Friday’s news that Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) is considering not seeking reelection inspired the type of internet callback that no political figure ever wants.
A smoke signal sent by the campaign said that Ernst will announce the decision officially next month.
News of Senator Joni Ernst's potential retirement sparked immediate backlash, with critics resurfacing a controversial May town hall in Parkersburg, Iowa. Ernst's dismissive response to concerns about Medicaid cuts – "we all are going to die" – re-ignited criticism of her handling of voter anxieties and fueled online mockery following the reelection news
When one woman yelled that “people will die” because of the major cuts to Medicaid and food assistance programs, Ernst snidely responded, “People are not ― well, we all are going to die. So, for heaven’s sakes, folks.”
The comments have followed Ernst ever since, even as she tried to reduce their impact in various ways.
On one hand, she insisted to CBS News that she’s “very compassionate,” but also filmed a non-apology video that seemed to be filmed in a cemetery, where she said she thought everyone at the town hall understood that “we are all going to perish from this earth.”
As a result, many people on social media responded to the news of Ernst’s exit from the race with jokes about her political death.
BREAKING: JONI ERNST WILL NOT SEEK RE-ELECTION.
I guess everybody dies, but not everybody can win re-election.
Joni Ernst on Medicaid cuts: “well, we are all going to die.”
Turns out, all political careers die too.pic.twitter.com/ttWfSgYnkA
Republican Sen. Joni Ernst announced she will not run for reelection. When asked why, she said, “Well, we’re all going to die anyway.” pic.twitter.com/hwMrntz5d3
It turns out your constituents don’t like being told “well, we’re all going to die” anyway, as you vote to strip away their health care. #JoniErnst #IASen https://t.co/hZH98nAWex
Aww, not Joni Ernst!
Well all fascists’ careers are going to die anyway 🤷🏼♂️https://t.co/UyDmcwrwxI
BREAKING: In a stunning moment, while Sen. Joni Ernst announced today she is not running for reelection, the moment her campaign died was when she told constituents worried about Medicaid cuts, “Well, we all are going to die.”
Like her political career.pic.twitter.com/WhWHo6URkY
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Smart move by Joni Ernst to retire rather than face a wave of negative ads from Democrats featuring her “we all are going to die” quote from a town hall a few months back. That was brutal—and in a midterm year, even in this partisan environment, it might’ve ended her career.
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