GOP Floor Speech Traces Democrats’ Shifting Inflation Excuses: “First Not Happening, Then Transitory, Then Only Rich Folks, Now Putin”

On 3/18/2022, a Republican delivered a House floor speech tracing the Democrats’ shifting inflation excuses through four distinct phases — from “not happening” to “transitory” to “only hurts rich folks” to “Putin’s fault.” With gas at a record $4.32 per gallon and inflation at 7.9%, the lawmaker asked: “What is so hard about just being honest with the American people?” The speech interspersed Biden’s own clips blaming Putin, oil executives, Wall Street, and consumer spending — while the Democratic caucus leader admitted gas prices “hadn’t come up” in his party’s meetings.

Four Phases of Excuse-Making

The Republican methodically catalogued the evolution of Democrats’ inflation messaging. “Just to get this straight — at first, according to Democrats, they said inflation, quote, ‘wasn’t happening,’” the lawmaker said. “Then inflation was merely transitory, they tried to convince us. Then inflation somehow only hurt rich folks. That was the other line of reasoning.”

“But Washington Democrats’ latest fiction might be their greatest yet,” the lawmaker continued. “The past year of steady, unrelenting price increases for gas and consumer goods is actually Vladimir Putin’s fault."

"What Is So Hard About Being Honest?”

The lawmaker posed the central question. “Madam Speaker, what is so hard about just being honest with the American people?” he asked. “President Biden should accept responsibility for the past year of rising prices and pledge to correct course. He’d better, or we’re in for more and more pain.”

He then dismantled Biden’s blame-shifting. “Vladimir Putin didn’t kill the Keystone Pipeline. Joe Biden did. Vladimir Putin didn’t ban drilling for oil on federal lands. Joe Biden did that. Vladimir Putin didn’t pass trillions upon trillions in unnecessary government spending in a single year. Joe Biden and the Washington Democrats did that.”

Biden’s Own Words

The speech was interspersed with Biden’s own clips. “I’m sick of this stuff! The American people think the reason for inflation is government spending more money. Simply not true!” Biden had shouted.

“Don’t tell me gas prices rose because I’ve slowed down American energy production,” Biden said in another clip. “Give me a break! Give me a break!”

Biden blamed oil executives: “They don’t want to pump more oil. They would rather take those profits and buy back stock rather than invest in pumping new oil.” He blamed Wall Street: “There’s an impediment to production in the United States, and it’s called the bankers on Wall Street."

"Can’t Do Much Right Now”

The lawmaker highlighted Biden’s own admission. “President Biden says he actually, quote, ‘can’t do much right now’ about the skyrocketing gas prices,” the lawmaker said, quoting Biden: “‘Can’t do much right now. Russia’s responsible.’”

He added: “The Democrat caucus leader said the issue of gas prices, quote, ‘hasn’t come up’ during his party’s caucus meetings. Really? You haven’t made time to discuss any solutions to the number one issue facing Americans right now.”

Biden’s Own Record on Gas

The speech was effective because it held Biden accountable using the president’s own words and actions rather than abstract arguments. Biden had killed Keystone on day one. Biden had banned new federal drilling leases. Biden had passed trillions in spending that economists warned would overheat the economy. And Biden’s own party had not even discussed gas prices in their caucus meetings. Each of these was a policy choice — not an act of God, not Putin’s doing, and not the oil industry’s fault. The four-phase excuse timeline made the pattern undeniable.

”Russians Can Control Gas Prices But Americans Can’t?”

The lawmaker delivered his sharpest line. “Here’s the thing — they are trying to convince the American people that an American president can’t control gas prices in the United States, but Russians can,” he said. “Good luck with that.”

Record Prices

The speech laid out the stark numbers. “The national average price for a gallon of gas reached $4.32 on Sunday. That is the highest price in U.S. history,” the lawmaker said. “Last Thursday, we also learned that U.S. inflation soared 7.9% over the past 12 months. That’s the largest spike in consumer prices in 40 years.”

The Democratic caucus leader’s admission that gas prices “hadn’t come up” in his party’s meetings was perhaps the most damaging detail. The number-one issue for American families — visible every day at every gas station in the country — had not been discussed by the party in charge. The gap between what Americans were living and what Washington was discussing had never been wider.

Key Takeaways

A Republican traced Democrats’ inflation messaging through four phases: not happening, transitory, only hurts the rich, and now Putin’s fault.
He noted Putin didn’t kill Keystone, ban federal drilling, or pass trillions in spending — Biden did all three.
Biden had simultaneously blamed Putin, oil executives, Wall Street bankers, and consumer spending patterns — while saying he “can’t do much right now.”
The Democratic caucus leader admitted gas prices “hadn’t come up” in party meetings despite being the top issue for Americans.
Gas hit a record $4.32/gallon and inflation reached 7.9% — the highest in 40 years.

Transcript Highlights

The following is transcribed from the video audio (unverified — AI-generated from audio).

First inflation wasn’t happening. Then transitory. Then only hurt rich folks. Now it’s Putin’s fault.
What is so hard about just being honest with the American people?
Putin didn’t kill the Keystone Pipeline. Joe Biden did. Putin didn’t ban drilling on federal lands. Joe Biden did.
They’re trying to convince the American people that an American president can’t control gas prices, but Russians can. Good luck with that.
Gas prices haven’t come up during his party’s caucus meetings. Really?
Can’t do much right now. Russia’s responsible. Give me a break!

Full transcript: 1079 words transcribed via Whisper AI.