One of President Joe Biden's most urgent actions upon first taking the White House was to pass a new relief package in the face of the pandemic that's killed nearly 600 thousand Americans, left millions suddenly unemployed, and upended daily life in the United States for more than a year.
In addition to $1400 stimulus checks to most Americans, the American Rescue Plan preserved expanded unemployment benefits, slashed child poverty rates, bolstered vaccine distribution initiatives, and offered a slew of additional lifelines to Americans hardest hit by the pandemic.
Republicans repeatedly slammed the bill for being too expensive, slamming it as a "liberal wish list."
House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said of the plan at the time:
"This bill won't speed up our return to normal — it will only increase financial risks and burden future generations with unnecessary debt. I urge all my colleagues to vote against it."
The bill didn't receive a single Republican vote.
Now, nearly two months after the bill's passage, some Republican lawmakers have begun hailing certain provisions of the plan, leaping to associate themselves with its benefits.
McCarthy was among these Republicans, informing his constituents about the SBA Restaurant Revitalization Fund, designed to cover losses in revenue for restaurants the pandemic forced to shut down.
Good to see Kevin McCarthy joining the list of Republicans to tout the Restaurant Revitalization Fund, which he and… https://t.co/ljsZZ5qTsW— Matt Fuller (@Matt Fuller) 1620052593.0
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) didn't hesitate to point out that McCarthy—along with every other Republican lawmaker—voted against the popular legislation.
Thanks for spreading the news about the great work @HouseDemocrats have put in to save restaurants! Too bad you vot… https://t.co/OkWWfmytYP— Nancy Pelosi (@Nancy Pelosi) 1620078364.0
Social media users cackled at the masterful trolling.
The shade is delicious. https://t.co/5hHVucwEL5— Susanne Vote blue because of Jan 6, 2021 (@Susanne Vote blue because of Jan 6, 2021) 1620134516.0
Ouch. That's gonna leave a mark... https://t.co/hoBnNsPtsZ— HEKersting #RESIST (@HEKersting #RESIST) 1620134647.0
queen of shade https://t.co/nfMpGTwy6U— aidan · 小川 (@aidan · 小川) 1620078837.0
Nancy isn’t having it https://t.co/mGiXWBAXq9 https://t.co/T76d7oBnAt— Jose Mendez 🎮🇵🇷🥃 (@Jose Mendez 🎮🇵🇷🥃) 1620079521.0
@SpeakerPelosi @HouseDemocrats Well done. Madam Speaker. https://t.co/JZM786Pid7— medit8now (@medit8now) 1620078728.0
She wasn't the only one to call out McCarthy.
If it was up to the gop, there would be no help for restaurants or any Americans, since they all voted AGAINST this… https://t.co/xVmPWEJrIh— Marian Rasfeld (@Marian Rasfeld) 1620081375.0
Hey, @GOPLeader we all know you voted against it. https://t.co/yzYGsXoRpC— Audry (@Audry) 1620132857.0
Feel the burn, Kevin. 🧯 https://t.co/v8sU348j2d— Christopher Knight (@Christopher Knight) 1620090369.0
Why is it that Kevin McCarthy, Paul Gosar & all GOP Congress members want to take credit to saving the restaurants… https://t.co/NZAW6oaEcE— Delina DiSanto (@Delina DiSanto) 1620094328.0
McCarthy hasn't responded.