Gingrich to black people: paychecks, not food aid

[NoGOPZone]

Source: Associated Press

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said Thursday he is willing to go before the NAACP and urge blacks to demand paychecks, not food stamps.

Gingrich told a town hall meeting at a senior center in Plymouth, N.H., that if the NAACP invites him to its annual convention this year, he'd go there and talk about "why the African-American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps."

He also said he'd pitch a new Social Security program aimed at helping young people, particularly African-American males, who he said get the smallest return on Social Security.

Gingrich routinely lambasts President Barack Obama as the "best food stamp president in American history." He also has spoken previously about welcoming an invitation from the NAACP to speak and has been critical of GOP candidates who have not accepted such an invitation.

http://news.yahoo.com/gingrich-black-people-paychecks-not-food-aid-234405279.html

[JustAnotherGen]

1. And the NAACP

Should absolutely REFUSE to allow him to speak. They should REFUSE it. Him, Paul, and Santorum. They shouldn't even be allowed to THINK the acronym NAACP.

[SemperEadem]

20. I totally agree

the three of them have made themselves plain as day--no need to expound upon anything, especially since it won't be sincere and the explanation will be forced out of them. They don't give a fuck if the NAACP is upset about their remarks; in fact, they're looking for an excuse to drive the knife in deeper.

The minute they're done, they're going to call the members of the NAACP a bunch of monkeys, anyway, so they might as well just stay away and the NAACP make better use of their time and resources.

[guitar man]

36. No, they should allow him to speak

And they should allow the audience to have all the rotten eggs and tomatoes they can carry in

[SharonAnn]

66. They should tell him they DO want paychecks. That would mean jobs! What's he going to do create jo

I think this was a big miss by his opponents and the Democrats. They should've responded with this!

"That's what they've been asking for. They ARE asking for jobs! What are you going to do about increasing jobs?"

Keep pointing out that people want jobs and that the Republicans are doing nothing about creating jobs!

Say it over, and over again! Louder and louder each time!

People want jobs! People want jobs! Everyone wants jobs. Whites, African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, etc.

Over and over again. People want jobs.

[Ter]

45. I'm not so sure even Romney should be allowed to speak

Debatable I guess.

[booley]

48. I disagree

they should allow him to speak. they should let him say whatever his coal liek heart desires to say. They should sit silently so every word can be heard. They should record it so those words can be kept and remembered for all living history so no one (especially Gingrich) can go back later and re write history.

IF one wants a good argument for why conservatism fails, Gingrich provides one.

[JustAnotherGen]

53. If they allow Gingrinch

Then they better invite Paul and Santorum to attend too. Because if they make ONE bigot 'legit' - make ALL bigots 'legit'.

And truthfully - he's too went to step on and too low to kick. He's not good enough to be there. None of them are.

[booley]

73. legitimacy

by All means allow PAul and Santorum too if they are dumb enough to go.

Hoisting someone by their own petard isnt' really giving someone "legitimacy" in my opinion. Just the opposite.

Lets use Ron Paul as an example. Many Liberals would probably have supported him at least in principle. He does often speak about things Liberals agree with. Or seems too. But the more one hears what he has to say, the less they like him.

[JustAnotherGen]

74. Look

Each year I make an annual contribution to the NAACP. And it's not a $5 one. What if I'm in attendence? You mean I have to sit and listen to someone and be in the same room as someone who is too wet to step on and too low too kick?

No. No. GingriNch is just that - and he should be treated no different than David Duke. Same guy in my book.

[caseymoz]

65. Hmm. Solidify his support among whites by talking down to African-Americans?

How can the NAACP pass up such an opportunity?

But you know, white-Repubs will vote for him for even offering to do it.

People should stop paying Gingrich for being a professional dick and expect him to get a real job. See how far he goes without a network.

[ChadwickHenryWard]

68. No, maybe if he shows up

they can explain to him how vilely racist his comments are.

[phantom power]

2. But Newt, "demanding" a paycheck sounds a lot like communism.

Republicans are so full of shit. They don't even pretend to have a consistent philosophy anymore.

[ehrnst]

10. Yeah...Demand it until you're employed, then stop your demands immediately...

Because unions are evil.

