Sen. Kennedy Blasts Schumer’s Shutdown Proposal As ‘Dumbest Thing Possible’

Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) unleashed a fiery tirade Friday night against Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s latest shutdown proposal, ripping Democrats for trying to tie government funding to another round of Obamacare subsidies — a move he said is “the dumbest thing possible that won’t work.”

Appearing on Fox News’ The Story with Martha MacCallum, Kennedy let loose his trademark humor and blunt Louisiana grit as he accused Democrats of trying to bail out insurance companies with $35 billion in taxpayer money.

“God, please give me patience. Because if you give me strength, I’m going to need bail money,” Kennedy quipped, as he blasted Schumer for blocking GOP efforts to reopen the government.

Kennedy didn’t hold back as he shredded Schumer’s proposal to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits in exchange for ending the shutdown.

“What Senator Schumer is suggesting is that we do the dumbest thing possible that won’t work,” he said. “Stupid should hurt more.”

Schumer’s plan, pitched as a way to stabilize health care costs, was swiftly dismissed by Republicans. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) called it a “non-starter,” while Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) labeled it “political terrorism.”

Kennedy drove home the absurdity:

“Senator Schumer says we should just extend the status quo for a year. What does that mean? That means that we would have to take $35 billion of taxpayer money and give it directly to the health insurance companies without any commitment of lowering premiums. The healthcare companies are going to take $35 billion from the taxpayers and put it into their pockets. I mean, duh! I don’t know what Senator Schumer is thinking. Earth to Chuck! I mean, Earth to Chuck!”

When asked if he’d vote for the proposal, Kennedy shot back without hesitation:

“The short answer is no. The long answer is: hell no!”

The fiery exchange came just hours after Senate Republicans once again rejected the Democrats’ latest shutdown deal. The standoff now centers on whether the government should continue funneling subsidies to insurance companies while federal workers and agencies remain unfunded.

Kennedy accused Democrats of deliberately prolonging the crisis for political gain.

“I voted 14 times to lift the shutdown,” he said. “The Democrats and Senator Rand Paul have voted 14 times to keep the government shutdown. We’re just going to be here for a while.”

Republicans argue that the Democratic proposal would worsen inflation and reward corporate special interests, while doing nothing to reduce costs for ordinary Americans.

Kennedy summed it up with his signature southern candor:

“What Schumer wants us to do is take the taxpayers’ wallet, hand it to the insurance companies, and hope they say thank you. That’s not policy — that’s stupidity.”

Kennedy’s outburst captures the mounting frustration within the GOP as Democrats continue to stall funding negotiations while pushing to preserve Obamacare’s costly subsidy system.

To conservatives, Schumer’s plan proves once again that Democrats’ idea of “compromise” is little more than a blank check for Washington and the insurance lobby.