H. Jeffries lights it up after speaker vote

[DoBW]

"social security and medicare are not entitlement programs. They are earned benefits"

Keep your hands off Social Security and Medicare.

— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social) 2025-01-03T21:46:29.644Z

[brush]

1. Not now, not ever. Can you hear Rep.Jeffies, Johnson? SS and Medicare are earned benefits.

Not entitlements.

[spanone]

2. He only hears what trmp wants him to hear...

[NJCher]

5. if you look at the video

which I have, you will see that is not the case at all. In the video, Johnson reveals his interpretation of what Hakeem is doing at least twice.

It was priceless. I enjoyed it very much.

[bamagal62]

3. I scream that every time

I hear the word “entitlements”. It infuriates me. They are earned benefits. We pay in. We give our money. However, I will also scream that I’m a 1/4 year short of getting my benefits that are not tied to my husband. I stopped work to raise my kids. I paid into the SS system. But, that money is gone. Annoys me. But, I find a slight bit of comfort that someone benefits from my contribution. We pay money into this system. It is NOT an entitlement unless you say, “we are entitled to this because it’s our money.” Again, republicans are way more crafty at messaging than we are.

[brush]

4. Better at lying. That's for sure.

[calimary]

8. And we have to fix that - IMMEDIATELY.

Unfortunately, the GOP really IS way more crafty at messaging than we are.

We have to FIX that. Immediately if not sooner!

[soldierant]

11. This:

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

13. It *is* an entitlement because we are entitled to it.

That's literally the meaning of the word. Rather than fight it, Dems ought to be taking the opportunity to point that fact out every time it's called an entitlement.

[LisaM]

6. Yeah. We're entitled to these benefits.

The problem is that a large percentage of the voting public doesn't seem to understand - or is deliberately mis-using - the word.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are also entitlements, enshrined in the Bill of Rights. It's so absurd to me that this is treated like a dirty word.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

12. The word has negative connotations now, but

it's so annoying because, yes, it's an entitlement because we are entitled to it.

[Hope22]

7. Small business owners certainly understand that they pay double SS

And match every employee. Sadly thinking of the money we were forced to pay to only be called an entitlement! Super maddening! As these tools sit and suck up federal employee benefits! Out of touch…out of minds!

[Gore1FL]

9. They are literally entitlement programs because they are earned benefits we are entitled to.

We shouldn't accept the GOP's misuse of words as doing so supports their narrative.

[calimary]

10. Yep. These are NO freebies. They've been EARNED. Through years of honorable work.

Beware the “lazy moocher” thing rearing its ugly heard yet again, and gesturing your way.

[valleyrogue]

15. An entitlement is not a freebie. You earned it.

The misinterpretation of the word needs to die on this board.

[valleyrogue]

16. This isn't the GOP's misuse of the word. It is those on the left who run away from something that is literally

part of the Social Security Act.

Entitlements ARE earned benefits regardless of income. Means-tested programs are NOT. Benefits for the latter are determined by income and assets.

We earned SS retirement and Medicare benefits. We are ENTITLED to them because we EARNED them. They are not means-tested and therefore ARE entitlements.

To state the obvious is NOT right-wing talking points but claiming they are is proof of ignorance.

[valleyrogue]

14. They aren't means tested. You earned them you are entitled to them.

I don't know why people on DU keep spewing nonsense about these programs. Entitlements literally mean earned benefits. To say these programs are entitlements distinguish them from means tested programs. It is not right wing talking points to use the word. Years ago somebody on this board failed to understand this simple fact, and the misinterpretation caught on like wildfire. The word is used in the Social Security Act of 1935.