After Pennsylvania Republican Senator Pat Toomey referred to him as a "pseudo-celebrity," comedian Jon Stewart hit back by pointing to Toomey's recent vote against vital benefits for United States military veterans.
Toomey had earlier appeared on CNN to respond to criticisms about his vote to block a procedural vote that would clear a path for a vote on legislation to expand benefits for veterans who were exposed to toxins like burn pits in combat zones in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Toomey accused Democrats of crafting a bill to address issues involving groups dealing with illnesses or crimes, saying they then sneak in something completely unrelated they know could never pass on its own, and "dare Republicans to do anything about it."
He added Democrats do this knowing with "a pseudo-celebrity to make up false accusations to try to get us to just swallow what shouldn't be there."
You can hear what Toomey said in the video below.
Toomey said:
"This is the oldest trick in Washington."
"People take a sympathetic group of Americans — and it could be children with an illness, it could be victims of crime, it could be veterans who've been exposed to toxic chemicals — craft a bill to address their problems, and then sneak in something completely unrelated that they know could never pass on its own, and dare Republicans to do anything about it."
"Because they know, they'll unleash their allies in the media and maybe a pseudo-celebrity to make up false accusations to try to get us to just swallow what shouldn't be there."
Burn pits are a common waste disposal practice at military sites outside the United States but have been the subject of controversy because burning solid wastes in an open pit generates numerous pollutants that cause different types of cancers, respiratory disorders, high blood pressure, autoimmune disorders and even birth defects.
In June, the House and the Senate passed a bill known as the Honoring Our PACT Act with bipartisan support. However, issues with the bill's language prompted it to pass both legislative chambers again.
This time however, multiple Republican Senators reversed their support—and went so far as to congratulate themselves for denying veterans vital support.
Though Toomey never mentioned Stewart by name, he didn't have to.
Stewart was one of the more vocal "pseudo-celebrities" to speak out against Republicans who scuttled the legislation last week, at the time calling it "corruption at its finest."
And when he heard about Toomey's remarks, he certainly had something to say about it.
Writing on Twitter, Stewart told Toomey that he would "rather be a pseudo celeb than pseudo Senator."
In a follow-up tweet, Stewart said Toomey "never called for spending caps" on the war in Afghanistan, "only on the health care for veterans sickened by said wars."
Many concurred with Stewart's assessment and offered their own criticisms of Toomey.
The PACT Act needed 60 votes to advance. In the end, the vote was 55-42. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, changed his vote from yes to no in order to allow a future vote on the legislation.
There is no word yet on when the Senate, which leaves on a month-long recess next week, will vote on the bill again.
