Dear Newt Gingrich,
I recently saw you stand up in front of a group of people and allow some of the most
idiotic, unfounded, racist, and ignorant words pass your lips that I’ve ever heard
from a member of a group of the most unqualified presidential candidates America
has ever seen.
To have the audacity to say that poor kids, and let’s be clear that’s republican speak
for black and brown kids, “have no habits of working and nobody around them who
works” is not only an insult to me as black man who grew up in one of those “really
poor” neighborhoods you spoke of, but it’s an insult to my mother. And it’s an insult to
many other black, brown and white children, adults, and hard working parents(often single
parents) who get up every single day to try to provide a better life for their children in
poor neighborhoods.
As a child who grew up in Compton in the early 90′s, one of the most dangerous
neighborhoods in America at that time, I watched my mother work tirelessly, sometimes juggling multiple jobs to provide for myself and my sister. Day in and day out like many other parents in poor neighborhoods, she did what she had to do in order to provide for us. You know what that turned into Mr. Gingrich?
A son who received academic and athletic scholarship offers from three Ivy League schools
and countless other universities, a son with a college degree in Criminal Justice who
graduated with honors from every school he attended, and a daughter who not only
attended a Gifted and Talented Education high school, but is one year away from
completing a degree at UCLA.
This is not just the case for my family. I know I speak for many other hard working
black, brown, and poor white families who have the same experiences in the poor
neighborhoods you look down upon from your elitist 1% out of touch pedestal. To say that
an entire community “literally has no habit of showing up on Monday” or “they have no
habit of staying all day” I say that is a load of shit.
Millions of poor children watch their parents show up Monday and many of them
sometimes have to suffer from the fact that their parents have to stay at work ALL DAY.
And lastly, you suggest that to remedy this “problem” as you so blindly see it is to make
poor kids assistant janitors and pay them to clean the restrooms? Your solution is child
labor. Degrading young children by suggesting they clean toilets while painting all union workers as lazy leeches. It’s a shame they don’t have the work ethic of hard working Americans like Kim Kardashian who worked so hard in her sex tape before we crowned her a role model for young girls and showered her with money and adoration or Paris Hilton who was forced to clean so many toilets as a teen to learn “work ethic” before her parents handed over the millions.
This not only echoes the depth of your ignorance, but just how truly unqualified
you are to ever be president of this country. Your assumption that poor people have no
ingrained work ethic and “have no habit of ‘I do this and you give me cash’ unless it’s
illegal” is not only dangerously ignorant but it proves you have no connection with the
true heart of this country.
I believe I speak for most if not all of “poor” America when I say Mr. Gingrich you have
no habit of performing, thinking or speaking in a manner that warrants becoming the
leader of the free world and the 45th president of these United States of America. You
represent a party of greedy, selfish, out of touch, wealth protecting, non tax paying,
destroyers of the middle class. You know nothing about us. But your words in your
speech in Des Moines told us everything about you.
Which is why I hope you win your party’s nomination. So that poor and impoverished
families can at least experience four more years of a man working diligently to help
them and the communities they call home that you have proven to know nothing about.
president number 44.
PS. You look like someone poured mashed potatoes into a suit 
[Update 12/14/11] This is for all the “how is that racist” and “he’s not talking about black people” comments. Click the link in the middle to watch the video(No Flash on WP blogs sucks.) Nobody does it better than Team Stewart.
[Update 12/13/11] First and foremost, thank you all who have read, shared, and commented on this post. I try to respond as often as I can and as soon as I see the comments but cant get to them all due to time spent working on other projects. As a note to future commentors in defense of Newt, please read my response comments below. I also want to acknowledge that I am well aware of the excessive amount of poor white Americans(I mentioned above) and I support your struggle and triumph just as aggressively as that of my own community. However, the reason the letter has a more black/brown focus is because this was a product of directly defending my mother who is a black woman and I grew up around black and brown poor people. Thank you so much for reading!!
Also, the mashed potatoes line is only a joke. I am a stand up comic and I leave a little humor in everything I touch. Consider it a little mental palate cleanser to remove the dirty taste of Newt in your minds!
[...]one of our guests recently advised the following website[...]
Late to the party, was I?
OK, first, let me say Newt had a terrible time growing up, too.
His family tried to bring him up with only one butler and two nannies, so, he had already made sacrifices, you see.
He is still just a little angry.
I mean, can you blame him?
First, he plays Mr. GTwoshoes and over President Clinton…wants to impeach him, for crying out louud, eating up taxpayer money as fast as he can get his hands on it. But then the Ethics committee catches he and several other “creative accountants” in Congress practicing a thing known as kiting a check. (Which i don’t get, anyway. It’s paper. If you want to make a kite out of your checks, why not? It won’t go very high…)
Anyway, poor ol’ Newtie looked at it as punishment, so, he tried out some of that illicit sex stuff. And HOW he tried it out. He must have figured that, since President Clinton had become FAMOUS by being a prick, that maybe HE shuld become a prick, too.
He had all the earmarks for it, too.
Sick wife in bed with cancer, messy divorce.
Second wife…a little on the side, goodbye second wife.
Now he has that smiling short haired Barbi doll (sorry, Barbi) but then…whatever happens in the next few years, ol’ Newtie is hoping the pre-nup isn’t as ironclad for ex-congressmen.
Then, he jumps on the bash Muslims parade.
People hate him
He thinks it’s the wrong group, so he tries bashing Mormons.
DANG! People STILL hate on him.
So he gets real sad on a Sunday news broadcast and talks from the heart.
And people hate on him even stronger than ever before. I mean, they are looking for a tree and some rope!
And then make poor kids work as janitors???
Heck, next thing you know he’ll be wanting a moon base.
Which would be a good place for a LOT of politicians, I’de tink.
Racism doesn’t seem to be R or D (I’m an R, though I have only seen ONE R worth voting for, but he pardoned the crook, so, screw that!)
I see racism hiding in the ranks of D…in different forms, but it’s still racism.
Bayh was a racist.
Gawd, you coldn’t have ever seen such a WHITE man, ever!
But he absolutely was a racist.
Or stupid, one.
He’s the guy who, along with Diane Feinstein, thought it a good thing to double marijuana penalties against medicinal users. I look at most ALL prohibitionists as racists because it was Harry J. Anslinger’s idiocy that got the laws established.
And WHY did he hate marijuana and WHY am I calling it racist?
“Smoking reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as White men”
I dunno…
Sounds racist to me.
But that poor ol’ Newtie.
What a piglet HE’S turned out to be.
HEY!
You know what tastes good on a smashed baked potato?
BACON SPRINKLES!!
just so you know; that is not a picture of gingrich (the sour-puss face guy at the top of the page). i recognize the dude though, he’s an actor. been in a lot of movies
looking again, maybe it is gingrich. just looks more like some actor whose name escapes me.
Today’s conservative leadership believes so wholeheartedly (and misguidedly) that every kid born has equal access to opportunity, that they imagine the only reason a person could end up poor is to be lazy and/or irresponsible. But 75% of families receiving food stamps have at least one steady paycheck coming in. They simply have no concept of the challenges faced by so so many hard-working Americans.
Newt Gingrich is a pig. It doesn’t matter which of the Bozos wins the GOP nomination. None of them have had the spine to stand up for working people so they are all as guilty as he is of indifference to poverty. They have no clue what real people in this country want and need. Vote Obama 2012.
You are doing a great job and keep fighting for equal rights for all people. I look forward to hearing a lot more from you in advancing people of all backgrounds and ethnicities that may think the voices of leadership are silent today. However, I think you are doing a great job letting people know that the voices are claiming leadership and will not be silent.
Wow!!!! this letter is very well written. I think you nailed it on the head, especially about parents having to take on more than one job just to make ends meet. I was offended as a working mother of two. I guarentee my kids and many other kids can tell you hard their parents work. The really sad thing is that this guy has people that support him (TRUMP). Unbelievable!!!!!
Thanks for writing this. I hope many people read it. It’s funny how the little tells about racism in political leaders are always there. I couldn’t agree with you more. His “first generation” comment was completely out of line. Although that makes it sound like he’s targeting Hispanics more than African-Americans.
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All I know is Bush didn’t do anything for the poor black white or whatever. On top of that he appoints Clarence Tomas to the supreme court. Now Clinton did things to hurt the poor also, but he always got white washed. The poor get screwed no matter which party wins because all politicians are rich and all they see is money as the bottom line. They won’t make any real changes that might jeapordize their status. I get sick of people arguing political party because all politics is corrupt no matter where on Earth you are. However if I’m going to choose the lesser of all evils I will vote democtrat until the republicans start talking about plans to help the poor, which I don’t hear happening.
You should read some Frederick Douglas. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_douglass
He is the face of the Republican party as much as MLK jr and Sara Palin. In fact you will see their ideologies are nearly identical.
Don’t parrot liberal charicatures of what a Republican is.
Why do you think people like Bob Geldoff or Bono say Bush did more for poor people in Africa (particularly aids) than any living human being?
And remember this: These people who smear Republicans with the Democrats KKK past are Klan-party apologists. There is just no other accurate way to describe them.
What planet are you on? The R’s of today are nowhere near, not in the same neighborhood, as the R’s of yore. President Eisenhower warned of the military industrial complex. Today’s R’s think war is realy good for business.
Klan apologists? Hardly, the Dems have stepped as far as possible from this heinous part of US history. Would that the R’s could do that. But, no, there are just too many threads of connection to this, that they, the R’s, cannot step away from.
And, President Clinton has also been a huge and wonderful figure in the fights against AIDS, poverty and so many other things for the disadvantaged peoples of the globe.
Are you referring to his time period of being out of touch with the realities? For the most part, during his lifetime he was definitely what they called then a “northern republican”. I think you were blindsided by that one section. Also, Sarah Palin??? You must be mad!
As for parroting liberal caricatures…in these times a Republican is a Republican is a Republican especially when you are Newt Gingrich.
http://dppmw.org/history-of-the-democratic-party-part-3/
As someone who is far from being considered rich, I just don’t understand this whole political helping the poor b.s. There are programs out there that help provide for the basics until you get back on your feet. The problem is, everyone is looking for someone else to help. What The Hell is wrong with helping yourself. When will we learn. Being from just outside of New Orleans I have seen first hand what waiting for someone else to come help(the Government) does. Anyone heard of Katrina?
Man, get off of this help me bullshit. If the job you have does not pay enough. Get a better one. If you are not qualified too. Do what you must to receive those qualifications. Get an education. There are government supported programs out there to HELP you do that. What else do you want? You can lead a horse to water. But you can’t force it to drink. Drink for yourself.
Jason Before you tell someone to get off their butts and get a better job come on down to SC and sit a spell. As a self employed female in the transportation industry I always run into the Old Guard Dogs that some major companies have inplace to keep people of color out. An Old Guard Dog is the really racist Male or female he/she may be old or young who’s been around the office since 18 b.c. these individuals have no tact and very little education. Their job is to hire their family and close friends and make life a living hell for anyone who doesn’t look like them. If you’re someone other then white and you happen to slip through the guard dog process by way of GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, The guard dogs will make your life at work a living hell until they find and excuse to fire you. Every company has one. In your state he/she may be Becky or Bill the individual who thinks that touching the hand of a person of color will give them kids with a tan. If only some of our Truckers of color could speak on this issue so they could tell you how going to companies in Nebraska, Georgia, Delaware,South Carolina, Detroit etc. can be difficult because of the staff, who refuse to take a load from you becuase you’re not white. so they give them the wrong information or screw up their paper work and then file complaints to keep from paying for the delivery. The disgust of walking in to a Large company with only white employees and having your load paper work thrown on the ground because the employees there hate you for your race and refuse to touch your hand. One might say why do business with these companies? Well little do most of us know these are some of the companies that provide us Cars, clothing, food, yes we’re talking major companies. We buy from these companies while the Guard dogs patrol the Plants/warehouses. Yes there are jobs out there but first we must get rid of all the Guard Dogs. Until then being self employed is the way to go
Really? Its that easy, is it? Just go out there and get on a program, or move and get a better job? Maybe you haven’t heard, but there’s a recession/depression going on right now. Jobs are in short supply, especially good paying jobs. And, it costs money to move to another location where there might be jobs. Being unemployed/underemployed tends to leave one with very little money for moving. And those programs you describe are being cut on a regular basis by the GOP governors on the state level, as well as our Federal government pulling back on them. Hell, they don’t even want the long-term unemployed to get UE benefits after a few weeks, even tho’ every worker pays for it (look at your check stub). Just to try to drive the point home a little, do you realize that the poorest states in the union also tend to be red states? Those red states are now doing all they can to throw people to the curb, including union busting, killing retirement programs, pulling back health care benefits. Now they’re trying tricks with voting rights to ensure they will retain control into the next term. Oh, yeah, the poor have it so easy. Just ask Mitt or Newt. Maybe you could take a look at those two, they don’t have to work so they are so in tune with the rest of us who can’t work or can’t earn enough.
Why Martin Luther King Was Republican
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=16500
This beasr repeating:
Here is the bottom line my friends:
If you are trying to obscure the Democratic party’s relationship to the KKK, La Raza, MECHA, the New Black Panthers and every other organized racist group in the nation?
If you are trying to portray this as a bipartisan or Republican issue? Falsley shifting the record from the actual party responsible for organized racism, as your party has done for 60 year now?
If that shoe fits YOU?
You are a Klan-party apologist.
Period
Learn some history, you are ignorant.