[GreenPartyVoter]

29. +1

[Gringostan]

72. I think you captured the republican party perfectly. NT

[Marrah_G]

3. The GOP is really bringing their contempt of African-Americans into the light.

they are no longer even bothering to hide it.

[walruswasrob]

6. Exactly

Why anyone supports these assholes is beyond me.

[CBHagman]

43. Contempt is definitely what Gingrich conveys.

Get hold of a transcript of some of his stump speeches or, better yet, listen to audio or watch a video to get a feel for the tone. He speaks with relish of taking people off food stamps, Medicaid, etc., as though participation in such programs were not indicative of desperation, and speaks of demanding job training for the unemployed. Huh. I'd dearly love to plunk this blowhard into a cubicle somewhere and let him see what it's like to peruse resumes from highly experienced and well-educated workers who apply for positions far below their previous ones.

And he's even worse when he speaks of poor neighborhoods and suggests young people in them have no model of the work ethic, and as though they need Newt Gingrich, with his schedule of fees and account at Tiffany's, to tell them what hard work is like.

I say send him to speak to the NAACP and let them hand him his rear end on a plate.

[LAGC]

61. No shit.

What the fuck is with all these assholes acting as if Blacks are the primary recipients of welfare?

HELLO. There are plenty of poor white people out there too!

Where's all the trickle-down love???

[walruswasrob]

4. *facepalm*

I weep for this country.

[freshwest]

5. Ohmygawd. Will the seniors there vote for him?

[DWilliamsamh]

11. Yes. yes they will.

Fortunately not enough other folks will vote for him to make a difference. Newt's (and Republicans in general)core constituents of racists, homophobes and chicken hawks seems to be dying out. Thank God.

[freshwest]

24. It's sad these people are going to vote for the party that seeks to disenfranchise the young...

And the poor who are the future of our country. They would break the social contract that is keeping them alive now for the sake of old bigotries. Insane!

[Mopar151]

47. Not too likely

Plymouth is a college town - more used to minorities than most NH towns, more likely to be a bit liberal. And paleocons hereabouts like Ron Paul a lot more.

[freshwest]

55. So you're saying the newt just found himself a captive audience who couldn't escape? Figures...

[qanda]

7. You just come on with it

I will make sure to be there to see that beat down.

[DWilliamsamh]

8. I already have a job Newt

And if I have anything to do with it you will continue to work as a shoddy huckster for your fake business awards, and be investigated for influence peddling and bribery in D.C.

[rfranklin]

9. This is the convoluted propagandizing of the right...its not our racism and discrimination...

its those damn Democrats who want to keep you on food stamps welfare and unemployment. This gives the racist righties (mostly whiteys) a free pass. And after all, those blacks already have affirmative action handing them everything on a platter without really working. Just look at Obama!

[yardwork]

12. More BLATANT racism from the GOP.

[phantom power]

13. Because it just didn't occurr to them that they could "get a job"?

Republicans really do think minorities are just in need of some "guidance" -- the whole "blacks are like children" thing in 21st-century form.

[sinkingfeeling]

14. Sure, everybody can get one of those plentiful, great paying jobs created by

all those tax cuts to the 'job creators' over the last decade!

[jimlup]

15. Yeah but Newt is pretty much a side show these days unless we can help him cause a big mess

Amongst the Reptilians... maybe he'll form the anti-Romney coalition he's been talking about.

[AlbertCat]

16. African-American community should demand paychecks

Can white people demand a pay check too?

How about children.... working as janitors?

Do you have to have a job to demand this pay check? Or is it just for African-Americans that have a job but don't get a paycheck? (what is that called?)

Does demanding it get you one?

Can they demand 40 acres and a mule too? How about demanding an account at Tiffany's?

Is Newty blurting out one of those ideas he gets in his ivory tower of a head again? (they're ALL good ideas! Newty thought of them)

[sarcasmo]

17. Wow! How can any black person vote Republican?

[tonybgood]

52. All you need do is remove the word "black" from your phrase and you have the proper question!

The answer is completely obvious!!!

Now, if you are the party of newspeak, then you can say anything because you don't mean it, anyway!!!

