Rep. Elise Stefanik attacks Democrats as ‘pedo grifters’ on baby formula shortage

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) denounced Democrats who disagreed with her proposals to ease baby formula shortage as “usual pedo grifters.”

The No. 3 House GOP leader slammed President Biden and his allies on Friday for failing to solve the shortage and for continuing to buy formula for undocumented immigrant babies detained at the Mexican border.

“Rather than present ANY PLAN or urgency to address the nationwide baby formula crisis, they double down on sending pallets of formula to the southern border,” Stefanik tweeted. “Joe Biden has NO PLAN.”

It wasn’t clear who Stefanik was insulting on a second successive day of angry attacks against Democrats over the shortage of baby formula.

Stefanik blames Biden’s economic policies for causing the empty drug store and grocery shelves that are stressing out parents and childcare providers from coast to coast.

Industry executives say the constraints began last year as the COVID-19 pandemic led to disruptions in ingredients, labor and transportation. Supplies were further squeezed by parents stockpiling during lockdowns.

The shortage reached a tipping point after Abbott recalled several major brands and shut down its Sturgis, Michigan factory after discovering contaminated formula resulting in illness and death of children.

The “pedo” attack is extreme even for Stefanik, who has morphed from a moderate upstate Republican into an ardent Trump supporter since she replaced Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) in the House leadership.

Right-wing Republicans have started deriding political opponents as child abusers for holding divergent points of view. For example, supporters of LGBTQ rights have been accused of “grooming” children, especially those who openly oppose measures like Florida’s new “Don’t Say Gay” law that allows schools to bar discussion of sexuality and gender identity.