The Dem party, from the time I was a child (and I’m old), was known for being on the side of the common man, and has now expanded to include the common women and people of color. It is true that the two parties have crossed over each other from the origination of the parties and, that the R’s were at one time the more liberal and the Dems more conservative. But it’s been a long time since that happened. The Dems have long ago condemned the KKK, far from being apologists for that group. And, are you serious calling MEChA (the proper way to spell it) or La Raza “organized racism? These are groups (actually, they are both the same group) that work toward human rights for minorities, hardly “supremacist” groups like the KKK. The “New” Black Panthers actually don’t exist. This was a made-up label applied by R’s to some small group of young Blacks in the Philly area. By your definition, any group that organizes to support their culture and history is “organized racism”, including all those religious groups that support Jews or Christians, or the Polish or Italian community groups. So, I politely suggest that you get your head out of your butt and try putting some knowledge in it.
“Show up on Monday” says it all for me. We the hard working poor frequently show up on Saturdays, Sundays, and then Mondays. Great post.
And you think the 1% will let you into their club? I know working hard. I know that I will NEVER be allowed into the club. But you jus’ keep praying, ok?
I wish the author of the note to Gingrich well, but I wish someone had been allowed to edit the note. It’s too long. It’s too wordy. ‘Blindly see’ ?? Come on.
The writer’s message would have been 10 times more powerful if it had been made more succinct.
As an old fart who began working as a youngster, I’ve had a job almost as far back as I can remember. I was taught early on about the ethic of hard work. I learned that doing a good job was it’s own reward and that getting paid for doing a good job was a bonus. I learned to take pride in my work. Perhaps, most of all I learned that my reputation as a hard worker reflected on my family. That if I was a lazy piece of crap who didn’t pull my weight it would be a negative statement on not just me but my Mother, Father, siblings and so forth. My parents set the example. They worked hard and while we had what we needed most of the time, we were poor.
I think Gingrich’s statements are exactly as you characterized them. The man is as slimy as he is fat and doesn’t have a clue.
But, I have to admit, reading your post, you had me right up until the comment about giving President Obama 4 more years. That’s where you’re color blind, bro. You honestly think that President Obama gives a flip about you and all the rest of us who are hurting out here? Really?? Seriously??? You really believe that? Based on what? The amount of melanin in his skin? And I thought I was biased. Good lord man, snap out of it.
I mean seriously.
How can Democrats hide behind white sheets for over 100 years, then appoint a La-Raza member to the US Supreme Court, then talk down to others about racism?
Do you guys really think nobody will notice?
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FUCK YOU!!!!!! I’ve been working since before I had the right to drive and my mother has been keeping multiple jobs to this day just to make ends meet, she and my father and my 4 extremely poor siblings are the hardest working people in the world. Given the financial opportunity I’m positive we would all surpass these people with a silver spoon born in their mouth. They are the lazy ones, People like Newt Gingrich have never had to consistently or realistically work for a damn thing in their life. Its the opportunities they recieve from their rich elders and connections that give them power, not their hard work. I could be a wealthy asshole too if my father’s budget allowed it. So disconnected it makes me sick.
As I have stated to numerous feeds. Being poor has nothing to do with the application of ones self. If someone from a poor neighborhood wishes to succeed, they will, regardless of the status quo. More power to you Mr. Free. I applaud you.
Well Gingrich assumed that being poor, meant the parents in the home were not working, that is a big load of crap.My husband I worked extremely hard in any type of weather to provide for our children , and made sure they got high education, all of them have their masters and one is on her way to getting her PHD , We weren’t rich. But with hard work we make sure their life would be better than ours. We never took anything from the Government, and paid our taxes, So when Gingrich says those things it angers me to the core, he is a insensitive, racist toad, And if I had a personal life that he has, I would hide away, but he is so shameless, he honestly believe he can become President. This whole country is not like the Racist morally bankrupt souls in South Carolina, who voted for him, This man have no ethics, he knows his base and will say what they want him say, so he could get the nomination, if he thought he could win their votes by saying he will bring back slavery of blacks, he would shout it from the roof tops. But the nasty little innuendos he makes is music to their souls. This is a hateful and despotic man, and a serial adulterer. Imagine His wife being the first lady, how sickening.
Best P.S. ever
I would highly suggest readers contextualize this morons racist remarks by visiting the National Black Republican Association.
http:\\NBRA.info
Here you will see how the Democrats have used what Obama calls “plantation politics”
You will see why people like Allen West, Thomas Sowell and Hemran Cain have left the plantation.
In fact. This is why Dr Martin Luther King Jr was a Republican.
Specifically, take the “Black History test”
Find out how much you have been brainwashed by the party of the Klan.
http://nbra.info/DYK-HistoryTest
Hello?
That hasn’t been true for, oh what, 43 years!
Get a grip, it was referred to as “The Southern Strategy” by Nixon when he impressed the South that He, and His Republican Party, were the REAL racist pricks, not the mamby pamby dixiecrats.
Dixiecrats were the last vestige of Jackson’s racist party.
And now, since the deaths of Bull Connors & George Wallace, the seemingly interminable race has become extinct.
Republicans also once stood for po’ folks & workers’ rights too.
So much has changed.
The question is, are you ignorant and uneducated or are you just sadly unintelligent?
BS
You had Klan leader (and former dixicrat) in the democratic party all the way until 2010.
KKK member Hugo Black served on the USSC until 1971.
“Klan associate” (see wikipedia) Wallace ran as a segregationist and Democrat(except one 3rd party run) in every presidential election until 1976.
When President Obama appointed a mexi-klan “La Raza” member to the US Supreme Court in 2009, how was that any different than when FDR appointed a KKK member to the US Supreme Court in 1943?
Save your Klan-party apologetics for someone who doesn’t know any better.
Alright you little compensating-for-something twerp, that pushes the envelope.
You think you can get away with implying I’m a fucking racist without me bitch slapping you?
Firstly, if you weren’t illiterate, you very well might have read that I addressed Herr Wallace.
So, let’s talk about today. David Duke a Democrat? I don’t think so, fuckchop.
And if the Democratic party is the party of socialists/communists why did Virgil Lee Griffin get in a little war with communists in North Carolina.
Yeah, and Thomas Robb and the American terrorist David Wayne Hull are total Dems, Sure. You fucking moron.
Don’t you realize that you are in such a minority in this world, being so intentionally, intransigently fucking ignorant? That you couldn’t convince a starving man to eat the swill you’re selling?
You can go on until you keel over and no one will ever believe you have a scintilla of intelligence, a pot to piss in or two brain cells left to rub together.
Folks have given you the benefit of the doubt that you might have a centilla of reason.
PS…
And don’t even get me started on Nixon. After all. he was the guy whom federalized the revised 1969 Philadelphia Plan, implementing affirmative action thouought the Federal Government in order to remedy the fact that Democrats had fired ALL BLACKS from the Federal Governement 50 years earlier.
How does this prove in any way that republicans were “the real racist pricks”..you ignorant klan-party apologist?
Oh for Christ’s sake, you mindless lunatic. Again, you’ve more than crossed the line with me, calling me a Klan apologist.For the record I come from a long long line of anti-fascist, anti -racists. My grandfather was personal friends and biographers of Mohandas Gandhi and Jan Masaryk. My entire life has been dedicated to justice. Hell, I’m barely a fucking Democrat (nice assumption, you sure do make an ass of yourself, as the word seems to imply).
Nixon would do anything and everything that he could that was politically expedient. Aside from that the plan was initially developed in ’67, in ’69 Nixon was barely in office, His appointed man, Arthur Fletcher, was the man who implemented a plan, with little revision, from the Johnson administration. And come the fuck on now, like the Republican Party embraces the man, Fletcher, known as the Father of Affirmative Action.
Nixon also signed into law, the Clean Air & Water Acts.
That doesn’t change the facts, you godamned idiot, that the “Southern Strategy” existed, that it changed the face of both major parties forever and for good (mind you one of the greatest tectonic shifts, within the Dem party itself, in prior history would have been the ’48 civil rights plank).
Denying that till your face turns blue can only turn your phrase “you ignorant klan-party apologist” back on your own fat, petulant ass. And it sho’ must be ugly.
Ghandi was a Nazi apologist too you ignorant assfist.
Plus You are factulaly wrong on your Nixon history.
It is Nixon himself who is considered the father of affirmatie action as it was he who federalized it.
In fact he “has been called “the greatest school desegregator in American history” by historian Dean Kotlowski due to his compliance with a 1971 Supreme Court ruling mandating desegregation,[23]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_presidential_election
This WAS the Southern strategy my friend. Real racist eh?
THis while Democrats were running OPN SEGREGATIONISTS like Wallace who got 1/3 of the vote in the Democratic primary that year and was winning more until shot. His segregationist votes, then measurably and prvably went to the prevailing Democrat.
Facts matter.
Here is the botom line my friend:
If you are trying to obscure the Democratic party’s relationship to the KKK, LA Raza, MECHA, the New Black Panthers and every other organized racist group in the nation?
If you are trying to portray this as a bipartisan or Republican issue? Shifting the record from the actual party responsible for this bigoty, as iyour party has done for 60 year now?
If that shoe fits YOU?
You are a Klan-party apologist.
Period
PS
My grandfather chased crossburners off the neighbors lawn in the 1950,s with his .45.
Yet I never have used that as an excuse to become a Klan apologist on some doods blog.
Your family must be so proud….or oldschool democrats!
Yeah well too bad the apple fell far, far from that tree.
You want to go after my family like that?
(and get a clue, wanker, does my Nono sound like he’s an American?)
Well, we can be sure your grandfather wouldn’t be proud of you.
Right, so, one more time.
I’m not now or ever have denied the fact that virulent racism has been part & parcel of just about every damn party in the United States. You want an example of one the most heinously racist parties? Look into the Progressive Party, turn of the last century.
There has long been conflicts between “worker’s parties” and racism.
So speaking of racism, Sotomayor & La Raza, give me a break. So does that mean that Kagan is a member of some terrorist group?
And to clarify, given King V Kentucky I’ve little or no use for either of those two.
I don’t hide any criticism for Obama. And much to my other lefty friends chagrin I do believe there is a bit of slop in the health care mandate. Not as per commerce or the 10thy but even more ironically to the 13th.
Can you discuss that?
Or is it the shit you spew comes from one or two limited, ideological sites?
Have you no ability to think for yourself.
As you apparently don’t. Who’s the real supporter of the KKK. Someone who enslaves themselves, intellectually or otherwise. I would proffer.
As to your other cheap shot (Jesus, you’d think that Christopher Hitchens, the king of the cheap shot, has found a way to communicate from beyond the grave). Please note I was speaking of my grandfather and, let’s get this straight, He nor Gandhi were ever an apologist for that asshole, as many in the Republican Party were, as was Linbergh & Ford.
Gandhi wrote two letters to Hitler the first states “It is quite clear that you are today the one person in the world who can prevent a war which may reduce humanity to the savage state. Must you pay that price for an object however worthy it may appear to you to be? Will you listen to the appeal of one who has deliberately shunned the method of war not without considerable success?”
Now he did take shit for prefacing with “My/Dear friend”. Now I bet you haven’t a clue of the historic reference there, do you? HUh? Times up! Here’s a hint, when in school in England, where did a young Mohandas get a great deal of inspiration? What religious denomination did he attend and learn from?
The Religious Society of Friends. Among Friends (I’m a Feral Friend, a Bad Quaker, as was my grandfather). Historically we address all people as Friend or friend. Friends being a a society of radical egalitarians who were imprisoned in the early years for not using the formal “You & Your” to a laird, instead using the familiar “Thee & Thou” of an equal.
That’s the context of what idiots have later come to use as “evidence” of being an “apologist”. You want facts? Well them’s the facts. What you have come to “learn” is absolute bullshit, Fascist Propaganda and only a tool such as yourself couldn’t figure that out.
Like the group that helped inspire Gandhi, he saw the value of using language of acceptance & equality. How could you expect anything less from him? On a personal note, my Nono often spoke of the conversations with Gandhigi, that they loved to discuss what MG referred to as “The Manyness” of things, that their mutual contemplation of the uses of language and many of the beliefs of the Society of Friends remained central to their core beliefs.
So on a very personal note, fuck you back to the stone ages, in as baad a Quaker way as possible for so impugning myself & my family & my heritage.
So that ends it.
I find myself uncharacteristically enraged by your contemptible, intransigent ignorance and don’t see a point in point to point debate as you have, obviously, no desire or ability to go beyond your narrow bandwidth of hate and ignorance. For every time you spew some bullshit, twisted “fact” I can come up, without the use of an ideological website, a counter point fact and still there is no penetrating a cranium which seems so sadly lacking.
So Hasta La Vista Nunca(as we say here in New Mexico where, yes, I do have friends who were in La Raza and did secure land rights denied them after the abuses of the Treaty of Gaudalupe Hidalgo) Bitch.
Well Sir while I enjoy much of what you write, I must say, I offended that you should use a
beloved historical man of peace like Ghandhi in realizing your point, A man who fought for and won independence for his people, He used the strength of words, he suffered at the hand of the British occupiers, and was still able to convince his people that non violence was the only way to attain peace. Heros like Ghandhi and Martin Luther King, are few and far between, let please lets not sully there names, by writing it in a column that have the name of Newt.
Mr. Free:
What I find so horribly distrubing is the immensely racist comments on your blog. More power to you, Mr. Free.
Typical klan-0-crat. Embraces Mr Free’s racist rant while ignoring the Democrats KKK, La Raza, MECHA, Slavery history.
Trying to smear republicans with Democratic, racist Klan fith.
.
The more these Democrats racebait into the next election, the more people ae starting to see their racist lies.
Um… Meth’ll do that, F-I-G. You should try cutting back.
fuck you kkk apologist democrat raceboy.
heh
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizophrenia when was your last check up?
