FiveThirtyEight founder and pollster Nate Silver admitted on Wednesday that President Biden’s student loan forgiveness is actually a “transactional” policy that is aimed at buying young Democratic votes.
(Video Credit: MSNBC)
He also attempted to assert that former President Trump implemented the same “transactional” style of policy with his tax cuts. It’s a claim that conservatives on Twitter blasted.
Silver’s contention appears to indicate that the student loan policy is meant to buy more Democratic votes, regardless of how it impacts the economy or the rest of the nation.
The pollster tweeted on Wednesday that the student loan “relief” plan focuses on helping people in the “Democratic coalition.”
“The thing about student loan debt relief is that, while other policies would be more economically progressive, it fairly efficiently redistributes well-being toward people in the Democratic coalition,” he wrote.
The thing about student loan debt relief is that, while other policies would be more economically progressive, it fairly efficiently redistributes well-being toward people in the Democratic coalition. Youngish, middle-class-ish college/grad school attendees = a *very* D group.
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) August 24, 2022
Biden's student-loan forgiveness dictat seems to violate seperation of powers. Much less clear is who would have standing to challenge it in court. The answer could well be no one, which is ironic given progressives longstanding hostility to Art. III standing limitations. (1/4)
— Eugene Kontorovich (@EVKontorovich) August 25, 2022
Silver described the voters as, “Youngish, middle-class-ish college/grad school attendees” and admitted that it is “a *very* D group.”
In a follow-up tweet, he noted that taking aim at this particular group of voters makes the president’s plan a “very ‘transactional’ piece of public policy, directly serving the interests of the people who elected you.” That refers to the federal government forgiving certain amounts of student debt for anyone making under $125,000.
The pollster called the policy “extremely common, though, in the same way that, say, the Trump tax cuts were,” seemingly attempting to justify Biden’s move before conservatives could object.
Conservatives weren’t buying what he was selling. GOP Deputy Communications Director Nathan Brand bristled at Silver’s assertion.
“More than 80% of Americans benefited from the Trump tax cuts. Only 13% of Americans have student loan debt. Plus, Trump worked with congress… Biden just came back from vacation,” Brand tweeted.
More than 80% of Americans benefited from the Trump tax cuts.
Only 13% of Americans have student loan debt.
Plus, Trump worked with congress… Biden just came back from vacation.
— Nathan Brand (@NathanBrandWA) August 24, 2022
The Federalist Senior Editor David Harsanyi also objected to the comparison, tweeting, “It’s not the same, whatsoever. If Trump had unilaterally (and unconstitutionally) signed an EO ‘forgiving’ corporate loans for only select industries, & then transferred responsibility of payment to taxpayers, then yes. But tax cuts were legislation that members could vote on.”
Others piled on, including radio host Tara Servatius who was shocked that Silver was admitting that Biden was buying votes with the student loan handout.
“DEMOCRAT POLLSTER ADMITS THEY’RE SHAKING DOWN THE WORKING CLASS TO PAY FOR HANDOUTS FOR THEIR ECONOMICALLY ELITE VOTERS. They just did this with tax subsidies for $56,000+ electric vehicles, too. They are enslaving us,” she tweeted.
The Cato Institute’s Michael F. Cannon hammered the point of Biden’s redistributionist handout home, “Politics: the art of taking from your people to give to our people.”
Even Republican squish Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), objected to the handout, “Sad to see what’s being done to bribe the voters. Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan may win Democrats some votes, but it fuels inflation, foots taxpayers with other people’s financial obligations, is unfair to those who paid their own way & creates irresponsible expectations.”
Sad to see what’s being done to bribe the voters. Biden's student loan forgiveness plan may win Democrats some votes, but it fuels inflation, foots taxpayers with other people’s financial obligations, is unfair to those who paid their own way & creates irresponsible expectations.
— Senator Mitt Romney (@SenatorRomney) August 24, 2022
According to Newsweek, Texas Republican Representative Troy Nehls stated, “Nothing is free, and someone is ALWAYS footing the bill. This time it’s 87% of Americans without student loans.”
Joe Biden is attempting to buy Democrat votes before our own eyes pic.twitter.com/FLGWVTEwnm
— Troy Nehls (@SheriffTNehls) August 24, 2022
According to an estimate at CNBC, the handout will cost the average taxpayer over $2,000.
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