Biden at Bowie State: 'Hey, Man, Don't Jump. You Look Crazy Enough to Jump' (November 7, 2022)

On the night before the 2022 midterms, President Joe Biden was talking about insulin when the crowd at Bowie State University broke into a chant of “Let’s go, Joe!” Then he looked up. “Hey, man, don’t jump. You look crazy enough to jump. Don’t jump. Don’t jump,” Biden said, according to the official White House transcript, which notes that he “addresses audience member on the balcony.” [1]

Moments later he came back to it. “You know, the MAGA Republicans and that guy up on the balcony there, threatening to jump, they don’t — they don’t understand we have a climate crisis,” Biden said [1].

The video above shows Biden’s remarks at a Democratic National Committee rally for Maryland governor candidate Wes Moore in Bowie, Maryland, on Nov. 7, 2022. Quotes are from the official White House transcript, the Treasury Department, the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the House historian and the Supreme Court [1][2][3][4][5].

”Let the Man Sing”

It was not the only interruption. As Biden attacked his predecessor, the transcript records, “(A protestor disruption can be heard.)” [1]

“(Laughs.) I tell you what, let him sing. Let the man sing,” Biden said, as the audience chanted, “Let’s go Joe! Let’s go Joe! Let’s go Joe!” [1]

He also took a shot at Rhodes Scholars while praising Moore. “I’ve always worried about Rhodes Scholars, though, you know? They’re so damn smart, I wonder about it, you know?” Biden said, drawing laughter [1].

”I Cut the Federal Budget”

Biden made a big claim about spending. He mocked Republican talk of “big spendin’ Democrats,” then said: “Guess what? I cut the federal budget by 1 trillion 400 billion dollars in one year. (Applause.) One year. It never happened before. And last year, we cut it by $350 billion.” [1]

The $1.4 trillion was the deficit, not the budget. Biden’s own Treasury Department reported that “During FY 2022, the deficit fell by $1.4 trillion,” and that “The 2022 deficit of $1.375 trillion was half of the FY 2021 deficit.” [2]

The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a budget watchdog, explained why: “The Administration touting this victory is highly misleading; deficits are falling mainly because COVID relief is ending, and deficits will remain high even after this decline.” [3]

As of April 2022, it estimated that “at least $2.5 trillion has been added to deficits through 2031 over the President’s term so far” from the American Rescue Plan, the bipartisan infrastructure law and executive orders [3].

”Reduce Your Debt by $20,000”

At the historically Black university, Biden made a promise on student loans. “And because I acted, I’m able to reduce your debt by $20,000 — (applause) — 10 for debt relief and another 10 if you had a Pell Grant,” he said [1].

He went after Republicans who opposed it. “Marjorie Taylor Greene, that great American —” Biden said, as the crowd booed. ”— she and her husband received $183,000 in debt relief, cash to pay for their business.” [1]

“Another Republican — another Republican, Vern Buchanan of Florida, said this — my plan was reckless, yet he was forgiven $2 million in a loan,” Biden said. “Two million. Federal money. Who the hell do they think they are?” [1]

“Gone”

Biden warned of what a Republican House would do. “The power we just gave Medicare to negotiate lower prices — gone. The $2,000 cap on prescription drugs — gone. The $35-a-month cap on insulin — gone,” he said [1].

On insulin, he made a promise: “Look — and we’re coming — and we’re coming to make sure that $35 a month is for everybody. By the way, it starts in January.” [1]

“Codify Roe v. Wade in January”

Biden also promised abortion legislation. “And, folks, if we elect Chris Van Hollen and elect two more Democrats and keep control of the House, we’re going to codify Roe v. Wade in January and make it the rule of the land,” he said [1].

He promised to go after guns, too. “On a federal level, we passed the most significant gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years, and we’re coming back to do what I was able to do in the ’90s. That is ban assault weapons,” Biden said [1].

”You Can’t Only Love Your Country When You Win”

Biden closed by going after election deniers. “And, folks, there are more than 300 election deniers running on the Republican ticket this year, and Wes’s opponent is one of them,” he said. “But let me tell you something: You can’t only love your country when you win.” [1]

He ended with a promise on drugs. “And your — with your vote, I’m keeping the promise that — my promise: No one should be in jail for the mere possession of marijuana,” Biden said [1].

By the Numbers

$1.4 trillion: what Biden said he “cut” from the federal budget; Treasury says the deficit fell by that much [1][2].
$1.375 trillion: the actual fiscal 2022 deficit [2].
$2.5 trillion+: what Biden’s actions had added to deficits through 2031 as of April 2022, per the CRFB [3].
$20,000: the student debt relief Biden promised [1].
222-213: the Republican House majority voters elected the next day [4].

What Happened Next

Republicans took the House. The House historian lists the 118th Congress, elected the next day, with 222 Republicans and 213 Democrats [4].

The Supreme Court struck down the student debt plan. On June 30, 2023, in Biden v. Nebraska, the Court held that the law Biden relied on “does not allow the Secretary to rewrite that statute to the extent of canceling $430 billion of student loan principal.” [5]

For Biden’s “Don’t jump!” two nights earlier in Philadelphia, see HYGO News’ page on Nov. 5, 2022. For his news conference after the election, see the page on Nov. 9, 2022.