LOL Cal
Typical “all who disagree with plantation politics are to be publicly humiliated” democrat.
Well I am not your mom or your wife so guess what bro? that whole thing doesn’t work so well againt other adults.
In fact. let me say it again a little clearer:
If you are voting for the US Democratic party? you are factually voting for the party of slavery, Jim Crow laws, segregation, the KKK, La Raza, MECHA and Reverand Wright’s special brand of anti-semitism.
This is a fact, so stop being a party-0-da-klan apologist and man up.
I’m not a Dem…I’m actually a follower of Christ. sorry for the joke, I feel convicted. John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”.
I agree, what the hell is wrong with people posting their racist comments on Mr. Free’s blog?
People need to see just how democrats racebait and play the racecard.
I totally agree.
Visit the National Black Republican Association @ http:\\NBRA.info
you mean the National Black Uncle Tom Republican Association?
LOL
There it IS..Typical plantation politics in action!
Blacks who dare leave the plantation are all “uncle toms”
This has not changed in 150 years.
They are still angry at losing the 3/5ths clause.
And then you will have the NERVE to imply that others are racist?
Klan-0-crat apologists B funny!
ROFL
Newt, you just got royally served….. God, we are SO SICK of this mentality!! Very nice Travon – you rule!
I’m not black, but did grow up poor in a poor neighborhood. Thank you for this. What Newt said was classist and racist and unacceptable for someone who wants to be the president of us all.
I understand your anger because when I look at Newt I get angry as well.
He is a puffed up self righteous clownish hypocrite who has no business in any kind of public office. Instead he should be doing is Fox News or talk radio or something.
And he does look like someone poured mashed potatoes in a suit.
But he is right about kids not learning to work in this country. It is a problem. And there are a bunch of kids like this. We are in a global market place and on a global stage. We need people to participate productively in our society instead of leaching or trying to figure our shortcuts. I suppose the biggest leaches and robbers are probably corporate, big government and religious leaders, so maybe Newt could start “learn to work” campaign with that group first. But he is right about kids learning how to work…it needs to happen. And Obama has done nothing of note except hand the insurance companies more undeserved money. So not sure why you want to see more of him. I hope it is not some kind of racial thing. Two wrongs never make a right.
Tell me something, why is Newt right? He advocates violating the labour laws by having young children work, the jobs he wants them to do is to clean toilets, because in his sick distorted mind that’s all the poorer classes can do. Why doesn’t he advocate higher education, or learning a skill that would benefit them in future. This lump of crap assumes that firing the janitors, who are providing for their families, will work well for the economy. Off course he is again playing to his base, knowing any that anything that sounds racist, will rally his people. He is Hitler like, the murderer of millions of innocent Jews, as his people applaud his evilness, given the opportunity, Gingrich would relish being in that position. Then we have is sickening adulterous life style.Is there anything positive about this monster?, no!!!. He is not a good guy. Callista is also another crappy human being, their hypocrisy is astounding. The shameless way they walk around, shows they have no concept of right and wrong.If these two ever get into white house, it will show Americans have also have a limited capacity to do what is right and good. Truly it my make us a close kin to Sadom and Gomorrah
Hey Travon,
Truth hurts my friend, but what Newt said is statistically true. Sure, he could have said it in a “better” way; I agree also that not every poor person comes from a “lazy” family. This is why you became so successful. You saw your parents work hard and they were probably excellent parents. However, you and I both know, many poor kids (white, black, blue, red) have very bad parents with very little values. Many of these kids are exposed to drugs, sex, and things that don’t foster love and success. To ignore that obvious point, makes your bias “humor” straight up suck. But hey bud, you’re in good company, most comedians are blatantly liberal anyway.
how big are these little values? You’re just being insensitive toward the vertically challenged I presume.
ENNNNNHHHH! Wrong answer brrro, as to your “statistics”. The greatest portion of chronic poverty goes to white, rural southerners.
But let’s not let facts get in the way of institutionalized precepts of racism.
Did you read his comment? He made it very clear that he was talking about ALL poor families REGARDLESS of color.
Obviously someone does not know how to read.
To our dear Republican friends … Please remain loyal to this party if you have a great fondness for your liberties and income diminishing … I know most of you are well educated … THE SHOW IT!
poor deluded bastard… sadly, I was once and ill-informed as our ‘Chris’; fortunately, my head let the vacuum it was in.
Lol I know it was a typo but that was sort of funny that you misspelled “then show it”
It is incredible to see people whom vote Democrat accusing Republicans of “hidden racism”.
The US Democratic party, which brought us the Slavery, Jim Crow laws,segregation, lynching, the KKK, The Black Panthers, The New Black Panthers La Raza, LULAC, MECHA, MAPA black liberation theology and Fred Phelps…wants to talk down to others about bigotry?
?
Huh?
LOL
Uhm, the old Democratic Party of the Jim Crow days is actually the Republican Party of today. They switched up some years after the Spanish American War…Which is why most Southern Democrats are actually Republicans at heart. Read some history.
Umm, I think you’re a little confused, and that’s really not me being facetious. The split you’re referring to of the Democratic-Republican party took place after the War of 1812. After the Mexican-American War ended in 1848, the Whig party, which resembled the modern Republican party, fell apart, and then anti-slavery Democrats defected from what was left of the Democratic party and formed what is known today as the Republican party. Remaining Northern Democrats split between War Democrats and Peace Democrats during the Civil War, the War Democrats allying themselves with Lincoln’s Republican Party of course. The Southern Confederacy didn’t have any parties. They were simply Confederates.
During the Reconstruction period following the Civil War, when the Republican Party granted freed slaves new rights, what was left of the Democratic Party capitalized on the resulting resentment that Southerners felt, and during the 1890′s the Southern states formed a Democratic block. In 1913, a Southern Democratic by the name of Woodrow Wilson was the first Southern-born man to be elected president after the Civil War period. Bringing other Southern Democrats into his cabinet with him, he was persuaded to institute segregationist policies for the first time in federal offices and openly stated that he felt segregation was in the best interest of both races.
Even if you were correct though, and the split did take place after the Spanish American War, that would have been post 1898, and the new state constitutions that were created by the Southern states after the Confederacy was defeated, which solidified segregationist policies, were created between 1890 and 1910, and then of course the Jim Crow Laws continued well into the mid 20th Century.
The Democrats of today are liberals. The KKK were not. Plain and simple.
Yes, because historically, political parties who have been friendly toward and allied themselves with socialists and communists have been so kind toward Jews, people of color, homosexuals and women. (That was a little facetious, but only because I couldn’t resist, not because I wish any ill-will toward you). You’ll have to forgive me if I’m a little skeptical of a political party led by millionaires and billionaires claiming to represent “the people.” How nice of Susan Serandon and Warren Buffett to show their support for the OWS crowd.
The last time in history someone stood up and pointed their finger at the wealthy bankers and accused them of being the cause of all a nation’s woes and its economic downturn, that didn’t work out so well for minorities. Just because a party tells you they care about poor people and the under-served doesn’t mean they do.
But I understand, I really do. I was as liberal as as they come. I was a Rhodes Scholar Professor’s pet and the leader of the Student Union movement in my college when I was an undergrad. It’s natural for young people who give a shit about the world to gravitate toward the Left. It’s expected. Young people who are outraged by social injustice and poverty and hatred and all those things I’m sure you too care about are very susceptible to a group of people who tell them “I care about those things too! And you know who’s fault all this injustice is? Your own country!”
Lefties love conspiracy theories, so here’s one for you: you are even more susceptible to that same group of people when they have completely taken over the public school system and have been telling you since kindergarten that the old version of history your parents learned was a lie, and they hand you a revised version that tells you that the truth is that your country is evil and corrupt. They teach you things like the old Democratic Party that created the KKK and segregation and perpetuated those policies right up until the mid-20th Century, well they’re all Republicans now, and if Lincoln were alive today, even though he was a Republican, he’d be a Democrat today. This is quite similar, in fact, to what George Orwell warned us of when he coined terms like Double Speak.
You’re even more susceptible to this indoctrination when you have a grandfather who was a legend in the union. A freaking Teamster hero and Master Engineer in the Mechanical and Industrial Engineer’s Union (don’t let the language fool you–Master Engineers aren’t engineers at all. They’re mechanics and bulldoze drivers. That’s just some more of that creative use of language that Orwell loved to comment on). My use of the word “hero” isn’t hyperbole here. The man was a working class legend who was forced to retire early after he told a bunch Mafioso thugs to get off his job site and tell their boss he can go fuck himself. And what did the union ultimately do for this man who repeatedly, throughout his career, put himself on the line to make sure the workers under his charge had safe working conditions in a very dangerous field of manual labor? Not a God damn thing. That grandparent did NOT die a millionaire. He died in a shack in the middle of the country that was a garage when he bought it and slowly grew into a house as he built a hallway and a couple rooms onto it over the years. Where was the union when my mother was trying to come up with the money to keep him in the hospital when he was dying and needed medical care and his pathetic Medicaid coverage wouldn’t pay the hospital bills? Nowhere to be found.
And what did the union I was forced to join and pay dues to as a condition of employment in the industry I worked in after college do for me and the thousands of other entry level employees who worked full time and overtime and still couldn’t afford to pay rent in the city we worked in, let alone pay for healthcare? Not a God damn thing. They were too busy every year during negotiations making sure the members who actually made a nice cushy salary got theirs. That’s about the time a young, idealistic liberal looks around and sees that the liberal media looks awfully white, and rich, and overwhelmingly male, and starts to realize that at the highest levels, the party leadership doesn’t look anything like the people they claim to represent but looks an awful lot like the people they claim to be in opposition too, that basically an entire platform of indoctrination is being created by the same Ivy League grads and Wall Street financiers (I’m guessing you are not aware that most of the financial sector is overwhelmingly Democrat) that the entire party believes has been historically, and continues to be, the source of socio-economic injustice.
The worst part–the party is really good at sweeping all this under the rug where compassionate young people won’t notice it, but they don’t even make an effort to hide the anti-antisemitism that has been the one common element among all totalitarian dictatorships throughout history. Like Famous Internet Guy said, facts matter. Those facts establish a track record and should speak a hell of a lot louder than what someone tells you their motivations are, but unfortunately, it’s usually just enough to say “I care about poor people” to garnish support because who doesn’t want to ally themselves with the group that cares? The group that says they have your best interest at heart? The fact that Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood, was an open proponent of eugenics–you know, those people who believed black Americans and the poor should be forcibly sterilized because they’ll just reproduce more poor people–should speak louder than the people who claim her organization cares about the communities they serve, but sadly, it doesn’t. It should be plain and simple, but tragically, it is not.
(Excuse me–that was supposed to read Medicare coverage)
Grind those axes!
Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I’m some bitter old spinster grinding away at her ax. Maybe I’m just disillusioned and hope I can bring some others who have been conned into the light. Maybe I just care about our country and see what a dangerous state it is in, teetering on the brink with an angry youth mob at the helm because they’re pointing their outrage in the wrong direction.
It doesn’t really matter. Facts are facts. It doesn’t really matter who I am. It doesn’t change the fact that they’re, well, facts.
Just an observation,
The term engineer was historically used for what you refer to as “a mechanic”.
“Engineering” degrees, and formal schooling, have been in existence for a very brief time in relation to the term.
I think that the (hehe) machinations of such terms over the years tell an interesting story.
ảpxitέktwv (architekton) simply means “Master Builder”. Certainly there are many outstanding architects, however anyone that’s ever worked with them in recent decades can tell you, most couldn’t build their way into a paper bag.
Such as with the term “Engineer”. Originally it meant someone who got their hands dirty building trebuchet & the like.
I hope you see this as a bit of a, how should I say, homage, to your gist?
Yes, things are rarely as they seem.
So perhaps the point is that it is advisable to go through life with a good deal of skepticism (Greek: ‘σκέπτομαι’ skeptomai, to think, to look about, to consider) in both the philosophical & scientific?
I do find that to excoriate unions in an attempted argument of relative analysis is to overlook a bit historical perspective.
Perhaps unions have failed for workers as the Southern Democrats have failed for racists. Once upon a time, though, they did stand for something.
That actually is interesting. I’m aware of the roots of “architect” and have come across it in reference to masons, masonry, etc., but was not as well versed in the etymology of the word “engineer.” As I typed out “Mechanical and Industrial Engineers Union,” I anticipated some snippy comment about engineers not being real laborers or something of the ilk, and thought I’d avoid the aggravation by clarifying the term right up front. The added reference to Orwell was more of a stream-of-consciousness afterthought than an argument of relative analysis (attempted, accomplished, or otherwise). It’s definitely not something I would endeavor to write a dissertation on.
I might agree that to berate unions is to “overlook a bit historical perspective” if any of the criticisms I listed had anything to do with their role in history. I realize that from what I wrote, one may have the impression that I am profoundly more passionate about the subject than I in fact am. I think the only reason my grandfather and the whole union critique even came to mind is because I have spent the last two days spending so much time talking about my other set of grandparents, and the incredibly disparate political views of the two families (in spite of their relatively similar origins), and how those views shaped the course of their lives, and how they ultimately fared so dissimilarly in the end, is fascinating to me, and one might even argue quite telling. But all that aside, I absolutely agree that unions played a crucial role in leveling the playing field and protecting the rights of laborers and empowering an entire working force that was not receiving the fruits of their labor, of which they were entitled to, if you will. Sometimes I like the idea of unions in theory, at least in the context of a balance to the negotiating power of large corporate employers, sometimes I don’t. It all depends on what lens I’m looking at them through in my moment of skepticism (< Late Latin scepticus thoughtful, inquiring (in plural Scepticī the Skeptics) (I was trying to paying you homage, but I have to admit, it just felt a little pretentious when I did it
). I just think in practice, like many organizations of their size and strength, that today, regardless of their original intents and purpose, they are corrupt and serve the few, not the many.