[nxylas]

18. Did his speech include the word "bonbons"?

What are bonbons, anyway? And why are Republicans so obsessed with them?

[Odin2005]

34. It's the French term for junk food and sweets.

[nxylas]

37. French, huh?

I thought real Murkins hated the godless, cheese-eating Frenchies with their 35-hour working weeks and their generous provision of public services.

[Mopar151]

49. In NH, a good portion of the "real Muricans"

Have French (Canadian) surnames. France-bashing never caught on in these parts......

[Gormy Cuss]

70. Actually, French-Canadian bashing was pretty common in both NH and ME.

Calling someone or something "French" for example meant the same as stupid or ignorant.

The Francophonic areas in the southern parts of these states are pretty much gone and with it the need to poke fun at the French speakers and their traditions and beliefs. Instead there are French-Canadian cultural centers celebrating the contributions of these immigrants.

I suspect it's rare to hear someone say "That's so French" these days.

[Mopar151]

71. Tied in with Catholic-hating, classisim, and bigotry in general

And yes, I've heard the term "swamp canary" before. And I long ago lost count of the guys I know named "Frenchie".
Much less prevalent than it used to be.

[SemperEadem]

19. what the fuck makes him think that the NAACP needs to be told this?

this shit isn't new to them. how about talking to white male corporate america about their hiring practices and the blatant lack of good paying jobs and perhaps then the NAACP can be approached about what is going on in the AA community.

To assume, as Neut has done, that ALL blacks are sitting on their asses, waiting for a welfare check to come their way shows a mind that is so stricken with stupidity that there is no hope for it. All of the demands in the world will not force a company to hire ANY.ONE.--white, black, asian, whatever--if that were not the case, then there would be no occupy wall street and their demands for jobs. My god!

He has no consideration for anyone but himself and that skank of a wife of his.

[Roland99]

21. what an ignorant, racist fuck!!

Nice of him to ASSume that everyone is on or wants food stamps.

jesus h. fucking christ that angry white man is one stupid mother fucker!!

[BlueMTexpat]

22. Newt demonstrates not only racism but how data challenged he actually is.

Nutrition Assistance encompasses a wide variety of programs. http://www.fns.usda.gov/fns/data.htm

To receive food stamps (now called Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)), one is literally among the poorest of the poor.

"SNAP/Food stamps The Food Stamp Program, the nation’s most important anti-hunger program, helps roughly 40 million low-income Americans to afford a nutritionally adequate diet. More than 75 percent of all food stamp participants are in families with children; nearly one-third of participants are elderly people or people with disabilities. Unlike most means-tested benefit programs, which are restricted to particular categories of low-income individuals, the Food Stamp Program is broadly available to almost all households with low incomes. Under federal rules, to qualify for food stamps, a household must meet three criteria (some states have raised these limits):

Its total monthly income generally must be at or below 130 percent of the poverty line, or roughly $1,980 (about $23,800 a year) for a three-person family in fiscal year 2010.
Its net income, or income after deductions are applied for items such as high housing costs and child care, must be less than or equal to the poverty line.
Its assets must fall below certain limits: households without an elderly member must have assets of $2,000 or less, and households with an elderly or disabled member must have assets of $3,000 or less. (Taken from CBPP Food Stamps. Also see Wikipedia SNAP and USDA SNAP.)"

See http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/us_hunger_facts.htm The article referenced is excellent and quite readable.

People who use food stamps are using them out of necessity and most who need them are ALREADY bringing home paychecks, just not earning a living wage.

Newt's words show how "historical" he is - right out of Dickensian England. What a puny, petty, phony, mean-spirited excuse for a human being he is!

[i was a cathar]

50. I am sorry but 130% of poverty line is not poorest of the poor.

I don't know why you even had to make that point unless you make so much more that it seems like a pittance...

[BlueMTexpat]

59. And your point is ...? eom

[Bjorn Against]

69. Yes, that is the poorest of the poor

That means you make a MAXIMUM of 130% of the poverty line, and considering the poverty line is probably set way too low to begin with if you qualify for food stamps you are among the poorest of the poor. Nearly everyone at that income level is in serious financial trouble.

[noiretextatique]

23. keep appealing to racists

because you know you will never get a single AA vote.

