A Prominent Republican Member Of Congress Asked A Really Absurd Question And Is Now Being Roasted For It

Yeah, that's not it.

Elise Stefanik is a rising Republican congressional star* from upstate New York.

Alex Wong / Getty Images

*I know it's gross to call political people "stars," but that's what people say.

She's on the shortlist to be Donald Trump's running mate in November.

Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images

Now she's going viral for a comment she made at a press conference.

Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images

In the video she asks, "Are you better off today than you were four years ago?" Then she says, "The answer for hardworking Americans across the country is a resounding 'no.'"

Stefanik: Are you better off today than you were four years ago? The answer is a resounding no pic.twitter.com/53SC8pyUIs

— Acyn (@Acyn) March 6, 2024

CSPAN / Via Twitter: @Acyn

In case you forgot, it was almost four years ago when the lockdown started.

Four years ago was literally March of 2020, when everything shut down. https://t.co/YaP0E5yz0W

— Hemant Mehta (@hemantmehta) March 6, 2024

CSPAN / Via Twitter: @hemantmehta

People were obviously like, "Wait, what are you even talking about?!"

Ma'am, I don't think this question works when the four years ago in question was *checks calendar* March 2020. https://t.co/1uSxMXcrjc

— Ashton Pittman (@ashtonpittman) March 6, 2024

CSPAN / Via Twitter: @ashtonpittman

"4 years ago people were getting into fist fights over toilet paper," one person said.

4 years ago people were getting into fist fights over toilet paper Elise. https://t.co/mAhm9aZlA9

— ailise was born on a storm swept rock (@badvegangirl) March 7, 2024

CSPAN / Via Twitter: @badvegangirl

"Well, I'm not seeing morgue refrigerator trucks & I'm not being told to inject bleach," another person said.

Well, I'm not seeing morgue refrigerator trucks & I'm not being told to inject bleach so.... https://t.co/VlwELPmTav pic.twitter.com/R6MpjeIrAI

— Kimmer (@kvonyborg) March 7, 2024

Netflix / CSPAN / Via Twitter: @kvonyborg

Other people shared pictures of empty shelves.

Yeah I think I'm much better off now than I was 4 years ago. https://t.co/bpCljH14hU pic.twitter.com/3q6VNTVzvd

— 𝕏 Derrick 𝕏♎ 🟧 🟦#BLM 🇺🇦 🏳️‍🌈 (@Spawn_03) March 7, 2024

CSPAN / Via Twitter: @Spawn_03

This person brought up their 401(k).

My 401k now versus then. https://t.co/p2VtPvkDuL pic.twitter.com/9G3zWQ3Oie

— C to the J (@cjuk33) March 6, 2024

Nintendo / CSPAN / Via Twitter: @cjuk33

And these medical professionals shared a picture of themselves covered in plastic.

The biggest shocker in this photo from four years ago is that we actually had an open bed to admit to. https://t.co/vk3P55Hf2I pic.twitter.com/l24ggLeTWU

— anna, CCRN-CSC-CMC, CES-A (@Cerriwin) March 7, 2024

CSPAN / Via Twitter: @Cerriwin

From "Four years ago I was buying a lot of hand sanitizer"...

Four years ago I was buying a lot of hand sanitizer. https://t.co/oVWH0uSfKo

— Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) March 6, 2024

CSPAN / Via Twitter: @MattGertz

...to "I was hunkered down in my house bleaching the groceries with my cats."

You mean when I was hunkered down in my house bleaching the groceries with my cats? Yeah I think I’m better off now. https://t.co/H1OO10Nvue

— Keenan Crow (@KF_Crow) March 7, 2024

CSPAN / Via Twitter: @KF_Crow

Four years ago was literally the start of the pandemic.

Does nobody remember what was happening 4 years ago?

If you have toilet paper today, you are better off https://t.co/gvZGjcw76L

— Nunca Trumpismo (@NeverTrumpTexan) March 6, 2024

CSPAN / Via Twitter: @NeverTrumpTexan

As this person said, "March 2020 was, uh, not great."

I know a lot of people have memory-holed it for political reasons but March 2020 was, uh, not great https://t.co/cnaUOprsZS

— Bayek of Sowa (@SowaTheArrogant) March 6, 2024

CSPAN / Via Twitter: @SowaTheArrogant