A House Democratic staff member who was ripped for praising President Biden after his $8,000 student loan debt was erased is facing even more scrutiny on social media over posts displaying expensive spending habits while earning a salary upwards of $90,000 per year.
Ben Kamens, communications director for longtime Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, sparked a social media firestorm that received almost 20 million views this week when he posted a piece of paper showing his $8,250 in student loans dating back to 2010 had been wiped away following Biden’s latest student loan bailout.
“Just got a call to let me know my student debt has been canceled,” Kamens wrote. “This is why elections matter. Thanks @JoeBiden.”
Conservatives on social media blasted Kamens for working in government and seemingly boasting about taxpayers footing the bill for his debt. Kamens earned $80,000 last year and is on track to make closer to $90,000 this year, according to Legistorm.
Congressional staffer Ben Kamens, left, and President Biden. (Ben Kamens Facebook page/Getty)
The criticism of Kamens intensified when social media users noticed past posts that showed Kamens posting at high-priced restaurants and purchasing high-dollar items.
“Phone eats first,” Kamens posted earlier this month along with photos of a seafood tower containing lobster and oysters next to a cocktail.
“At the Grill from Ipanema, phone eats first,” Kamens posted in May along with pictures of food presumably from the high-end Brazilian steakhouse.
Last July, Kamens posted that he was a season ticket holder for the Philadelphia Eagles, which the New York Post reported costs $2,692 annually on average.
Posts from X account belonging to Ben Kamens.
Kamens has posted several times about taking trips and staying at AirBnb locations in recent years, including a post from last month when he was sitting in a hot tub with the caption, “Hot tub with a view.”
Kamens has also posted several pictures out on the town with drinks, including a post of him smoking a cigar with the caption “we out here” at what appeared to be an event from Washington, D.C.’s “Nerd Prom” in April.
“The median income inOH-09 is $62k,” NRCC Communications Director Jack Pandol posted on X in response to Kamens’ post with the seafood tower. “Ohioans who work hard, save, and pay off their own loans are priced out of brunch seafood towers.”
“The student loan debate in two tweets,” Red State Editor Bill “Streiff” Crews posted with a picture of the seafood tower and the letter Kamens posted on X. “Kamens makes $90K a year and works forRep. Marcy Kaptur.”
“Remember this, every time you think those who went to technical and vocational schools should be paying the freight for student loans taken out by Congressional staffers eating and drinking as they mock you,” James Madison Institute Senior Vice President Sal Nuzzo posted on X. “Because that is what’s happening, and it is absolutely disgusting.”
“Rarely is the Democratic political vision so clearly on display,” Dominic Pino wrote about Kamens in an article for National Review.
MINNESOTA MAYOR THANKS PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR CANCELING HIS STUDENT LOANS
X posts from Ben Kamens.
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