Two C-SPAN callers faced backlash after they complained about people using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to buy steaks.
On Wednesday's edition of C-SPAN's Washington Journal program, two men accused food stamp recipients of fraud.
"I know a lot of people on food stamps, but when they go out, and they buy groceries, they're getting like steak and, you know, all this fish and expensive and name-brand foods," one man opined.
"I'm telling you there's so much fraud going on with SNAP," a second man complained. "I mean they're buying steaks and Red Bull drinks and the kids are crying."
A caller named Lonnie from North Carolina pushed back on the complaints.
"I've been hearing a lot of people talking about [fraud] in food stamps and people buying steaks," he explained. "These are jealous people."
Lonnie said that foods in his neighborhood had been "red-lined."
"Then they flood my neighborhood with all types of drugs, and I'm not a racist person, but [a] majority of [the] time, it's got to be a white man that has something to do with it," he argued. "Then they flood my neighborhood with weapons [and] easy access to my children."
Lonnie pointed to alleged crimes committed by Rep. George Santos (R-NY) and former President Donald Trump.
"They don't call and say, hey they [are] eating steaks while they are auditing people with food stamps, but they're so afraid of all of the people who got a lot of money," he insisted. "These [are] where we find a fraud."
