BREAKING: Randy Perkins takes credit for funding wounded veteran Brian Mast’s health care
Democrat Randy Perkins just came completely unhinged in an editorial board meeting with TC Palm.
In a joint FL-18 editorial board meeting with Brian Mast – a combat veteran who lost both of his legs in Afghanistan – Perkins attacked Mast for getting free health care through the VA. He then proceeded to take credit for paying for Mast’s health care.
Perkins then questioned Mast’s service and sacrifice to his country – service which earned him The Bronze Star Medal, The Army Commendation Medal for Valor, The Purple Heart Medal, and The Defense Meritorious Service Medal – on why that made him qualified to serve in Congress.
NRCC Comment: “Randy Perkins is unfit to represent the people of Florida’s 18th District in the House of Representatives.” –NRCC Spokesman Chris Pack
Transcript 1
Perkins:
Brian, what do you pay for your health insurance?
Mast:
Well, actually I have VA health care, number one, but I should also have what’s known as Tricare for life, but unfortunately because I am…
Perkins:
I asked you what you paid for it.
Mast:
…100% permanently disabled, and they actually want to provide me Medicare, but it’s something that I refused, I end up having to give away my Tricare benefit and only have VA…
Perkins:
So is it zero? You pay zero?
Mast:
No I do still have to actually pay something for my…
Perkins:
And as an American taxpayer I am very proud for my taxpayer…taxpayer dollars to pay…to, uh, assist with insurance for you and for every other veteran that’s ever served this country so let me be clear on that.
Mast:
Thank you.
Perkins:
However, before we start making decisions that impact families across this country, we also have to see how they would impact me if I was in that same position. So as far as the affordable care act…
Transcript 2
Perkins: So Brian
Mast: Yes Randy
Perkins: I am the first one as you know to honor the service and sacrifices that you have made and done for this country so tell me why the sacrifices and the services you provided for this country make you capable for solving the issues of social security for seniors, the mental health among our children our teenagers, the opioid addiction in this country, um single mothers throughout this district fighting for an opportunity for their children, our veterans coming back with no job opportunities or services and veterans programs of government contracting which the intention is good it’s not working, our families with livable wages or labor, increasing wages, keeping jobs in this country, fighting and trying to solve the environment issues of the rivers and the boons, our quality of life, our small businesses are being devastated. How does the fact that you continually talk about the incredible service you’ve provided for this country make you capable of solving any of the problems I just talked about?
Mast: Well it’s what’s involved in that service that makes me very capable of solving a number of those issues or at least brings me to the right point
Perkins: pick two…answer one question and actually answer it
Mast: Certainly, the department of veterans affairs and what’s going on with rules of engagement on the battlefield, how about those two? I have a very unique philosophy
Perkins: Tell me how a senior in this district on food stamps…
Mast: What’s wrong? I didn’t pick the one you wanted?
Perkins: How did rules of engagement on the battlefield…
Mast: I didn’t mean to not pick the two…
Perkins: No that wasn’t one of my questions…What question did I ask you that you need to answer with rules of engagement… nobody questions your intelligence on military issues okay so what…
Mast: You asked me to point to two that my military service…
Perkins: What question did I ask you that requires response of rules of engagement?
Mast: You asked me to pick two things…
Perkins: Okay what what what question requires that response?
Mast: VA, you didn’t hear me say VA…do you want to give me a chance or are you just happy with hearing me say VA?
Perkins: How is what I said about veterans and job opportunities…have to do with rules of engagement
Mast: Okay so I’ll give you it, I don’t want Randy to get…he’s very thinned skinned, I don’t want to get him upset
Perkins: No okay here is what we need…Governor Christie here right now to say there he goes again… that’s what we need
Mast: He’s very thin skinned…
Perkins: I’m not thin skinned!