MSNBC's Sharpton Slams 'Brutal Republican Budget That Guts From the Poor'

April 21st, 2014 8:51 PM

On the Monday, April 21, PoliticsNation on MSNBC, Al Sharpton began his show by assailing Wisconsin Republican Rep. Paul Ryan for his budget plan as the MSNBC host saw a "brutal Republican budget that guts from the poor."

Sharpton also seemed to channel DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz's history of misusing the word "literally" as he charged that the budget "literally takes from the poor to give to the rich."

Sharpton began the show:

Tonight's lead, Democrats on the offensive fighting for fairness. It's a vision that stands in direct contrast to a brutal Republican budget that guts from the poor. Make no mistake: This is a battle that's more important than ever.

He later added:

Here's the problem with Ryan's "serious" budget. It gives millionaires a tax break of at least $200,000. It literally takes from the poor to give to the rich. That's wrong, and Democrats are exposing this failed vision.

Below is a transcript of the relevant portion of the Monday, April 21, PoliticsNation on MSNBC:

Tonight's lead, Democrats on the offensive fighting for fairness. It's a vision that stands in direct contrast to a brutal Republican budget that guts from the poor. Make no mistake: This is a battle that's more important than ever.

A jarring new study says that nearly 49 million Americans lack access to healthy food -- 49 million. And what's worse, nearly a third of children. It's a nightmare being played out all over this country.

(CLIPS OF NEWS REPORTS ABOUT HUNGER IN AMERICA)

100 years old? 100-year-olds? And they don't know if they'll be able to eat? But, despite this, Paul Ryan and his fellow Republicans are looking to destroy programs for these very people. The House GOP voted almost unanimously for a budget where 69 percent of the cuts target low-income Americans, cutting lifelines like the food stamp program, like Medicaid, even abolishing the Affordable Care Act. Why ? Because we need to get "serious"?

(REP. PAUL RYAN (R-WI))

Here's the problem with Ryan's "serious" budget. It gives millionaires a tax break of at least $200,000. It literally takes from the poor to give to the rich. That's wrong, and Democrats are exposing this failed vision.