International Courant
A Home Democratic workers member who was ripped for praising President Biden after his $8,000 pupil mortgage debt was erased is going through much more scrutiny on social media over posts displaying costly spending habits whereas incomes a wage upwards of $90,000 per yr.
Ben Kamens, communications director for longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, sparked a social media firestorm that obtained virtually 20 million views this week when he posted a bit of paper displaying his $8,250 in pupil loans courting again to 2010 had been wiped away following Biden’s newest pupil mortgage bailout.
“Simply bought a name to let me know my pupil debt has been canceled,” Kamens wrote. “This is the reason elections matter. Thanks @JoeBiden.”
Conservatives on social media blasted Kamens for working in authorities and seemingly boasting about taxpayers footing the invoice for his debt. Kamens earned $80,000 final yr and is on observe to make nearer to $90,000 this yr, in accordance with Legistorm.
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Congressional staffer Ben Kamens, left, and President Biden. (Ben Kamens Fb web page/Getty)
The criticism of Kamens intensified when social media customers observed previous posts that confirmed Kamens posting at high-priced eating places and buying high-dollar gadgets.
“Cellphone eats first,” Kamens posted earlier this month together with images of a seafood tower containing lobster and oysters subsequent to a cocktail.
“On the Grill from Ipanema, telephone eats first,” Kamens posted in Could together with photos of meals presumably from the high-end Brazilian steakhouse.
Final July, Kamens posted that he was a season ticket holder for the Philadelphia Eagles, which the New York Put up reported prices $2,692 yearly on common.
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Posts from X account belonging to Ben Kamens.
Kamens has posted a number of instances about taking journeys and staying at AirBnb areas in recent times, together with a submit from final month when he was sitting in a scorching tub with the caption, “Sizzling tub with a view.”
Kamens has additionally posted a number of photos out in town with drinks, together with a submit of him smoking a cigar with the caption “we out right here” at what seemed to be an occasion from Washington, D.C.’s “Nerd Promenade” in April.
“The median revenue in OH-09 is $62k,” NRCC Communications Director Jack Pandol posted on X in response to Kamens’ submit with the seafood tower. “Ohioans who work onerous, save, and repay their very own loans are priced out of brunch seafood towers.”
“The coed mortgage debate in two tweets,” Pink State Editor Invoice “Streiff” Crews posted with an image of the seafood tower and the letter Kamens posted on X. “Kamens makes $90K a yr and works for Rep. Marcy Kaptur.”
“Bear in mind this, each time you assume those that went to technical and vocational faculties must be paying the freight for pupil loans taken out by Congressional staffers consuming and consuming as they mock you,” James Madison Institute Senior Vice President Sal Nuzzo posted on X. “As a result of that’s what’s occurring, and it’s completely disgusting.”
“Hardly ever is the Democratic political imaginative and prescient so clearly on show,” Dominic Pino wrote about Kamens in an article for Nationwide Overview.
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Kamens was noticed outdoors Kaptur’s workplace on Thursday in a video posted on-line by journalist Matthew Foldi. Within the video, Kamens is approached with questions on his viral submit and he declines to talk earlier than coming into Kaptur’s workplace and slamming the door shut.
Moreover, Rep. Kaptur is going through criticism on account of the submit as a result of inconsistent positions on pupil mortgage bailouts.
“What in regards to the individuals who paid off their loans?” Kaptur mentioned whereas talking out towards Biden’s plan to cancel pupil mortgage debt again in 2022.
“There was no session with Congress,” Kaptur mentioned. “The final time I checked the Structure, you may’t impression the underside line of the federal treasury with out some invoice shifting by Congress. I believe the president most likely overreached his authority on this one. My expectation is it would go to the courts. I’m unsure how that may occur.”
Kaptur beforehand voted towards laws that will have canceled Biden’s pupil debt forgiveness plan.
“It’s apparent Joe Biden’s unconstitutional pupil mortgage forgiveness sham is the best means for him to purchase votes, however Marcy Kaptur’s voting document in assist for this scheme reveals simply how out of contact she is with the voters of Northwest Ohio,” NRCC Spokesman Mike Marinella instructed Fox Information Digital.
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Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, questions Power Secretary Rick Perry throughout a Home Appropriations Power and Water Growth, and Associated Companies subcommittee listening to within the Rayburn Constructing. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Name)
Kaptur is concerned in what is anticipated to be a decent re-election race this fall towards Republican challenger Derek Merrin, who instructed Fox Information Digital that “Marcy Kaptur refuses to face up for Ohio values of onerous work and private duty.
“Her voting document on Biden’s pupil mortgage bailout is the newest instance. Northwest Ohioans that work onerous on a regular basis aren’t accountable for paying off others pupil mortgage payments. Interval.”
Fox Information Digital reached out to Kaptur’s workplace for remark however didn’t obtain a response.
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox Information. Discover him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and e-mail tricks to [email protected].