The present state of unions (no pun intended) is relevant because in spite of the fact that so many of the academic-type liberals are almost completely disconnected from the Blue Dog, working class, union-types, that does not mean the unions aren't still alive and well, shaping policy and doctrine, and even teaching a small few how to rally and organize and then sending them back to their prospective universities to stir the pot and get out in the streets with their puppets and their picket signs. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, Google "sweat shop labor student union" or "united students against sweatshops" and you'll find some interesting information. I myself didn't learn about the movement through Google, or even recently for that matter. I learned about it what feels now like a long, long time ago, directly from the organizers and the participants. If you think the old school union organizers who trained the students in union-sponsored summer camps how to organize and rally and protest did it because they are so concerned about working conditions in El Salvador and Mexico, then I would advise a good dose of healthy skepticism while you "consider" the subject.
Hey OSW, (being wretchedly dyslexic I derive major gits & shiggles from the initials, as they are readily transposed by my mind into OWS),
Hadn’t been around. Found that my dander got up from another poster and backed away.
Please forgive my bone picking when it comes to engineers. After all, three of the guys on Rushmore were representatives of my profession but none were engineers. Of course “we” (who, by the way, rarely have union representation) believe that to be significant.
Truth be told I’ve my own axe to grind with unions.
I’m damn near a one issue voter. Only thing is I keep seeing the need to dispense with other hassles so that we can concentrate on Global Climate Disruption.
That unions will stand up for things like the Keystone Pipeline for short term, small time, employment, over the massive employment that retooling the economy to both environmental & economic sustainability would entail.
See, I’m really far worse than any Democrat, or Libertine (err, Libertarian), for that matter
As to what to do? Well, I don’t reckon we’re going to throw the political process out at this time just because every one who seems to find themselves in Washington is a great bloody git. Reckon that Unions are pretty much the same animal. THat if they’re not responsible to their constituents , then the constituents should rise on up.
That their leadership might be seeing a little light these days, if only to protect their own asses, might be a good thing.
I kind of think a deal’s a deal. If I had the opportunity to take a job and I was told, well, we’re going to pay you this, ain’t all that much, but you get to retire at a given time with a pension of this, well that’s a deal. If the state/union invests in dodgy dealings in Wall Street.and doesn’t hold up it’s end of the deal, I shouldn’t be penalized for it.
Certainly the big muckety muck of the union/state that was at the helm should be the one to lose, not the rank & file/employees.
( I like to use definitions for the purpose of clarifying my, personal, intended use of a word, especially one that those got damned Romans got a hold of((place emoticon here)))
So cheers, hope this day, now returning to light & sun finds you well.
WOW! Talk about some conspiracy theory shit. What do you call what you just wrote?
THANK YOU, onlyspartanwomen, for bringing some sanity to this discourse. FIG is full of it and trying to convince people that the Democratic Party during Jim Crow days is the same Democratic Party of today–and distorting and obfuscating while he’s at it.
Wrong.
Aside from Democrats factually being the party that supported Jim Crow laws. The KKK and other organized racist groups were exclusive to the Democratic party (they are basically non-existent now but in their heyday in US govt all the way through the ’70′s) and always have been.
Democrats ran Klan associate George Wallace in every primary all the way until 1976.
In 1976 klan associate And Democrat Wallace dropped from the primary and endorsed former segregationist Jimmy Carter.
Wallace then took credit for keeping the segregationist vote for Carter.
By this time Nixon had implemented affirmative action in the Federal Government by following the “revised 1969 philadelphia plan” and later Nixon became known as “the greatest school desegregator in American history” by historian Dean Kotlowski due to his compliance with a 1971 Supreme Court ruling mandating desegregation.
So Democrats factuallly had Klan in the US senate until 2010 and running for US presidents office until 1976.
I would close by saying that when President Obama appointed former La Raza (aka mexi-klan) member of 6 years Sonia Sotomayor? It was no different than when Democrat hero Franklin Delanore Roosevelt appointed liberal, democrat, KKK member Hugo Black to the US Supreme Court.
Facts matter.
Now it seems Democrats want to get preachy about Racism.
Utterly rediculous.
PS
Klanner and liberal Democrat Hugo Black served on the US Supreme Court until 1971
“former” “cured” Klan leader and recruiter Robert Byrd served as a Democrat in the US senate until his death in 2010.
FIG, I suggest you place your “facts” in context before you go spouting off about racist, KKK-embracing Democrats. Because your comments contain too many distortions to address them all (IOW, I’ve got better things to do with my time than refute them all), I’ll just respond to your distorted claim that “Democrats ran Klan associate George Wallace in every primary all the way until 1976.”
Bullshit.
Yes, racist, segregationist George Wallace ran as a Democrat, but he was NOT supported by the Democratic Party! Duh! His first failed attempt at the White House in 1964 was going to be against an INCUMBENT (John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in his first term of office). In ’68 he ran as an independent. In ’72 he tried to stir up some interest against Democratic favorite George McGovern and then tried to prevail over Jimmy Carter in ’76. He was NEVER the Democratic Party’s front runner. Ever. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Wallace
Yes, at one time, the Dems were considered the party of choice by those who would now consider themselves Republicans or independents. Platforms and constituency began to shift during the civil rights era until the Democratic Party became associated with freedom of speech, civil rights (the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and President Johnson’s War on Poverty, which included federal assistance programs) and general liberalism.
To try to claim that the Democratic Party of the late 20th/ early 21st century even remotely resembles the Democratic Party of the Jim Crow South is ludicrous, disingenuous and plain-old wrong. I don’t know what your agenda is, FIG, or what you’re hoping to achieve with this misinformation campaign, but there are too many true accounts of how the Democratic Party has changed over the years for your distorted, revisionist drivel to muddy it up too badly.
Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.
There’s nothing hidden about Republican racism – it’s all right out there for everyone to see. And by the way, which history books or documents are you reading? You keep spewing the same crap but nothing to back it up. And keep you LOL’s to yourself. Racism is no laughing matter.
So you’re a stand up comedian??? That explains the ignorant ranting then. You are wrong in SO many ways. After 3 years of the biggest fool in history, how could ANYONE possibly support this guy,,, unless of course you’re black. I ask some of the morons who commented here, how do you like the job his VP, Sarah Palin, has done so far. LMAO, remember the Harlem interviews by H Stern?? What scares the hell outta me, is these idiots are allowed to vote, and they obviously did.
Mr. Ed,
Please list, with supporting evidence from a neutral third party, three things that back your claim that President Obama is, and I’m quoting you here, “the biggest fool in history” That is assuming that you possess a greater intellect than a ‘stand up comedian’
uhhh… ‘Ed’ was referring to George Wobble-You Bush “…the biggest fool in history”
Fact for fact you will lose every time. And I’m fairly certain this stand up comedian is much more informed about the issues than you clearly are based on the the assertions made in your comment. The fact that you think all black people voted for Obama, or even that I voted for him proves just how deep your ignorance flows. If dem voters are so ignorant then why are all the republican voters jumping ship? Proof—-> http://t.co/tCdDLFzt
jpward001 says that when we invaded Iraq, we were greeted as liberators and the revenue from Iraqi oil paid for the entirety of the military operation….
pretty sure you’re wrong on that, dude…
Not only is he wrong but he is ignorant and naive.
Mike Burns sayeth: “I want to keep more of what I make.”
You sir, are in luck!! Income tax rates are lower than they’ve been since the 1950′s
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/jun/29/barack-obama/barack-obama-says-tax-rates-are-lowest-1950s-ceos-/
“…I don’t want regulations and red tape to keep me from being able to start a business – this has happened with me. I don’t want the Federal government to determine what is “fair.”
“And what about crushing government regulations and oppressive taxes, which Republicans perceive as the root of weak growth? The NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business -Brian) survey, not surprisingly, found that these weren’t major concerns for businesses.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal/2011_12/nfib_vs_gop_talking_points033953.php
…A new survey of small business owners conducted by the National Federation of Independent Business finds that not only do more small business owners identify lack of demand as the biggest impediment to growth than any other factor, most of those who identify “uncertainty” as an impediment really mean lack of demand. […]
It turns out that when small business owners say “uncertainty” is an impediment to growth, they mean economic uncertainty, not political uncertainty. And by economic uncertainty, they mean uncertainty about demand.”
I really wish people like Mr. Burns would learn what the hell they’re talking about before they post.
I used to be an ‘uninformed republican’ just like Burns -please, Mike, do not point out the redundancy contained therein- and I dutifully believed all the nonsense that Mike Burns is spouting.
After I returned from the Iraq war, I started schooling myself and learned that (like most people who vote republican, I had NO business in doing so) most of the economic problems we face can be laid squarely at the feet of the republican party. Who the hell do you think paid for the Iraq war, Mike? That was done on the government credit card (to break it down for you, my taxes, your taxes, everybody’s taxes!) Why did we go there again? Weapons of mass destruction? No, scratch that. Iraq attacked us on 9/11? Scratch that too, of the 19 hijackers, 18 were Saudi nationals… how about you research ‘TARP’ and what administration was responsible for it and post what you find here?
Facts are out there if you choose to find them Mike Burns.
Oh, as a Veteran of the Iraq War and former Republican, I can assure that Rational Thought has a profound inability to appreciate American military strength and foreign policy -I know I’m going to vote for the guy that killed bin Laden.
So you are voting for Seal Team 6, they killed Bin Laden not obam0, he was just along for the airtime and ride. Put the credit were it belongs. And what has the imposter and chief doing to help our vets or our current military? Cut funding, help up checks, gut their power.
Obama, small d**k
huh? Bin Laden was dead long time ago. S’wy Benazir Bhutto was murdered? For telling the truth to the international press? I’ve always wondered. Now her husband has suspicious heart condition? This guy you reference is also bringing us treason in form of national indefinite detention and possible murder of citizens without due process based on possibility of being terrorist and that, as you may recall from the Missouri memo, includes all military, and these days has been expanded to include anybody who pays with cash, something lots of us have reverted to because we can’t afford banks anymore – so effectively poor people will get into the FEMA camps first? And how many jobs are being created with new internment specialist positions being advertised?
If his screen name is ‘rational thought’ why, pray tell, is he posting so irresponsibly and irrationally?
Great post by the way, love the mashed potatoes line… and thanks to Mark L. for settin’ Mammy’s Girl straight!
Thank you Trevon for speaking up to Newt Gingrich’s speech! I think his speech, like you said, just shows us how much more of a moron he is and it is real clear he is not someone who is worthy of running this country!
Sir,
Should you ever put this to video, and I highly suggest you do, please send me a link so I can upload it to my YouTube.
Good for you Mark L., because DAMN Mammy’s girl is a joke & my hubby just wanted to add we agree 100% SO Mammy’s girl you were just told off twice…BIOTCH!!! PS. that was from the hubby. LOL!!! Time for someone to open her eyes up.
Try writing in English (instead of Textish or pop-culturish) so people can understand your foolish bullshit a little better. Try to form cogent, intelligible sentences. You’ll be astounded at the positive feedback!
And I agree with Mark L. You just need to clean it up so folks know what you’re trying to say. It’s nonsensical.
I am a 75 year old white guy, actually pinkish might be more accurate. I grew up surrounded
by people who believed the silly claptrap that Mr.Gingrich is peddling. My real life experience
has taught me that Hispanic and Black workers work harder than any of these upper
class twits who, as far as I can see, have never broken a sweat. I find Newt Gingrich’s words on the subject of work ethic repulsive, just as I find much of the rest of what he says. He plays to the rabble, a rabble filled with racial and ethnic prejudice. What can you expect? It seems to me the highest form of patriotism would be to struggle for a better life for all of our citizens. What good does it do for me that my fellow humans are deprived of a better life?
Where do you live George? Let’s do coffee.
I read your post and you make some excellent points. I am a Republican. I’m not too thrilled with my choice in candidates and think we could have better choices. Isn’t this sad when we can’t even attract good candidates for the position. I believe that there are many who have the same story as you and many who are quickly becoming the poor in America. Your family, (mother) made the best of a tough situation for you and your family. Many others have this strong work ethic that is needed by all of us. I am unemployed, and have been for some time. I have worked jobs and farm in order to scrape enough to pay basic bills. The common denominator between my philosophy and that of you and your mother is “HOPE”. Hope in being able to make something better for yourself and your family. Hope that comes in personal responsibility. I continue to work and at the same time look and interview for work. At this time, I am probably one of the millions who they save have stopped looking for work or just fallen off the roles. I continue to work and to look and I will continue to do so. I have HOPE. Without HOPE I have nothing and trust me it will show in the form of depression and to potential employers. Most importantly, my hope and work ethic do not come from the Federal Government. I want our government to be less intrusive in our lives. I want to keep more of what I make. I don’t want regulations and red tape to keep me from being able to start a business – this has happened with me. I don’t want the Federal government to determine what is “fair”….this always results in corruption and payola. Look at what has happened to Greece. We are headed there fast! I’m an American first and I don’t care what your political affiliation is. I do believe that we have a president that has spent more than any other president. I believe we need private investment not government investment. We need someone who can turn this economy around and right the ship. I do not know what President Obama has done to curb spending and debt and encourage private sectore business success. I don’t ask if I am better off now than I was 4 years ago. I’m obviously not. Is our country better off? NO! Our president has had his opportunity and he has not delivered for America. He has done some things but none of them have had a positive impact.
