Fox Business News personality Stuart Varney revived a 2012-era GOP meme Thursday on "Fox & Friends," accusing President Barack Obama of "buying votes" with food stamps, "Obamaphones" and other social services.

Varney made the remarks on "Fox & Friends" after co-host Brian Kilmeade noted that, according to the Agriculture Department, some 46 million Americans receive food stamps. Kilmeade then added: "Is this a planned strategy from the White House to keep the handouts at high levels?"

Varney nodded, saying: "This is deliberate. This is redistribution. This is the administration taking from this group, giving to that group — essentially buying votes. "

He then went on to list a variety of social services "we're just handing out," including housing assistance, the Earned Income Tax Credit — "a check in the mail from the treasury" — Medicaid, and Social Security Disability benefits.

Varney saw a conspiracy: "The President wants to redistribute! He wants to give it out. He wants to hand it out. Because he gets votes in return."

TPM