[KamaAina]

25. KamaAina to Gingrich: Jobs, not banksters

Paychecks come from jobs, Newt. Or haven't Mommy and Daddy had the talk with you yet?

[CreekDog]

26. Apparently the trick to getting the nomination is to somehow drive the black vote down to 2% from 5%

[TruthBeTold65]

27. There is such a huge disconnection...

not just been the republicans and the world but...between those who believe that jobs magically appear to those who want them (which technically would give us a 0% unemployment rate) and the fact that jobs require that there is a "demand" for products/goods.

Are the republicans drinking a special kind of kool-aid?

[Cleita]

28. Paychecks would be good.

I always thought able bodied people on welfare could be offered jobs at a living wage and with some benefits like health care and then put to work doing stuff that needs to be done around public places. Most welfare recipients would prefer that especially if there is a chance to learn job skills and get promotions. However, I don't think this is what Gingrich has in mind. What Republicans want is to put the unemployed working in the fields and kitchens of restaurants at minimum wage or less to replace the undocumented workers doing those jobs and don't forget putting poor kids to work in their schools as janitors.

[madrchsod]

30. what about the other americans? don`t they need a paycheck too?

well it is a good thing he is ""best food stamp president in american history" otherwise tens of millions would be eating the rich....

[Moonwalk]

31. Excuse me Newt, I've a few Questions.....

(1) Are you implying that all African-Americans are on food stamps? They're not getting paid if they have a job, just getting free food from the government? Wow. If that were true, I'd think every corporation would be hiring African-Americans rather than those white folks they have to actually pay.

(2) Or are you saying that you want the unemployed and poor to get free money rather than food stamps? I'm very confused now, because it seems that the Repuke stance is: don't give the poor money, they waste it on frivolous stuff and drugs! I mean, that is why food stamps exist, right? So that poor people can only buy food with it, not drugs. Food Stamps were created to appease conservatives.

(3) Demand pay checks from whom? And if African-Americans are getting the smallest return on Social Security...why are you part of a party that wants to do away with Social Security and make sure they get nothing rather than what little they're getting?

I'm confused.

[Enrique]

32. unless you're a janitor

Newt: fuck the janitors!

[Odin2005]

33. People WANT jobs, you dipshit, they just can't find them.

Most people fell ashamed to need government help and WANT to have a job to pull their own weight.

[TBF]

35. Because it's bad for folks to eat?

This asshole shouldn't be allowed to speak into a paper bag, much less to a group of people. Perhaps if folks could actually get a job they would have money to eat. I had yet another friend lose their job today. Republicans couldn't care less ...

[Hugabear]

38. Funny - in their attempt to show they're not racist, they break out racist stereotypes

I'm sure this is Newt's way of trying to show that he's not racist, that he's trying to help the African-American community. In reality, it's really not any better than saying "I have black friends" - it's completely transparent.

I guess we should give him props for not saying "you people" - although maybe he's saving that for his meeting with the NAACP.

[drm604]

39. Absolutely clueless.

Seriously Newt? Do you realize that you're accusing African-Americans of being happy with food stamps rather than jobs?

Does he seriously not see the racism inherent in what he's saying? He must not, or he wouldn't be offering to say it at an NAACP convention.

I find the "demand paychecks" phrase interesting. When people actually do that, the Republican response is often something like "nobody owes you a job".

[Marrah_G]

40. This asshole actually thinks AA citizens would prefer food stamps.....

It's infuriating that these people have ANY say in our government.

[SmittynMo]

41. The right have spoken again

And again, the ignorant racist right are at it again. What about all the white people on food stamps? I'm willing to bet you the whites outnumber the blacks here. And then the smart ass remark about Obama? The reason we're in this mess is from the past president. Can no one see this? Santorum, Gingrich, Romney, all of them, are racists. They prove it every day. Is this what we want running this country? They just keep digging the grave deeper and deeper. Keep digging boys.

[DaveJ]

42. African American entrepreneurship is on the rise

He should be praising African Americans' efforts to start their own small business, which they are 50% more likely to do than white people. (http://www.oma.state.md.us/businessStartUp.html)

Politicians should increase support to small business owners. Instead, Republicans are too obsessed with worshiping the corporate system, to even acknowledge hard work and ethics.