Have you ever asked yourself, why he hasn’t delivered? In this country blacks has always gotten high positions in the job sector. Blacks have gotten to be presidents of a company, CEOs, Mayor, Lawyers, executives of whatever, yet the whites never allowed them to make any rules, or have any say so in their positions. The whites allowed them to go so far, before they’d pull them back. This is what is happening to President Obama. Yeah, he was allowed to be president, but the white dems and GOP are sticking to their white guns, and holding him back. They don’t want it to go down in history as a black person has changed anything in a white man’s world. That would be unamerican.
If you believe that this president has spent more than any other president, You obviously have been listening to what the republicans tell you, but you do not pay attention to what they do. This is why middle class republicans have been said to vote against their own interests. They listen to the BS they hear on “Fox “News” and take it as fact. While it’s true that the deficit continues to rise under this president, It’s not because he had anything to do with it, Tax cuts for the rich under Bush are the biggest deficit driver. And your “wonderful” republicans have blocked every attempt to let them expire like they were supposed to. Two unfunded wars by Bush were the second deficit driver. Mind you that Bush inherited a budget surplus from Clinton. The Bush Deficit continues today not because Obama hasn’t done anything about it, but because the republicans have repeatedly blocked his legislation through an unprecedented number of filibusters in Congress. The president can’t get anything done without congress that’s basic civics 101. As for you wanting to keep more of what you make, Taxes are at their lowest levels in the last 50 years. As for regulation, I don’t like red tape either, but I also don’t like my tap water to kill me when I drink it and I don’t want my kids breathing toxic fumes from the chemical plant that’s built next to their school. It’s a big country and it takes a big government to run it. I sure you don’t think it’s too big to send you that unemployment check you get to get you through these hard times and I think you deserve it because paid into it like everyone else. That’s why they call it an “entitlement” because you’re entitled to it. You paid for it and so did everyone else. So before you go out and vote for any of these imbeciles, think about who created this mess in the first place, think about who is trying to take away your unemployment benefits that you paid into. They don’t care about you, they care about the wealthy corporations who fund their re-election campaigns and ship your job over seas. They have lots of cash to flood the airways with their lies and a so called “News” network to spew their propaganda, and it can be very convincing if you don’t pay attention. So if you’re going to listen to what Fox News tells you, you at least owe it to yourself to listen to Rachel Madow, or Lawrence O’donnell on MSNBC and get the other side of the story. I realize that you as a republican, probably loathe these people, simply because they been labeled as Liberals, but hey, I loath Charles Manson too, but if he tells me that one plus one equals two, I’m afraid i’m going to have to agree with him because he is right.
The field of Republicans reminds me of that little circus car wherein the clowns keep coming in and out….
Mike,
If you don’t like Obama, ask yourself how you would like it if you had someone like Newt Gingrich running our country. Do you think he would make things better? You can review his history easily enough. He’s frightening.
The Republicans have done everything in their power to see Barrack Obama fail. I have never seen such treatment – and now a Ron Paul supporter wishes death upon him and his family. Despicable! But he’s not the only Republican who wishes death on innocent people. How about the Tea Partiers who cheered for the death of the theoretical young man who didn’t have health insurance during one of the GOP debates?
Look up how many of the GOP politicians are influenced by Ayn Rand–Ronald Reagan was a fan of hers. The whole lot of these people, except perhaps Jon Huntsman, who up until now has avoided the circus, are going to widen the gap between rich and poor even further. Leave it to them and there will be only be those in power, and poor people.
Sounds like the author has a lot of growing up to do!. Not only was this open letter a highly defensive and weak argument, but an emotionally charged one laced with anger and a hint of nihilism on the side.
I think if you had listen carefully to his words, Newt didn’t say anything about black people and he didn’t say anything about poor people being lazy people or not having a desire to work. many of you had interpreted it as such and it appears to me if his comment do not apply to you, then it shouldn’t bother you.
taking things personally is the highest form of being self absorbed.
I’m also in no way defending or offended by what the man said because I’m a leader of service who knows my truth. but what I find most disingenuous about this open letter is here we have a proud so called educated black male whose quick to attack and belittle the messenger, but he’s not smart enough to use his education in devising a game plan or the intelligence to objectively listen to the numbers that support his stance.
My thing is if it takes a village to raise a child and if every working class parent in every so called “poor” areas were on their grind, then what does it say about the village if there’s astronomically high #’s of unemployment, teen pregnancy, high school drop out, incarceration, and Hiv/ Aids cases that have frankly grown amongst poor people of color in the last 25 years?.
You sound just like a typical good-ol’-boy, who (of course) stand up for your fellowman.
And how about the fact that really poor people don’t have the ability to pay for their children to join sports leagues, or bands, or any of the many activities that middle class or wealthy families take for granted? What about the reality that the working poor often aren’t able to be home when their children get out of school, and once the kids are are 11 or 12 (or in reality, even 9 or 10), keeping them in child care is just no financially sound.
How about the fact that poor families cannot afford to help with college costs, and financial aid and student loans are barely enough, assuming that you can get through the maze to get them?
Or wait–here’s one for you! how about the indisputable logic indicating that “astronomically high #’s (sic) of unemployment” is a cause of poverty, not a symptom. I guess that acknowledging any of these realities might interfere with your “so called” argument that poor areas are morally deficient. (And don’t even try to argue that because you didn’t use those exact words, that is not what you are trying to say. You won’t win, so don’t try.)
How about the arrogant fools who say things like “so called educated black male” any time that they encounter someone saying something that they disagree with because they just can’t muster any actual logic or evidence to support their knee-jerk dislike of anything that interferes with their narrow viewpoint and lack of connection to reality?
JB, I’t's good to live in America where even racists have a right to speak.
i think you have really expressed yourself clearly for a village idiot. i’m afraid the author was right on with his analysis, and that you’re interpretation of what newt said is only correct at surface value. would you like to see poor kids doing janitorial work for a big corporation? my guess is yes.
i really love your last paragraph where you just come right out and scream your racism to the world. have you ever been poor or lived around people that were? of course bad things blossom in those surroundings, and it wouldn’t be any different if white people like you and me were in and had always been in the same situation as black people in this country today.
please shut up.
I agree with you that there was a serious level of arrogance and ignorance about what it means to be part of the working poor. These comments shows a complete lack of understanding of the issues that are facing today’s (poor) youth. I worked all through high school, it was extremely hard to balance and my grades did suffer. The hours I spent at work were hours that many of my peers spent studying or in tutoring. I worked 20-30 hours a week because any less than that would not have been worth the expense. (extra bus tickets, loss of support b/c of my extra income etc…poor kids can’t afford to work for free). There was no one to help with that homework and I was usually exhausted when I had to do it. So even though I was a gifted kid I dropped many of the hard subjects; calculus, physics, and chemistry just took more time than I had. So IMHO sending poor kids to work would have been a great solution in the industrial age but today we need more kids, not less, spending more time studying.This plan reeks of a way around fixing really crummy education system by blaming the kids. Lastly, youth unemployment is at an all time high in part b/c there are too few entry level jobs available and too many older people still in those positions who are unable to move up. What we need a more skilled workforce, all Newt’s plan will do is create a larger and more permanent underclass…which i honestly suspect is the intent.
I want to address poverty a little further, since that’s the core issue under discussion, and presumably something we all want to reduce.
It must first be noted that most Americans — of all groups — are far better off here in material terms than they are anywhere else in the world. Latins live better here than in Argentina, Germans and Swedes live better here than in Europe, and Africans live better here than in African nations, or in Europe.
It must further be noted that most Americans – of all groups – are far better off today than in past decades. In the 50’s, the peak years of unions and a supposedly golden, prosperous era, the typical white male made about half as much as he does now. The typical female and minority made about 25% as much as they do now. (All adjusted for inflation.) So everyone is better off today than in the past, especially women and minorities. (There was only a brief period in the early 70’s when white men made as much as they do now, and that had dropped sharply by the early 80’s.) And since women have more opportunities to work outside the home, total household income is much higher.
We are currently in a temporary economic slump, of course, prolonged by the policies of the current administration, but that’s only temporary. Economic conditions were actually worse in the early 80’s (as a result of decades of liberal economic policy), with higher unemployment, and much lower GDP (national income), both total and per-capita (and median/typical).
Poverty has also dropped sharply since the 50’s, when it was over 30%, and today generally hovers between 10%-15%.
The question is therefore why poverty persists despite a generally wealthier society. People may blame racism (even though most poor people are white, and 1/3 of all minority households have higher incomes than the typical white household), or rising inequality (even though median/midpoint incomes have risen overall as well). Or insufficient government action, even though spending has soared since the 50’s, and has also increased since the 60’s. Or globalization and outsourcing, even though unemployment dropped sharply in the 90’s, after NAFTA was signed, and freer trade has given us cheaper food and consumer goods. But the answer is more basic, and is tied to family structure.
Until the 60’s, out-of-wedlock births and divorce were both rare, in all groups. Today, it has soared, for all groups. 3 out of 10 white kids are born to unwed mothers. 7 out of 10 black kids are born to unwed mothers. And those children, and those families, are far more likely to be poor, and to perpetuate poverty in the same way – especially since poor people tend to have more kids than middle-class or wealthy families.
So the primary problem today, it would appear, is people making counterproductive reproductive choices that keep them poor, and by definition create more poor people. (One person can live decently on minimum wage. Two people can live comfortably if both are making minimum wage, as they can split housing costs. It becomes much harder when you have an extra kid of two to feed as well as yourself, especially if you’re on your own.)
This is not a racial issue, it’s a cultural issue. There are blacks and Hispanics who make good reproductive choices, and there are whites who make poor choices. And while those choices are more common in some groups than others, it is the choice that creates the problem, not the ethnicity. This is proven by the fact that being from a single-parent household – of any race – is a far greater determinant of poverty than race is.
Of course, not all single-parent mothers had children out of wedlock. Some married men who left them, others had to dump abusive addicts. However, while we also need to encourage more responsible fatherhood, much of the problem still relates to unnecessary out-of-wedlock births.
The best thing the government can do to fight poverty (in addition to avoiding job-crushing taxes and regulations) is to address this problem by teaching children better choices, providing universal and effective contraceptives, and by adjusting support programs to discourage premature reproduction, not encourage it. We could do this by offering financial incentives to poor females who delay reproduction until they finish school or job training (and get married, and ideally reach the age of 25, when people become more stable ). We could also make long-term contraception a requirement for women who are on government support for long periods – especially if they have already conceived a child on support.
But the bottom line is this: The primary cause of poverty in the developed world today is poor people having kids they cannot yet support. If poor people simply stopped having more kids than they could support, and delayed having children generally until they had obtained adequate educational and work training, poverty could be largely eliminated within a generation. We can assist in that process in simple, fundamental ways, and accomplish that goal with a modest amount of political will, and relatively minor investments.
This, of course, is highly un-PC today, and will invite all sorts of attacks as somehow “racist” or “classist” or “sexist” or “insensitive.” But that’s not the point. The question is whether we truly want to eradicate poverty and the suffering that accompanies it. And if we do, then we should be willing to acknowledge and address the true causes of modern poverty.
Some will also claim this interferes with reproductive freedom. However, freedom only exists (morally and pragmatically) as long as one takes responsibility for their choices. Once you start burdening others with the consequences of your actions, they have the right to request adjustments in your behavior as a condition of further support.
But to simply demand that others pay more and more to support counterproductive choices is completely unreasonable and realistic, not to mention unfair. And it is also ultimately unsustainable.
(Note that once such unnecessary poverty is eliminated, the money we currently spend on social programs could have a much greater impact on the remaining poor, as there will be far more money available for each family. There will also be a decreased strain on schools, police, prisons, etc.)
Poverty has actually been increasing in the last 10 years. Check the U.S. Census Bureau and get your facts straight. As a master’s student studying social work, we are painfully aware of all ACCURATE data and strive to correct misconceptions such as that one. Also, it is ironic that the welfare system encourages single mothers to get married, and promotes the ideal of a nuclear family – and yet those who support the welfare reform (and all of its flaws – read Sharon Hays’ book, Flat Broke with Children, for more background on the welfare “reform”) frowns upon abortion, refuses to teach responsible sexual education in schools, and forces women to name their children’s fathers regardless of domestic violence or criminal acts from the father.
By the way, women who already receive welfare do NOT get any additional money if they have ANOTHER child if already on welfare. Additional children are not considered in their family when it comes to more welfare money.
Can you honestly say you can live decently on minimum wage? Please remember, state minimum wages vary by location as does cost of living. Many work full-time jobs on minimum wage (often multiple jobs) and yet still are considered BELOW POVERTY. Again, check the U.S. Census Bureau for the latest and most accurate data.
Everyplace I have ever lived in US, you can work all month for minimum wage and still not be able to afford studio apartment – much less food, clothing, soap, utilities, transportation back to work.
so what about those people who take contraceptives to try not to get pregnant but end up pregnant because the so called birth control balanced out thier hormones which actually made them more fertile? as the Dr. suggested to me. and by forcing those on assistance to be on birth control kinda reminds me of the state that is under fire for butchering women’s insides becuz the state felt they were irrisponsible but the mother didn’t even have a choice or know about it until she tried having kids later in life and her cause of pregnancy was rape. and then religion comes into play. some people view it as trying to play GOD. so what should the gov say screw ur religion ur on assistance so u have to put this in ur body so the drs and pharmacies can make more money that the already broke gov can pay for? and the arguement about a decreased strain on schools and prisons that would happen with better boarder control and ICE doing their job.
Rational, The majority of people on welfare are children. Clearly, for those kids, getting a job is not an option.
“We are currently in a temporary economic slump, of course, prolonged by the policies of the current administration.”
