Senate Budget Committee chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) was mocked online Friday after suggesting that only two senators — rather than a current total of 52 — are seeking to defeat 48 others, some ridiculing the 80-year-old’s poor math skills while others blasting his determination to “destroy America” to achieve his socialist aim.
In the tweet, Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, argued that “2 senators cannot be allowed to defeat what 48 senators and 210 House members want,” in reference to Democrat senators Joe Manchin (WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) refusal to back the Democrats’ exorbitant $3.5 trillion reconciliation bill.
Sanders made no note of the 50 Republican senators who also refuse to back the price tag for the social spending package.
Urging to “stand with the working families of our country” and “combat climate change,” he added, “We must delay passing the Infrastructure Bill until we pass a strong Reconciliation Bill.”
2 senators cannot be allowed to defeat what 48 senators and 210 House members want. We must stand with the working families of our country. We must combat climate change. We must delay passing the Infrastructure Bill until we pass a strong Reconciliation Bill.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) October 1, 2021
Left-wing editorial cartoonist Matt Wuerker even designed what he described as a “more accurate map of our political geography” to show the “outsized influence” of “a couple senators.”
Since a couple Senators have such outsized influence maybe we need a more accurate map of our political geography…. pic.twitter.com/JpiESQi8eL
— Matt Wuerker (@wuerker) October 1, 2021
In response, many conservatives took to Twitter to ridicule the Vermont senator and independent.
“Lol in other words: ‘how can we let this pesky democracy get in the way of our socialism!’” wrote Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX).
“But yeah you guys definitely aren’t power hungry tyrants or anything,” he added. “Total right wing talking point.”
Lol in other words: “how can we let this pesky democracy get in the way of our socialism!”
But yeah you guys definitely aren’t power hungry tyrants or anything. Total right wing talking point. https://t.co/97O7hHEngb
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) October 1, 2021
“Here go the socialists complaining about democracy again,” wrote Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY).
Here go the socialists complaining about democracy again. https://t.co/KFPxKMi1CX
— Congresswoman Tenney (@RepTenney) October 1, 2021
“Actually, it’s me and 51 other Senators from both sides of the aisle standing in between you and your radical agenda,” wrote Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).
“I stand for FREEDOM,” she added.
Actually, it’s me and 51 other Senators from both sides of the aisle standing in between you and your radical agenda.
I stand for FREEDOM. https://t.co/hbIe77Fziq
— Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) October 1, 2021
“But 52 Senators can defeat your Big Government Socialism,” wrote Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN).
“The American people won’t stand for another power grab from a vocal minority,” he said.
But 52 Senators can defeat your Big Government Socialism. The American people won’t stand for another power grab from a vocal minority. https://t.co/ccvrpWNuKT
— Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) October 1, 2021
“Hey, if @SenSanders thinks House and Senate minorities should always win against the majority party, who are we to complain?” wrote Rep. Yvette Herrell (R-NM)
Hey, if @SenSanders thinks House and Senate minorities should always win against the majority party, who are we to complain? https://t.co/hSH6mfCCJn
— Rep. Yvette Herrell (@RepHerrell) October 1, 2021
“Bernie! taking objection to the filibuster to a whole new level…,” wrote Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX).
Bernie! taking objection to the filibuster to a whole new level… https://t.co/aQu19kVwSh
— Chip Roy (@chiproytx) October 1, 2021
“52** Senators can and should be able to defeat this radical socialist reshaping of our country,” wrote Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX).
52** Senators can and should be able to defeat this radical socialist reshaping of our country. https://t.co/Ygu8tKcDdI
— Rep. August Pfluger (@RepPfluger) October 1, 2021
“It’s actually 52 opposed. That’s called Democracy, which I know this socialist hates,” wrote Republican National Committee (RNC) Co-Chair Tommy Hicks.
“Democrats do not have a mandate to force this radical spending bill onto Americans,” he added.
It’s actually 52 opposed. That’s called Democracy, which I know this socialist hates. Democrats do not have a mandate to force this radical spending bill onto Americans. https://t.co/j7Ptw5ywYb
— Tommy Hicks (@TommyHicksGOP) October 1, 2021
“Amazing that after 30+ years in Congress Bernie Sanders still doesn’t understand how democracy works,” wrote former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley.
