On Fox News ‘Saturday in America,’ Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) weighed in on the rise of socialist-leaning politicians, particularly in New York City and Seattle, while also affirming his commitment to a bill that would halt congressional pay during a government shutdown.
The Senator, who is the author of the new book How to Test Negative for Stupid and Why Washington Never Will, blasted the leftward shift in major cities.
Commenting on the election of Katie Wilson in Seattle, whom the host identified as having called for a Starbucks boycott and supported government-run grocery stores, Kennedy was highly critical.
He referred to her as a “typical loonbat” and a “self-avowed socialist” who is “proud of things that she should be ashamed of.” The Louisiana Republican offered a blanket assessment of the ideology, stating that “those who have read history… they understand that socialism is for morons.”
Kennedy laid the blame for the recent government shutdown squarely at the feet of the left, asserting that “the loon wing, the Bolshevik wing, the socialist wing of the Democratic party is obviously in control.” He suggested this radical faction was driving the actions of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
The discussion shifted to the government shutdown, during which the Senator championed a bill to put the pay of members of the House and Senate into escrow.
Sen. Kennedy strongly argued for a principle of “shared sacrifice,” stating, “I just believe in one rule for everybody. If nobody else is being paid, senators shouldn’t be paid.”
He confirmed that he did not take his own pay during the shutdown and wanted to set an example. The Senator revealed he attempted to add the measure as an amendment to the resolution that ended the shutdown but was blocked by the Senate Republican leadership.
Despite being obstructed, Kennedy confirmed he will try to revive the legislation, believing the measure would serve as a powerful incentive to keep the government open. “I just think it’s the right thing to do. It’d be a great way to avert a shutdown,” he stated.
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