Wrong.. The policies of the current administration have yet to be fully enacted, thanks to the intransigence of the Republican ‘block-everything’ stance. To be clear: Their policies haven’t failed. They have failed to enact their policies though. Who is to blame for that? Republicans, that’s who.
“But to simply demand that others pay more and more to support counterproductive choices is completely unreasonable and realistic, not to mention unfair.”
But most Republicans were supportive of an 800 billion dollar bailout for the “counterproductive choices” the idiots in the financial sector made, right? Can you say HYPOCRITE? Gotta love Republicans, so big on personal responsibility, but so small on corporate responsibility. And STILL preaching that American corporations will come to our rescue if ONLY we get out of their way. “Job creators” is a euphemism for “Bosses”. “Red tape” is a euphemism for rules. So whenever I hear Republicans say “job creators shouldn’t be hampered by red tape”, I just translate it as “Republicans believe bosses shouldn’t have rules”.
“The primary cause of poverty in the developed world today is poor people having kids they cannot yet support.” Problem is, those corporations are too busy with their tax avoidance schemes and outsourcing American jobs to give a hoot.
Recently the GAO released a 10-year review of the results of a decades’ worth of giving away hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in subsidies to American corporations to preserve jobs for Americans. The results? American corporations shed 29 million jobs in the last ten years. They created 24 million jobs overseas. Hardly money well spent. But we all knew they didn’t care about Americans. If they did, they’d pay taxes, which 50% of American corporations do not – including GE.
Nope. The primary cause of poverty is the non-existence of enough jobs paying a living wage with which to support one’s children – NOT the existence of one’s children.
Another day, another sad headline…
NY Times: Clothes Retailer Arrested on Labor Charges….“The owner of seven budget clothing stores in Lower Manhattan paid some of his workers less than $5 an hour, refused to pay overtime, and threatened and retaliated against them for reporting the violations to state officials. Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo’s office said it would try to recover $1.5 million in unpaid wages for more than 150 workers and other civil damages.” http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/clothes-retailer-arrested-on-labor-charges/?scp=1&sq=car%20wash&st=cse
Mr. Cohen would not have been arrested if he’d paid his workers the minimum wage (a/k/a poverty wage), even though it’s too low to enable a New Yorker to be financially self-sufficient, hence the subsidies in the form of food stamps and tax breaks provided by the Government – out of our taxes.
We the taxpayers are actually subsidizing Mr. Cohen, who keeps more of his profits because he doesn’t have to pay his workers a living wage. Why? Because we the taxpayers top them up with food stamps and other subsidies. Private-sector corporations owned by people like Mr. Cohen increase profits because we the taxpayers subsidize the meager wages they pay. Is this really capitalism?
Exactly why doesn’t the Government require corporations to pay wages high enough to negate the need for subsidies from the taxpayers?
Another sad headline…
NY Times: ‘Car Wash Chain to Pay $3.4 Million in Back Wages… A New York carwash chain agreed to pay $3.4 million in back wages and liquidated damages to 1,187 current and former employees. In three previous settlements in the case, more than 200 employees had already received more than $1.3 million in back wages and damages.”
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/car-wash-chain-will-pay-34-million-in-back-wages/
..and another…
NY Times: “Most Low-Wage Workers Are Cheated of Pay, Report Finds… More than half of the low-wage workers in New York City are routinely being cheated of some of the meager pay that is due them, according to a report to be released on Thursday by the National Employment Law Project: “The average worker in a low-wage job in the city lost out on $58 a week, more than $3,000 a year, because he or she was not paid minimum wage or overtime, or because of some other violation of labor laws, according to the report.”
“One of them, Guadalupe Medina de Morales, a 66-year-old immigrant from the Dominican Republic who worked at the store until 2005, said her only pay in eight years of bagging and delivering groceries full-time for C-Town had been tips from the customers, which amounted to about $125 a week.”
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/patrick-mcgeehan-wage-post/
My brother Aubrey got laid off from his job in a supermarket after 16 years so that the new owners could cut operating costs by hiring part-timers with no health insurance. If my brother cannot get another job to provide for his family and resorts to shoplifting food at a supermarket, he will risk going to jail.
Under capitalism, stealing food to feed your children is a crime, but displacing that hard worker just to increase profits from robust to dazzling is not even considered unethical; in fact, it’s considered smart.
What went wrong? Companies used to serve the interests of their customers and their employers. The shareholders were just along for the ride. Then everything changed and the interests of the shareholders became paramount. Now, companies ditch their American workers and move their factories offshore so they can grossly exploit cheap labour and lower environmental safeguards, just to generate larger dividends for their stockholders. Until relatively recently this would have been considered galling and appalling. Now it’s just business as usual.
As 66 year old Ms. Guadalupe Medina de Morales discovered during her eight years of unpaid servitude at C-Town, extrapolate “maximize profits” to its logical conclusion and you get “unpaid workers”. Nothing maximizes profit quite like slavery. (It’s why God-fearing Americans took hundreds of years to give it up while blithely ignoring all their Bible’s condemnations of it.) To add insult to injury, “Even though the store paid her no hourly or weekly wage, it dared to extract about $17 a week from her tips to cover its withholding and unemployment insurance taxes, according to state officials.”
According to the National Employment Law Project, employers systematically cheating millions of poor workers of millions of dollars has reached epidemic proportions. So why aren’t the perpetrators facing prison time? Surely the threat of incarceration would serve as a significant deterrent! But the Government isn’t really interested in locking them up – which is why the enforcement strategy rarely includes prison sentences.
In fact, the Government appears to bend over backwards NOT to lock them up. Take that car wash chain for example: Previously busted three times for cheating 200 people out of $1.3 million and now busted again, this time for cheating 1,187 people out of $3.4 million. Yet nobody went to jail. Why? Can you think of any other theft involving millions of dollars and thousands of victims that wouldn’t result in a prison sentence?
A supermarket doesn’t pay a 66 year old worker a penny for 8 years – while collecting wage deductions from her! Nobody goes to jail. Why? What is it about these particular circumstances that would explain that?
Ten years ago I attended a public meeting with the Manhattan D.A’s Office in Chelsea NYC. The topic of crystal meth use among white male gay clubbers in the neighbourhood was raised. The D.A’s office explained that their strategy was to place offenders in treatment programmes, not prison. Later on a social worker from Harlem spoke, and contrasted that policy with the D.A’s approach to crack cocaine users in Harlem, which was to incarcerate them – and vigorously oppose all efforts to commit them to drug treatment programmes instead of prison.
Then she asked the D.A to explain the stark difference. He responded that his office believed that for Chelsea’s crystal meth users, “prison would not be a deterrent.” Say WHAT? “Prison would not a deterrent” for white middle-class gay male drug users? Really?????
It was my first time seeing with my own eyes how the unequal application of justice is engineered, not accidental. Is the reason corporate officers that cheat poor workers don’t go to jail simply that the victims are poor? No. It’s by design. A few get caught, some repeatedly. Big Deal: They pay whatever costs and continue.
The rank exploitation of low-paid workers is not the big issue here. The big issue is the fact that all the people pumping gas for the oil companies across America, parking cars at car rental agencies, cleaning the offices of America’s most profitable corporations etc., need food stamps and other subsidies to put food on their table and keep a roof over their heads, paid for by you and I and other taxpayers. Thus, billions of dollars are transferred to rich corporations. But we’re not really subsiding those employees, are we? We’re really subsidizing Exxon and all the other wildly profitable corporations, enabling them to keep more profits. Our Government has structured a system that does precisely that.
Why is that? WHAT is that? It’s not capitalism is it? And it certainly isn’t “responsible” either.
Duly noted – well put and well referenced. Are you interested in running for office? You’d be amazing.
Tired, Thanks for your compliment. No, I wouldn’t, and couldn’t, run for office. I’d be interested in working on a populist campaign though, but I don’t trust any politicians! Except for Obama, who I really think is as honest as the day is long, but even he engages in trickery and shenanigans when it’s politically expedient.
Ditto that Duly Noted, I LOVE YOU!
Thanks Sarum, I LOVE YOU TOO!
I will treasure this quote forever! “So whenever I hear Republicans say “job creators shouldn’t be hampered by red tape”, I just translate it as ‘Republicans believe bosses shouldn’t have rules.’” Thank you.
Thank you, hkonnoff.
well put . now is ignorance to this information forced on the ignorant buy the evil or greedy. (in essence, the financially poor republican led by his millionaire rep) or are these people really that stupid. I guess it is possible because there are people who make life decisions based on a color shade. and will commit murder based on color. it just seems that way of thinking is on the wane.
Typical “Tea Party” member…Grumpy, angry old man sitting in his living room (in his Fart Stained Barco-lounger) watching Archie Bunker on TV…nothing but negative about America but wearing his American Flag pin….complaining about taxes – sad. Just plain sad.
Psychic, you’re not. (Psychotic, maybe.) I’m the farthest thing from a Tea Party member you could imagine. I’ve never watched Archie Bunker, but I have watched Steptoe & Son, which was similar gibberish.
“Negative about America”? Nah, just calling it like I see it. Newsflash: After the bottom fell out of our economy, primarily due to our love of buying things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t know, most of us had the sense to look around us and try to figure out what’s wrong with America. But when I heard the so-called experts say the key to getting us out of the mess was that we SPEND more – which, paradoxically, was also what got us into the mess – I knew the real answers were not going to come from conventional sources. (It didn’t surprise me though: After 9/11, President Bush didn’t call for “sacrifice”. He called for shopping! “Get down to Disney World in Florida,” he said. “Take your families and enjoy life, the way we want it to be enjoyed.” Taken on its own, this wasn’t such a horrible sentiment. But Boston University historian Andrew Bacevich has made a convincing case that it was part of a broader pattern of encouraging financial irresponsibility. “Bush seems to have calculated — cynically but correctly — that prolonging the credit-fueled consumer binge could help keep complaints about his performance as Commander in Chief from becoming more than a nuisance,” Bacevich wrote in the Washington Post)
I’m still searching to understand the causes. If you doubt how much trouble we’re in, ask yourself this: How did the world’s biggest capitalist economy end up in debt up to its eyeballs to the world’s biggest communist economy? There’s something SERIOUSLY wrong!
“Complaining about taxes – sad.” Maybe, but missing the entire point YEST still
writing a rebuttal? That’s pathetic and hilarious!
“
We may be better off than a lot of people in a lot of other countries. I’ll give you that. However, we are SIGNIFICANTLY worse off than the top 1% in this country. C’mon….. what were the startling numbers of Americans currently earning below the national poverty line? We should be ashamed of that! With upwards of 1 in 10 people out of work and significantly more working jobs far below what they are qualified to do, the tired old adage of “people on government assistance are just lazy and entitled” wears a little thin. When Job Fairs occur, and 5 people apply for every job opening, the Gingrich et al drum beats of “if you aren’t lazy, you can be wealthy” sounds hollow. We don’t judge our living standards by comparing ourselves against the Third World. That’s ludicrous. We judge our living standards by those of our countrymen. The income divide is NOT proportionate to the workload in this country. We’re run by hypocrites. Is there anything more telling than a room full of Tea Party reps who cheer when Ron Paul says that someone without health insurance and the means to pay the doctor should be allowed to die proceeded by a Tea Party Freshman Congressman throwing a conniption fit when he finds out his completely subsidized almost completely free healthcare isn’t going to kick in for a whopping 30 days?
Swedes and germans live better in the US than in their home countries? really? have you ever been there? obviously not. The very few swedes and germans who choose to live in the US might do so for personal reasons, but rest assured quality of life is much higher in those countries. High quality education and health care are free, there are no security problems, public infrastructure works, and unemployment is much lower. And guess what, their economies are growing much faster than the US. Don’t believe the interested b/s spewed by republicans who want to avoid paying taxes, the welfare state if managed properly is not only more fair but also more productive than the wild west capitalism they promote (of course government’s bailouts, lucrative public contracts, lobbies etc are most welcom)e. The US is a great country but as of late it is heading in the wrong direction; any politician who does not care about the citizens of the country is a crook. God save America of the selfish bastards who wrap themselves in the flag to try to safeguard their privileges.
Thank you for stating those facts… informed opinions trump the idiocy here.
Amazing to have so many facts and figures and to still be so WRONG! Refuting point by point OMG – I am overwhelmed with people like you. Where is it that one person can live a decent life on minimum wage? I will move there.
Good choice for you. You BELONG in the GOPTP. Now if you just had a clue what your are talking about, you’d be an even sadder person. Trying to hide bigotry under a sheet doesn’t really work.
Rational Thought – as usual no references no links – only hot air and paternalistic blathering – stop writing – you’re taking up too much room and you’re boring.
Great article. As an atheist, I believe that it’s important to be morally untouchable so that the hypocrites that engulf us won’t have the slightest leg to stand on.
Yes, between you and me I agree that Newt looks like mashed potatoes.
But that should have been between you and me.
I also believe that the comment had no place in your otherwise excellent article.
This is a fight to the finish – American Civil War II as I call it. And we need all the force on our side – our fight IS a moral one, and don’t denigrate with anything that could be misconstrued or take away from the force of your otherwise superior arguments. i am a musician, but I’m not talking about John Coltrane here. You are a comedian: save it for the stage.
In Solidarity
dude lighten up
You don’t get it…uh, dude. While you’ll be lightening and lighting up, you’ll wake up and ZAP Newt will be President. I remember when at this time in 1979 no one though it was humanly possible for Ronald Reagan to be POTUS. And look where we are 30 years later. Lighten up my ass! This is Civil WarII ! Get your gear on and join the fight – “either you’re part of the problem or part of the solution”…
well said.
Well said, but don’t worry: Americans liked Reagan, but knew little about him. They don’t like Newt, and know ALL about him!
