Newly elected Democratic National Committee chairman Tom Perez said Friday that Republicans "don't give a shit about people," arguing their plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act does not reflect American values.
Perez gave a fiery speech to gain Democratic support at the We Build the Resistance Rally in Newark, New Jersey, hosted by the New Jersey Working Families Alliance, where he denounced President Donald Trump's efforts to repeal Obamacare.
"It does not reflect our values as a nation," Perez said of Republican efforts to repeal former President Obama's landmark health care law. The House Republican replacement plan, according to Perez, was a "massive tax break for the wealthy" and "an age tax."
Alleging that Trump did not like the title "Trumpcare" for the Obamacare replacement bill, Perez said he had his own idea for what to call the legislation.
"You know what embodies the program: 'I Don't Care,' because they don't give a shit about people," Perez said after dismissing "Trumpcare" and "Ryancare" as potential titles for the bill, which was never brought up for a vote.
Perez also touted the Women's March on Washington, D.C. that took place the day after Trump's inauguration, appearing to validate claims he heard from the event that Trump did not win the 2016 presidential election.
"January 20th was undeniably an important day in this country, but January 21st was far more important," Perez said in an apparent reference to Trump's inauguration and the Women's March.
"'Donald Trump, you don't stand for our values.' That's what they said. 'Donald Trump, you didn't win this election,'" Perez said in an effort to reiterate the protesters' messages.
Perez, who served as secretary of labor during the Obama administration, also said during the event that he opposes President Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil Gorsuch, and would filibuster his nomination if he was a senator.
Perez was elected DNC chair in February, beating out Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.), who was named deputy chair.