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Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is known for raging against anything and everything Democrats propose, but his latest outrage has reached a whole new level.
McCarthy is incensed—absolutely incensed!—that House members will be offered discounted Peloton memberships through a deal the company offered the House.
McCarthy, of course, is casting the deal as a matter of fiscal malfeasance and Democrats' supposedly being out of touch, as if House Republicans don't enjoy the same fringe benefits Americans pay for with their tax dollars but mostly cannot access for themselves, like say, decent health insurance.
Anyway, McCarthy took to the House floor to bloviate about taxpayers being on the hook for bicycles that don't "go anywhere" or something. See his speech below.
McCarthy currently on the House floor explaining what Peloton ispic.twitter.com/GBXHMBS6WM— Acyn (@Acyn) 1652890153
McCarthy's speech contained many highlights from which to choose, but the best is arguably the one about stationary bikes.
"It’s a $2,000 bike that you pay to use and pay to set up that doesn’t go anywhere. What’s a business like that?"
Peloton, as well as every stationary bike business before it, has done just fine with their bikes that don't "go anywhere."
But more importantly, McCarthy's entire argument about this deal is not in line with the facts. House members are not receiving Peloton bikes, they are receiving discounted $12 memberships to access Peloton's classes.
And the discounted deal comes via the House Center for Well-Being's budget, which was already allocated long ago.
A memo explaining this was set to be released by the House, but was delayed.
Naturally, McCarthy and some of his colleagues have seized upon the Peloton deal as yet another example of Democrats' lack of morals, tacking it on to their gripes about a liquor-delivery service also available to House members.
Scott Austin and Drew Ferguson, two Republican Representatives from Georgia, joined McCarthy in blaming Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the deal and decrying her "wasting" tax dollars on the benefits.
On Twitter, most people seemed to find this whole thing utterly ridiculous.
Republicans had the chance to have a committee but they wanted to send their least serious members. And here Kevin is proving my point that Republicans are not serious about solving problems but instead create distractions.— Pursuit of Snappiness (@Pursuit of Snappiness) 1652890818
Many businesses have wellness benefits. I\u2019m missing the outrage.— Kaitlyn Thompson (@Kaitlyn Thompson) 1652890860
I realize I missed an opportunity to coin the phrase "WOKEout routine" and I'm sorry.— Argle-Bargler (@Argle-Bargler) 1652895257
\u201cI\u2019ve been subpoenaed to talk about my role in assisting a criminal effort to overthrow the governing body I sit in?! Time to change the subject. What to talk about? Oh hey here is the Congressional benefits package, I\u2019m sure there\u2019s something I can feign outrage about in it.\u201d— GrumpyGayGenXer (@GrumpyGayGenXer) 1652896403
For $12/mo. Sounds cheaper than most companies pay for wellness programs.— Chris Moore (@Chris Moore) 1652928329
trillions of dollars of debt caused by the right over the past 22 years cause of tax cuts for the rich. where was your outrage in 2017 when you passed yet another tax cut for the rich? the 8 trillion in new debt? funny how the only time you care about new spending is when a dem— charles pilcher (@charles pilcher) 1652928286
\u201cHow dare Pelosi give me a Peleton! I only jazzercise and Zumba!\u201d\n -Kevin McCarthypic.twitter.com/E9G9OlBcGj— Naofumi Iwatani (@Naofumi Iwatani) 1652890365
I fear #MousyMcCarthy is having a breakdown. \n\nMy insurance covers gym membership & I'm not the only one receiving this benefit. Exercise is one step to good health & wellness.https://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1526958092117651456\u00a0\u2026— Rebecca Black (@Rebecca Black) 1652972533
My guess is that the likely reason is that members have always gotten free gym memberships.\nPost pandemic, someone is suggesting offering a home exercise solution to limit viral spread, esp. for compromised individuals.\n\nOf course, he's distorting the intention.— \u2014 \u2022 \ud835\uddd6 \ud835\udddb \ud835\uddd8 \ud835\uddd8 \ud835\uddde \ud835\uddec \u2022 \u2014 (@\u2014 \u2022 \ud835\uddd6 \ud835\udddb \ud835\uddd8 \ud835\uddd8 \ud835\uddde \ud835\uddec \u2022 \u2014) 1652894366
someone needs to grab a water, grab a towel and get your life togetherhttps://twitter.com/Acyn/status/1526958092117651456\u00a0\u2026— Christie Stephenson (@Christie Stephenson) 1652896526
If only McCarthy reserved the same outrage for people who refuse to comply with subpoenas.