Biden promotes coffee machine tax credit in flub-filled speech
President Biden tried to generate some buzz for Democrats Saturday by making a head-scratching claim about tax credits for coffee machines during a flub-filled speech in Portland, Ore.
Two days after new data showed consumer prices continuing to surge, Biden resolutely ignored the topic of inflation in a speech billed as “Remarks on Lowering Costs for American Families” — focusing instead on benefits tucked into his monster spending bill.
“The Inflation Reduction Act has to do with your ability to get tax credits for buying — if you need a new coffee machine, a new washer, a new refrigerator,” Biden said. “And you buy an efficient refrigerator, efficient coffee machine, you get a tax credit for it.”
As part of a $400 billion expenditure to combat climate change, the Inflation Reduction Act includes tax credits for big-ticket appliances such as stoves and cooktops — but only for consumers who are swapping out a gas-powered appliance in favor of an electric one.
The comment apparently revealed Biden’s continued unfamiliarity with the details of a bill he has touted as one of his presidency’s greatest achievements — and showed him to be out of touch with voters’ economic woes.
“More honest Biden: I’m f**king up the economy so bad that you need government assistance to buy a damn coffee machine,” pundit Doug Powers groused on Twitter.
“I’m gonna get my wife a new coffee machine and a BIG Biden tax credit!!!” posted Mark M. Scott.
Earlier in the speech, Biden appeared to blank on the name of Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden — calling him “that other guy I just talked about in the Senate” — just moments after warmly thanking the Democrat for helping to get the bill passed.
Biden, America’s oldest-ever president, turns 80 next month — and his frequent verbal stumbles have led to questions about his mental fitness for office.