Jon Stewart has never been one to hold back when it comes to just causes and fair play.
When 42 Republican senators voted against the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) - legislation that sought to extend health care benefits to veterans who’ve been exposed to toxins from burn pits - Stewart let loose.
"These are men and women, husbands and fathers, sisters and brothers — but we just let stand outside in the heat when they can't breathe," said the former host of The Daily Show. "These people don't care. They're never losing their jobs, they're never losing their health care."
After calling out specific senators, including Rick Scott (R-FL) and Pat Toomey (R-PA), Stewart said he's gotten "used to the cowardice," Rolling Stone reported. "I'm used to all of it, but I am not used to cruelty," Stewart continued, holding back tears.
"You don't support the troops. You support the war machine," Stewart said, directing his remark to outgoing Sen. Toomey.
"They haven't met a war they don't sign up for and they haven't met a veteran they won't screw over," Stewart said. "Cowards, all of them."
In early June, on the heels of several successful bipartisan medical cannabis bills for veterans, the Senate overwhelmingly passed bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act of 2022, regarded as “the largest single bill in American history to address our service members’ exposure to burn pits and other toxic substances.”
Although this week, the PACT Act failed to garner the 60 votes needed to advance in the Senate with 55 yeas.
Stewart lashed out at those who previously voted for the PACT Act yet now claim they don't support the bill because it creates a "slush fund" for discretionary spending, even though the $300 billion allocation, to have been distributed over 10 years, was present in the original version of the bill, noted Rolling Stone. Stewart blasted Republicans' uncritical support for the expansion of defense spending, which is set to top $800 billion next year alone.
“If this is America First, then America is fucked.”
— The Recount (@therecount) July 28, 2022
Take 10 minutes to watch Jon Stewart tear into Republicans for blocking a Senate bill providing benefits to veterans, including for those exposed to burn pits. pic.twitter.com/UMzCV5uKnU
Photo: YouTube