So I just want to get this straight–when liberals talk about the “cycle of poverty” and address, as former President Bill Clinton did, the problems of a welfare system that perpetuate poverty rather provide what the recipients of the system (most of whom are single white mothers) really need, which is child care assistance and financial support while they work, it’s called addressing the issues, but when a stuffy old Republican discusses the “cycle of poverty,” it’s racist?
I agree that to characterize the entire middle and lower income classes as non-working is ignorant, but the point he’s making is that there are factors within an entire subculture of those classes that makes gang violence and illegal activities far more attractive than legitimate work. One error in Newt’s thinking is that he ignores the fact that often those factors generally involve watching a parent or both parents work like dogs and still seem stuck, unable to get ahead. But he’s not entirely wrong either. Everyone’s assuming that Newt is suggesting poor people are lazy, but you don’t have to be lazy to be unemployed. Last time I checked, unemployment is a problem, correct? I’m not suggesting in any way that unemployment is the fault of the unemployed, but a lack of available jobs is harming or country right now, right? And I would guess that the dearth of jobs is hitting the poor harder than anyone else. But everyone’s outrage with his suggestion that young people should work is only proving his point.
I come from an entire family of individuals who pulled themselves up and out of the ghettos, some of whom survived a level of poverty that is unheard of today. When my grandfather was just a little boy, he came home from WORK with his father to find his mother, his brother, and his sister dead. They died of diphtheria–an illness people used to contract from drinking contaminated food and unclean water. They died of poverty. My father’s mother had to drop out of school in THE THIRD GRADE to go wash porch steps after her father was murdered when he was accused of cheating in a card game, and she had to help her mother support what was left of their family. My father’s favorite lecture to give us growing up was about the time when he was a kid, WORKING WITH HIS FATHER, and he watched his dad fish something out of a clogged toilet, and his dad looked at him and said “Don’t ever be too proud to stick your hand in a toilet bowl son.”
I had to hear this lecture repeatedly growing up because it was part of the work ethic my parents instilled in us kids. The first dollar I ever earned was when I was 7 years old and helped my grandmother clean hotel rooms which, by the way, involved cleaning toilets. In high school, I had a boyfriend who had a job as–oh my–a janitor at a local college. Holy shit! Can you imagine? Oh–and those grandparents who cleaned porch steps and toilet bowls–they died with over a million dollars in the bank by the way.
If you could all put your own prejudices and everything you’ve been conditioned to believe about Republicans aside for a minute, you would have heard Newt conclude his statement with a very interesting point. What he said was that the first generation successful individuals he has met generally went to work early in life. When I was a teen (only about 20 years ago), it was pretty much standard as soon as you turned 14, you got your working papers and found yourself a part time job. The fact that this is no longer typical in our society is a pandemic issue FOR ALL THE CLASSES. I see it in the youth today, especially the middle class youth, and they have no concept of responsibility or how to earn their way. If you want to pretend this issue doesn’t exist in lower income neighborhoods, that’s your right, but everything you have said just supports Newt’s point. The fact that you think working as a janitor is degrading and beneath impoverished youth means that this is obviously unheard of to you, whereas there’s an entire segment of society that attributes these kinds of jobs, starting in adolescence, to their own success.
The author makes the strongest case for Newt’s point:
“Day in and day out like many other parents in poor neighborhoods, she did what she had to do in order to provide for us. You know what that turned into Mr. Gingrich? A son who received academic and athletic scholarship offers from three Ivy League schools
and countless other universities, a son with a college degree in Criminal Justice who
graduated with honors from every school he attended, and a daughter who not only
attended a Gifted and Talented Education high school, but is one year away from
completing a degree at UCLA.”
Ugh-hem. Don’t look now, but you’re agreeing with Newt Gingrich. That’s his point. His point is that when this example is absent, that doesn’t happen–YOU don’t happen. Clearly you are the exception to the rule, or else there would be no poverty and no need to have this discussion. The question is WHY are you the exception? Is it because Newt is wrong–having an excellent role model who demonstrates an admirable work ethic doesn’t typically produce such fine results, and you are simply an anomaly? Or is it because the example your role model set is often absent?
You’re completely off base with this statement that he somehow is enforcing Newt Gingrich’s point. Plenty of people work their ass off in the country at dead end jobs and can never rise out of poverty because the system is broken. There are also people who work their ass off at decent paying jobs and are forced into poverty because an uncontrollable medical emergency decides to rear its head for the family’s money earner. Newt is saying all poor people are lazy and this is simply not true. It’s a horrible assumption to make. I work about 70-80 hours in a given week between two jobs after having graduated college and barely make enough money to get by at this point because of student loan payments and being lucky enough to have medical insurance to pay for. The poor people are not the enemy in this country nor are the people who stand up for them. Take your rhetoric somewhere else please.
I completely agree. If you weren’t so blinded by your own prejudices against people who dare to either partially or fully disagree with your point of view, you would have read the paragraph where I state:
“One error in Newt’s thinking is that he ignores the fact that often those factors generally involve watching a parent or both parents work like dogs and still seem stuck, unable to get ahead.”
But please, continue to extrapolate and make broad assumptions about what people believe, attribute false points of view to those who disagree with you based on what you’ve been pre-programmed to think other people believe, because that sounds like a solution. As for my rhetoric, maybe you should examine your own word usage.
rhet·o·ric [ret-er-ik] Show IPA
noun
1.
(in writing or speech) the undue use of exaggeration or display; bombast.
2.
the art or science of all specialized literary uses of language in prose or verse, including the figures of speech.
3.
the study of the effective use of language.
4.
the ability to use language effectively.
5.
the art of prose in general as opposed to verse.
The only definition that you could have possibly meant as an insult would be the first one, and if you think any part of the personal experience I shared in that post is exaggerated, then all I can do is suggest you read it again, this time without being blinded by your own visceral response. I mean seriously, did you even read what I wrote? How could you possibly walk away from that thinking I believe poor people are the enemy? My mother grew up driving across the county with her dad and a silver bullet trailer hitched to the back of their car moving from town to town looking for work. That’s not hyperbole. There’s no exaggeration there. That’s a fact, as plain and simple as I know how to state it. Read it again.
actually, i think the definition of rhetoric that was meant for you was number 3. you have really used language effectively in your dissection and reassembly of what newt said in order to twist its meaning. go take your bullshit rhetoric elsewhere.
So to summarize: back in your parent’s day, they were able to pull themselves out of poverty by not being too proud to do menial jobs – even if that meant sticking yer hand in the loo. Got it.
But since then, THIS happened:
Recently the GAO released a 10-year review of the results of a decades’ worth of giving away hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars in subsidies to American corporations to preserve jobs for Americans. The results? American corporations shed 29 million jobs in the last ten years. They also created 24 million jobs overseas during that same time period. Hardly money well spent.
But we already knew American corporations don’t care much about Americans. If they did, they’d pay their taxes, which 50% of American corporations do not – including GE.
G.E. paid no taxes on $5.1 billion in profits
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/g-e-paid-no-taxes-5-1-billion-20110325-082417-878.html
So now what? When is the Right finally going to stop blaming poor people for not having a job? You act as if jobs are still growing on trees. And what will your new mantra be after you finally get it in your head that there are not enough jobs to go around? What will you have to say after you finally admit that giving money to big rich corporations – the so-called ‘job creators’ – has only resulted in them padding their pockets and profits by eliminating almsot 30 million jobs for Americans and adding almost 25 million jobs for more exploitable workers outside America’s borders?
If this was the Great Depression of the 1930s, Republicans would be blaming poor farmers for the dust bowl! Enough already. You can’t call me lazy if I’ve got nothing to do!
Ironically, Republicans have little problem with giving away taxpayer dollars to eveybody BUT poor people. Defense contractors, Halliburton, just about everybody has their hand out. Take farm subsidies, for example:
There’s no need to go to Iowa to see this welfare-for-the-rich in action. You can see it on the Upper East Side, where billionaire elites collect huge welfare checks from the government just for being rich, while a few blocks away, in one of the poorest, most ghettoized districts in the United States, the city’s black population is being purged from food stamp rolls for smoking some dope. Because, as Mayor Rudy Giuliani once said, “As soon as they stop being dependent on the government, they’re moving in a much healthier direction.”
But brutal freemarket ideas don’t apply to members of Manhattan’s genteel farmer class, even billionaires like Norman B. Champ III, who received nearly a half-million dollars in welfare payments for poor farmers, despite the fact he lives in a multimillion dollar co-op at 828 Park Avenue. From 1995 to 2006, he raked in a total of $405,807 in dairy, corn and soy subsidies via his stake in the Champ family’s dairy farm in Missouri, his home state. Handout-for-handout, even Reagan’s mythic Cadillac-driving Chicago welfare queen and her $150,000 welfare scam got nothing on Champ, who could buy a Lamborghini and still have money left over to reupholster his private jet.
Norman B. Champ III, 47, was born into a wealthy, upper-crust Missouri family and lived a privileged life (the Champs had a Missouri village named after them in their honor: the Village of Champ). He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University, went to England for a masters in war studies from King’s College and earned a law degree—cum laude, of course—from Harvard, after which he finally settled down at Chilton Investment Company, a multi-billion dollar hedge fund. He had added three titles to his name—Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer—by the time the markets crashed. He lost no time jumping ship to a cushy government job with the Securities and Exchange Commission, coming on board in January 2010 to start a new life as a financial regulator at the SEC’s New York Inspections and Examinations Division. He now leads a team of 100 hardworking investigators in a crusade to crack down on the shady dealings of his hedge-fund buddies.
An upper-crust billionaire type who lives in one of the nation’s wealthiest ZIP codes and collects welfare meant for struggling farmers? Whatta champ!
He might not be what most of us expect a welfare queen to look like, but that’s only because we have been duped by the whole poverty thing, convinced that the crumbs we throw the needy are a huge burden on our budget. So we look for any way to cut them off. For those who want to observe a real subsidy queen in his natural habitat, there’s no better place than Park Avenue. I am not trying to be ironic here. The people are literally welfare queens: They live where queens live and take money from the poor like queens do.
Billionaires Leonard Lauder, Mark Rockefeller and his dad, David Rockefeller, are just a few of the more famous names exploiting their salt-of-the-earth legal status. Over the past decade, however, millions of dollars in corn, dairy, peanuts, cotton, soy and livestock subsidy payments from the federal government have gone to countless rich rank-and-file Manhattanites few people have ever heard of: It’s all right there in the farm subsidy database maintained by the Environmental Working Group. William Lesse Castleberry, a tax attorney who oversees levered buyouts, received $133,680 in cotton subsidies through an Arkansas farm. Mary W. Heller, a photographer with a studio on East 74th Street, got $143,783 via a farm in Kansas for growing wheat and sorghum. William Philip Walsh, who recently purchased a $2.9 million luxury condo with interior design done by Armani, was paid $212,463 to not farm his land. Phyllis A. Joyner, a 77-yearold peanut farmer with a swanky Greenwich Village apartment and over $7 million worth of beautiful land in rural Virginia, received $239,624 for her peanut crops.
They’re not your typical crusty overalls-wearing farmers. But then, the small family farmers we picture in our heads, who live on their land with their family and rise with the rooster to milk the cows, aren’t around much these days (except maybe in Brooklyn backyard imaginations). And if they are, they probably aren’t receiving any assistance from the federal government anyway, says Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group. “American taxpayers have been writing farm subsidy checks to wealthy absentee land owners, state prison systems, universities, public corporations, and very large, well-heeled farm business operations without the government so much as asking the beneficiaries if they need our money,” explained Cook in 2007, when his organization published a database of farm subsidy recipients from USDA records.
It wasn’t meant to be this way. Farm subsidies first began as part of New Deal and were designed to help small, family farms struggling through the Great Depression. These days, this well-intentioned program exists only in name. Successive deregulation and various other freemarket “reforms” have turned farm subsidies into just another welfare-for-the-rich program, bypassing the very farmers it was designed to help and depositing billions in taxpayer money straight into the bank accounts of corporations and wealthy Americans.
Here’s what the New Deal program looks like today, after Reaganism had a couple of go’s at it: From 1995 to 2006, the federal government spent about $200 billion on agricultural subsidies, 75 percent of which ended up in the bank accounts of the richest top 10 percent of farmers. It’s welfare in reverse, taking from the many and giving it to the wealthy. And the richer you are, the more assistance you deserve.
You can see this logic at work in Manhattan, where the fattest farm subsidy checks are mailed to the richest zip codes. Like the $825,346.56 addressed to Kent M. Klineman at ZIP code 10020, one of Manhattan’s wealthiest, with an average income of more than $500,000: 10 times higher than the rest of America. In fact, Klineman, who got the cash from 1995 to 2006 for growing wheat and sunflowers and raising livestock on a South Dakota cattle-breeding ranch called Eagle Pass Ranch, just might be the most subsidized farmer in Manhattan. But you probably wouldn’t have caught this 77-year-old Harvard Law School grad (this alma mater appears quite often among Manhattan’s subsidy queens) at the ranch, shoveling and trucking manure and inseminating the sows. Judging by SEC records, Klineman is more of a wheeling and dealing finance type, running venture capital companies, private investment funds and assorted dubious finance companies.
Also keep in mind that in 1974, Klineman was among 13 people indicted on various fraud charges in a 100-million Madoff-style ponzi scheme that involved selling millionaires and movie stars fraudulent shares in an oil-drilling outfit called Home-Stake Production Co., by promising astronomical returns, which were paid out not from profits but from money put in by the newest round of sucker investors. Liza Minnelli, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Barbara Walters and Mike Nichols, among others, were purportedly bilked for hundreds of thousands of dollars. But it wasn’t just naive Hollywood entertainers that were scammed. The heads of some of America’s biggest corporations, including the president of American Express, the chairman of General Electric, and the chairman of Pepsi, were all caught up in the scam. In the end, the scam’s ringleader—Robert S. Trippett— got away with a scolding and a small fine, while charges against Klineman were eventually dropped.
