QUICK CLIPS: Tafoya Tells Minnesotans to “Take One Less Trip to Starbucks” and to “Just Try to be Patriots” as Gas Prices Skyrocket

CNN’s Jake Tapper: “It does seem as though politicians, especially Republican politicians, are having difficulty figuring out how to talk about the economic crisis”

Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen: “It’s kind of like, let them eat cake. You’ll have one less Starbucks when people can’t pay their bills, when people can’t fill up their tank […] They’re in a billionaire bubble over there”

CNN’s Bakari Sellers: “When Michele Tafoya compares it to a Starbucks cup of coffee, people, people really turn off from that”

In case you missed it, wealthy Republican activist and GOP Senate candidate Michele Tafoya is facing harsh criticism after she told voters that they should “take one less trip to Starbucks” and “just try to be patriots” if they’re concerned about skyrocketing gas prices.

Tafoya’s “let them eat cake” comments mirror GOP Senate candidates across the country who are “having difficulty figuring out how to talk about the economic crisis” as voters “really turn off” from callous comments from candidates who refuse to address the GOP affordability crisis. 

See for yourself:

CNN: GOP MN Senate Candidate Suggests “One Less Trip to Starbucks” Because of Rising Gas Prices

CNN’s JAKE TAPPER: Some big races coming up. And it does seem as though politicians, especially Republican politicians, are having difficulty figuring out how to talk about the economic crisis.

And in a radio interview yesterday, former NFL sideline reporter, Republican candidate for Minnesota Senate seat Michele Tafoya was asked about the big issues that she’s hearing from voters as she campaigns. And she said affordability. And then she had to say, she then shared this advice for Americans worried about rising gas prices.

Minnesota GOP Senate Candidate MICHELE TAFOYA [CLIP]: I know it’s frustrating and I know it’s hard for people. What I would say to them is we’ve lost some service members over there who have put their lives on the line to protect us. I think right now at least just kind of keeping a stiff upper lip. Maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks and so that gas goes a little further until this thing is over and these gas prices come back down again. Let’s just try to be patriots about this.

JAKE TAPPER: Boy, if she just stopped with the service members that put their lives on the line to protect us, then like that would have been a pretty good message, I think. But then she went on to talk about one less Starbucks, stiff upper lip, try to be patriots.

MS NOW: GOP Candidate to Voters: Skip Starbucks Amid High Prices

Minnesota GOP Senate Candidate MICHELE TAFOYA [CLIP]: Maybe you take one less trip to Starbucks and so that gas goes a little further until this thing is over and these gas prices come back down again. Let’s just try to be patriots about this.

MS NOW’s SYMONE SANDERS TOWNSEND: I don’t know if a lot of folks in this country have taken a trip to Starbucks this week, but I know people that still have to get their children to school. I know people that still have to get to work. And so I’m just wondering if this resonates with people in Nevada. 

Democratic Senator JACKY ROSEN: It’s kind of like, let them eat cake. You’ll have one less Starbucks when people can’t pay their bills, when people can’t fill up their tank, they’re in a silver… They’re in a billionaire bubble over there. 

CNN: Trump on Economic Toll of War: “Could be Much Worse” 

CNN’s BAKARI SELLERS: When Michele Tafoya compares it to a Starbucks cup of coffee people, people really turn off from that. 

[…]

Listen to Michele Tafoya – so this is where I’m gonna address it – when she says things like, take one less cup of coffee and you see the coffin come back of the gentleman and his family running up – shrouded in the American flag – you know, that is not worth just a cup of coffee. Like when is Washington, D.C. going to wake up?