Democrats and liberals over the past year have not been shy about saying that they believe Republican policies will kill Americans.
From tax reform to withdrawing from the Paris climate accord, Democratic lawmakers and others have not held back their criticism while trying to derail GOP legislation from becoming law. One of their main tactics has been to warn that Republican policy ideas would cause "people to die."
This threat was most apparent when Republicans sought to repeal and replace Obamacare last year.
Must-watch moment—
Cory Booker to @MSNBC on the health bill: "This will cost American lives if it ever becomes law. This will mean death." pic.twitter.com/zbbK7ygVkd
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) May 4, 2017
Not if they're dead, Kellyanne. https://t.co/oYizjgmyXm
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) June 26, 2017
This isn’t football. It’s not about scoring points. #AHCA will devastate Americans’ healthcare. Families will go bankrupt. People will die.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 4, 2017
Those who are sick will suffer, and some of them will die. This is a shame and a disgrace. May God have mercy on us all.
— John Lewis (@repjohnlewis) May 4, 2017
Her emails > impending death to millions.#ButHerEmails?
— Dar'shun Kendrick (@DarshunKendrick) May 4, 2017
This is a rare "life or death" vote. Thousands will die if this bill becomes law. Upton amendment is just political cover for cowards.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) May 3, 2017
House GOP, I hope you slept well last night. Because after this vote, you will have the death of thousands of your conscience forever.
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) May 4, 2017
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) has been one of the most willing to espouse such brooding rhetoric. The Vermont senator has on multiple occasions claimed that "thousands will die" if Republicans successfully repeal Obamacare.
Let us be clear and this is not trying to be overly dramatic: Thousands of people will die if the Republican health care bill becomes law.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) June 23, 2017
Sanders has also stated that Republicans "should be reminded every day that 36,000 people will die yearly" if the Affordable Care Act is scrapped.
As Republicans try to repeal the Affordable Care Act, they should be reminded every day that 36,000 people will die yearly as a result.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 12, 2017
Sanders made similar claims while appearing on NBC's "Meet the Press" with Chuck Todd last year.
https://youtu.be/qJ0Omv5NfoA
Last July, the Vermont senator even compared a Republican health care proposal, which ultimately failed in the Senate, to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, saying the former would kill more people if signed into law.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) has framed the debates over health care and tax reform as being "life or death."
https://youtu.be/kE9qDUTzDgg
Amid the debate over the Trump administration's federal budget proposal, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D.) said that because of proposed social spending cuts, "some children will die."
https://youtu.be/iu8U1cgqLJA
In his first appearance on "Meet the Press" with Chuck Todd as Democratic National Committee chair, Tom Perez argued that "people will die" as a result of the GOP's attempts to repeal and replace Obamacare.
https://youtu.be/r74LSnxrisA
Appearing on CNN shortly after President Donald Trump announced his intention to leave the Paris climate accord, California Gov. Jerry Brown (D.) denounced the move, warning that "if we don't decarbonize our future, people are going to die."