump dismissed the media from the room. Trump asked President Zelenskyy to leave the White House.
Rep. Jackson called the Oval Office showdown “absolutely humiliating. It was staged,” calling Vance “a Pitbull.”
“They asked him to apologize, but then why did you ask him over after we donated a $170 billion so he can fight his fight,” Jackson said referring to Zelenskyy. “In the words of the late Jerry Butler, ‘You got to stay strong.’ Only the strong shall survive. How fitting was this on the last day of African American History Month.”