[tpsbmam]

44. I'd like to introduce these ReTHUG bigots to an awesome NY Times tool......

And, if they'd spend a little time looking through it, they'd discover that whites outnumber blacks on food stamps in many areas and are always represented as one of the groups using food stamps......and many of those areas where white usage outnumbers black usage are in states that are HEAVILY ReTHUGlican. Here's just one example: in Starr County, Texas, with a 2008 population of 63,177, 36% used SNAP in June 2009! And 63% of the recipients were white. 19% were black. Chew on those figures, you bigoted asshole! How about you make that argument for ALL Americans! And just how are you going to achieve that, you POS?

[tonybgood]

46. I demand that former disgraced congressmen be given a special resort!!!

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, comes to mind!!!

[JoePhilly]

51. Newt's going to come and talk about how much $$ you can make as a Historian.

[yellowcanine]

54. If I were Newt, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for that invitation from the NAACP......

[Rex]

56. Rex to Gingrich

SHUT THE FUCK UP.

EOM.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

57. Newt should have enough money of his own to donate to these poor people

Newt is the scum on the bathtub

[Catherine Vincent]

58. Sigh!

First it was Santorum's comment and now Gingrich. Very depressing when you have educated people saying crap like that. I know they said it to appeal to their base in the Republican party because they all think the same bigotted way.

[nyabingi]

60. I doubt Gingrich alone in this belief

A seemingly intelligent man such as Gingrich appears shockingly ignorant and moronic to Black people when it comes to matters of race. Like the typical racist, Gingrich speaks as if he has definitive, statistical knowledge of the Black community only to reveal that he has bothered to learn nothing about his topic and relies on the general white supremacist assumptions of who and what Black people are to get him by. He does this because he knows he'll rarely face a challenge to his shameful ignorance.

That said, I'd LOVE to see Gingrich spout his racism in front of a Black audience! I found his "food stamp/paycheck" statement so outrageously racist that is was actually funny. Some things are SO racist that the only reaction is "WOW!" and laughter. The part of this that doesn't prompt laughter though is that I believe many whites think the way Gingrich thinks...such is the omnipresence of white supremacy in this world.

Gingrich only reveals to Black people that he disdains them enough not to learn anything at all about them.

I'd feel sorry for the ignoramus if he weren't such an arrogant, pompous asshole. An appearance before the NAACP would be legendary lol!

[DaveJ]

62. Well can Newt fund starvation fields...

Ya know for those who can't get jobs, we need to have them starve to death in a field so they don't ruin it for the rest of us.

[Evoman]

63. Ha! Is he saying that we need more black people to occupy wallstreet? I'm down with that.

Nothing scares old rich white people as much as poor black people.

[workinclasszero]

64. Wow the teabagger/republicans are making their racial hatred

crystal clear. Not to forget their hatred of Gays of course.

How do these friggen idiots think they will win a general election after insulting and showing their ass to 2/3's of the voters?

Do they really think 99% of America are lily white KKK haters like they are? Really?? Although Ron Paul is fooling alot of low info voters I guess.

[alp227]

67. Conservatives complain about white liberals who show empathy towards poorer blacks/Latinos

but then stand by their man when he talks down in a broad-brush manner like this. one example by Lew Rockwell: "Why should poor Black people have a sense of self-esteem when they can have miserable lives being dependent on 'superior,' condescending White liberals taking care of them like they are children? While it's true that many poor White people are on welfare too, White liberals make sure that the sheeple believe that anyone who talks about ending welfare 'in general' is really just trying to hide the fact that he is just racist against Black people." (you can google the quote for yourself, I don't want to link to his site from here.)

Yet right here Gingrich is treating grown blacks like children, and when is a con going to write something like "Why should poor Black people have a sense of self-esteem when they can have miserable lives being dependent on 'superior,' condescending White conservatives talking down to them like they are children? While it's true that many poor White people are on welfare too, White conservatives make sure that the sheeple believe that anyone who talks about ending welfare 'in general' is really just trying to get Black people back to work."

[Orsino]

75. Is he asking us to help him come up with a jobs plan?

No, he's just talking his party into further dismantling the social safety net.