Amazing that after 30+ years in Congress Bernie Sanders still doesn’t understand how democracy works. https://t.co/qpXPMiaqMN
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) October 1, 2021
“This is the problem with communism. Comrade Sanders forgets that 48 senators and 210 house members are not majorities in either chamber,” wrote Donald Trump Jr., the older son of former President Donald Trump.
“In fact, if this is true, the republicans should get whatever they want because there are 212 house republicans & 50 senate republicans,” he added.
This is the problem with communism. Comrade Sanders forgets that 48 senators and 210 house members are not majorities in either chamber. In fact, if this is true, the republicans should get whatever they want because there are 212 house republicans & 50 senate republicans. https://t.co/KwAb7LHZno
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) October 1, 2021
“It’s not two Senators. It’s two Democratic Senators plus 50 Republican Senators,” wrote conservative author and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza.
“That’s called a 52-48 majority,” he added.
It’s not two Senators. It’s two Democratic Senators plus 50 Republican Senators. That’s called a 52-48 majority. https://t.co/iMrZ36H33t
— Dinesh D’Souza (@DineshDSouza) October 1, 2021
“Typical communist,” wrote conservative political commentator Ian Miles Cheong. “Sanders unpersoned the 50 Republicans who stand against the 48 Democrats.”
Typical communist. Sanders unpersoned the 50 Republicans who stand against the 48 Democrats. https://t.co/HAK54ElCVM
— Ian Miles Cheong @ stillgray.substack.com (@stillgray) October 1, 2021
“Maybe @BernieSanders would have been against socialism if he knew math?” wrote the Reagan Battalion.
Maybe @BernieSanders would have been against socialism if he knew math? https://t.co/gKRTYRrxCa
— Reagan Battalion (@ReaganBattalion) October 1, 2021
“Marxist says what?” wrote political commentator Monica Crowley.
Marxist says what? https://t.co/xC8iyDZN0u
— Monica Crowley (@MonicaCrowley) October 1, 2021
“Um, isn’t the idea that 48 of 100 must dictate policy an attack on democracy?” asked columnist Kurt Schlichter. “Insurrection!”
Um, isn’t the idea that 48 of 100 must dictate policy an attack on democracy?
Insurrection! https://t.co/iaNV6OICv2
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) October 1, 2021
“[B]rilliant! this is the kind of Democrat math that turns a $3.5 trillion price tag into ‘zero,’” wrote FOX News anchor Steve Hilton.
brilliant! this is the kind of Democrat math that turns a $3.5 trillion price tag into “zero” https://t.co/pwRYzT5UJg
— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) October 1, 2021
“We must DESTROY America so that we can Build Back Better!!!” wrote author and radio host Eric Metaxas. “Where’s my soup!?”
We must DESTROY America so that we can Build Back Better!!! Where’s my soup!? https://t.co/LkImzwPp6s
— Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) October 1, 2021
“The communist isn’t particularly good at math,” wrote immigration lawyer Matthew Kolken.
“The correct answer is 52 Senators, Senator,” he added.
The communist isn’t particularly good at math. The correct answer is 52 Senators, Senator. https://t.co/jymJDmEn3D
— Matthew Kolken (@mkolken) October 1, 2021
“This is hilarious,” wrote former President Trump’s reelection campaign Communications Director Tim Murtaugh.
“By Bernie’s own math, 48 senators and 210 House members are minorities in both chambers,” he added.
This is hilarious.
By Bernie’s own math, 48 senators and 210 House members are minorities in both chambers. https://t.co/mu8bi2tPTs
— Tim Murtaugh (@TimMurtaugh) October 1, 2021
“File this one under socialists not understanding math,” wrote the Young Conservatives of Texas.
File this one under socialists not understanding math. https://t.co/NwlbFc1nS8
— Young Conservatives of Texas (@yct) October 1, 2021
Follow Joshua Klein on Twitter @JoshuaKlein.