Farmers have come to expect preferential treatment from the government. While the rest of us are constantly slapped with new laws, regulations, taxes and fees, farmers have been left to do their own thing because they are too fragile to be squeezed for cash like the off-farm masses. Aside from being exempt from things like zoning laws (a farmer’s property is taxed at a fraction of its market value), they get tax breaks, tax credits, tax abatements and all sorts of other perks that shrink their overall tax exposure to just about nothing, regardless of their wealth. So not only do they milk taxpayers for billions in subsidies, they do not even contribute their fair share.
Subsidies and tax breaks? That’s free money times two. Naturally, the rich have been exploiting America’s kindly treatment of its farmers from day one, widening loopholes, relaxing restrictions and turning farms into personal tax havens and petty cash machines that allowed them to give less, while taking more.
Even a Capitalist Hall of Fame family like the Rockefellers, known for their generous charities and contributions to culture, turn out to receive government welfare.
Mark F. Rockefeller, a fourth-generation industrialist, probably had taxes on his mind when he purchased roughly 5,000 acres of farmland in Swan Valley, Idaho, and started receiving subsidy checks at his capitalist lair in the Rockefeller Plaza. Starting in 2001, the federal government has been giving him $54,500 a year to not farm his land. That’s right: The government gives your money to a member of the ultimate capitalist clan, which has a combined worth of more than $200 billion, to just laze around, not work and let his fields weed over. It’s what they call a “conservation payment” program, in which the government pays farmers to convert their land into something natural, like wetlands or whatever other eco-friendly habitat might be appropriate for the environment.
It worked out well for Rockefeller. By some strange coincidence, his farmland happened to be right next to an upscale fly-fishing resort he opened up with his wife in 1999. The place, called South Fork Lodge, plays host to groups of rich, middle-aged men who pay $1,000 a day to fish in elegance and beauty with a personal fly-fishing guide. According to its website, “South Fork Lodge rests on a dramatic bend of eastern Idaho’s world famous South Fork of the Snake River in scenic Swan Valley. As you prepare to spend your day on one of the most scenic and majestic fly-fishing rivers in America, you will marvel at the breathtaking views from your room or the Lodge patio.”
What their guests probably don’t know is that they’ll be paying for some of those views twice: once to South Fork Lodge and once to Mark F. Rockefeller himself.
Rockefeller gets double the welfare by gaming the generous tax breaks built into agricultural land. It appears that instead of having South Fork Lodge own the land surrounding the resort and suffer the full force of a normal property tax rate, Rockefeller has had the business buy up just enough property to house the hotel’s various structures, while he purchased all the open space the resort needed—riverfront real estate for fly-fishing, outdoor activities and background scenery—in his own name and dedicated it to farming.
It’s win-win for Rockefeller’s business, allowing South Fork Lodge to offer commercial services on land for which he pays almost no taxes. The lodge charges $1,700 per night for its outdoor safaritype quarters, complete with servants and a personal chef, which they offer to guests who want to rough it in a “gorgeous wilderness retreat nestled in the cottonwoods and aspens of the South Fork of the Snake River Canyon Section.”
Two of Rockefeller’s spinoff businesses— which provide guided fly-fishing trips—also exploit the tax-free property, using it for private boat-launches, riverfront access and camping. If you were wondering why wealthy guys like him would go all the way out to places like Idaho for a lousy couple of grand in subsidies, do the math: He’s making a fortune off the land. Rockefeller pays a pitiful property tax of roughly $10 per acre, something like 1/60th of what it should be. Adding up the 5,000 acres or so, he gets a massive tax break of $500,000 or more.
But rich subsidy queens don’t need to travel far to filch their fair share of taxpayer wealth; they can do it right where they live and work. Failed dot-com entrepreneur Craig Winn lives in Albemarle, Va., and paid $1,000 in taxes on a $3.5 million estate by converting its 50 acres into conserved farmland. All his rich neighbors, including pop culture hacks Dave Matthews and John Grisham, enrolled their land in the tax saver program, too. Hell, even Walt Disney World became a farmer by putting some cows to pasture on its land in Orlando to shave millions off its tax bill. Hewlett-Packard opened up a Christmas tree farm on its massive Houston campus, which saved it (and cost Houston) half a million dollars a year in taxes.
No wonder America is starting to feel like a third-world country. Fighting two wars and bailing out banks is enough without having the rich plundering our country right out from under us. It’s not just property taxes, either. In the past decade, two-thirds of corporations doing business on U.S. soil paid no income taxes. The rich aren’t just not paying their fair share, they’re not paying anything at all.
http://www.nypress.com/article-21342-the-making-of-manhattans-elite-welfare-farmers.html
Umm, I’m not really sure what I said that inspired that tirade, but I’m flattered, I guess? You’re preaching to the wrong person. I’m no corporate apologist. I do not happened to believe that corporations are people and deserve the same rights and privileges under the Constitution that individuals do. Having said that, I don’t have any particular animosity toward wealthy peanut farmers either, but it’s not really a debate I’m passionate about or care to engage in. I happen to believe that small businesses are still the engine of our economy, the bulk of jobs in the United States are still created by small business owners, and our economic policies should be encouraging the growth of those businesses, not necessarily rewarding corporations that take jobs overseas. But you may want to send your data to President Obama. According to the Washington Post, his re-election campaign has raised more money from banks, hedge funds, and the financial services industry than all the other GOP candidates combined. Wall Street money totals a record-setting one-third of his campaign funds, thanks to Jon Corzine of all people.
I don’t know in what way, shape, or form you think I act like jobs grow on trees. The only statement I made about the availability of jobs was the following:
“Last time I checked, unemployment is a problem, correct? I’m not suggesting in any way that unemployment is the fault of the unemployed, but a lack of available jobs is harming or country right now, right? And I would guess that the dearth of jobs is hitting the poor harder than anyone else.”
It might come as a shock to you that I also believe we should have a social safety net and that affordable, available health care is a basic human right, and that there should be a publicly funded option the same way we have publicly funded schools, fire departments, and a police force. Having said that, I do not believe the solution is to mandate individuals purchase health care from private insurance companies. But that’s kind of a whole other discussion. I’m just getting a little annoyed with people assuming they know what I do or don’t believe or think. Oh, by the way, it wasn’t my parents, it was my grandparents, and it was during the Depression when those social safety had only begun to come into existence.
onlyspartanwomen:
“Oh, by the way, it wasn’t my parents, it was my grandparents, and it was during the Depression when those social safety had only begun to come into existence.”
…for SOME: The Social Security Act of 1935 excluded from coverage about half the workers in the American economy. Among the excluded groups were agricultural and domestic workers—a large percentage of whom were African Americans.
“The main focus of my entire post was that janitorial work is not demeaning, going to work when you’re young is not necessarily child labor, and many impoverished people attribute their own success in life to working early in life.”
Really? If so, agreed indeed. But your original post defended Newt’s assertions that, as you wrote, ” there are factors within an entire subculture of those classes that makes gang violence and illegal activities far more attractive than legitimate work.” One of the supposed factors Newt cited was his claim that “really poor kids in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and nobody around them who works.”
Now really. You don’t find that objectionable? Are there really any places in America with 100% unemployment? Where kids just never see a living soul taking the bus to work in the morning? And if not, why is Newt fabricating? And why are you defending the premise he concocted with those fabrications?
Generally, gang violence and illegal activities are rarely attractive to people; even less so when legitimate means of employment are available. In fact, even people in gangs don’t find gang violence “attractive”. Gang membership in urban areas is often a necessary way of protecting yourself if you live in a neghbourhood where the young men – America’s most dangerous citizens form a demographic perspective – have formed protective and exclusionary cliques and where not belonging to one can be hazardous to your health. As Sizzla says, “How can we keep the peace if there is no peace to keep?”
“My family of three happens to be surviving on less than $25K a year in New York State—an income we now share with my sister and her son who have recently moved in with us and are surviving on food stamps.”
Sorry to hear about your sister’s challenges. You’ve earned my deepest respect for stepping up and taking them all in during their time of need. I sincerely hope Christmas next year will be better and brighter for you and your family.
Here’s my veiw in a nutshell: There is no America, in the monolithic sense. This country is a hodge-podge of special interest groups whose interest sometimes converge, but more often than not, diverge. That’s why we can’t really agree on even basic things: abortion, school prayer, the pledge of allegiance… nothing! So, since there’s really no America, then there’s nothing politicians can do that will be good for America. For sure, they can help these Americans, or those Americans, but if you lower the tax rate and minimum wage to help business owners, you hurt workers; if you raise the minimum wage, you hurt business owners. If you cut military spending, you hurt people who make their living from the military-industrial complex. There’s always winners and losers. What politicians do is crunch the data, then decide which constituents to serve – and stick it to everybody else. So if they can win re-election without the support of gay people and progressives as long as they have the support of Catholics and blue-collar workers, they’ll come out with an ad against gay marriage, for example. If they need union support more than the support of Big Business, they”ll come out with a pro-union ad. This methodology is very, very divisive, for obvious reasons: It pits the interests of various Americans against each other.
Which brings us to Newt. I don’t know exactly who and how, but Newt’s message was designed, (literally, by his campaign brains) to play to some groups at the expense of others, in order to solidify his support among his targeted voters. Essentially, it’s wedge issue wrapped in a velvet glove of plausible deniability in case he’s accused of racism and ignorance. Then, when he is – because he was – as he knew he would, he knows that some of his targeted voters will play the white race card by asking out loud why “is it when a stuffy old Republican discusses the “cycle of poverty,” it’s racist?” (Which you might recognise, because it was your first point in this thread.) And Newt knows that NOTHING galvanizes the Republican Right more than the notion that they’re not even allowed to TALK about black people any more!
I haven’t forgotten about you Duly Noted. While I can’t agree with all the statements you’ve made, I don’t entirely disagree with either. I would like to give your comment the attention it deserves, but in the midst of all this banter (which I do so love), it came to my attention that I do, in fact, have a real life that some people count on me living! I’m afraid my response will have to wait until after the holidays : )
Sorry Duly Noted—I know it’s terrible form and probably violates some blogosphere code of etiquette to respond a month later, but life has kind of gotten in the way of recreational conversation lately. Fittingly, my husband lost the job he has been tenuously holding onto, and we’ve been busy doing the Medicaid/Unemployment/Plan B scramble, again. (I say “again” to make the point that this isn’t foreign territory to us, and I make that point only because apparently I give off the impression to some that I’m living up a life of luxury behind the glimmering fence of some gated community). I do thank you, by the way, for your well wishes. It seems that sometimes things have to get worse before they get better, but I do expect next Christmas to be better.
I don’t have too much time to delve into all the points you raise, but I’ll start by saying that your summary of the Social Security Act of 1935 reinforces my point that the safety nets we have come to know and rely upon were hardly available to struggling families of my grandparents’ generation, so I don’t think we are in disagreement on this topic.
As for your next point about my defending Newt’s statement, I have to say that I find it very interesting when you chose to quote me, you left out the entire first half of my sentence that stated, “I agree that to characterize the entire middle and lower income classes as non-working is ignorant.” The sentence that immediately followed the one you quoted went on to say, “One error in Newt’s thinking is that he ignores the fact that often those factors generally involve watching a parent or both parents work like dogs and still seem stuck, unable to get ahead.” I think I make it pretty clear in other statements made throughout my post that I don’t believe unemployment is the fault of the unemployed or a result of laziness. I do, however, believe that a high unemployment rate—again, through no fault of the unemployed—in poverty stricken neighborhoods, carries with it its own devastating psychological consequences on the young people who grow up in those neighborhoods (beyond the resulting poverty itself, which of course is obvious).
To answer your question, of course there are no neighborhoods with 100% unemployment. There are, however, far too many neighborhoods with 20 and 25 percent unemployment rates, and even up to 40 percent in some of the most devastated neighborhoods like Hunts Point in the Bronx. Hamilton Hill in Schenectady, New York is a neighborhood decimated by drugs, crime, and prostitution. It has become a safe haven for a huge influx of outside gangs and felons fleeing from downstate. The unemployment rate there is 20%, and that of course only accounts for those collecting unemployment benefits. Incidentally, 43% of Hamilton Hill residents self-identify as white. This neighborhood was about two blocks from the Section 8 housing where my sister raised my nephew the first two years of his life. My nephew is currently in prison. While I respect your opinion and fully support your right to express it, I do have to respectfully ask that you don’t lecture me on what factors make illegal activity and gang violence attractive to young people like it’s something I only read about in a textbook.
When you say that “Generally, gang violence and illegal activities are rarely attractive to people,” that indicates to me—and I acknowledge I may be wrong here—that you haven’t had a lot of direct experience with people who engage in these activities. Unfortunately, and I am not proud to say it, I have. Sadly I have known way too many friends and family members growing up who gravitated toward that path precisely because they found it attractive and appealing. I have known many others who have gotten sucked into criminal behavior not because it was attractive to them, but simply because that’s the environment and culture they grew up in. I do agree with you that most people in gangs don’t enjoy the lifestyle, but that’s usually after they’re in it and the reality sets in and they realized the lifestyle is not what they thought it would be. I can also tell you that while I personally have the luxury of sympathizing with kids who go down this road (and I do sympathize with them), the victims of gang violence and the kids who grow up in neighborhoods plagued by gang violence who are trying to do the right thing and do well in school and get out and make a better life for themselves do not share your and my sympathies for the gang members who made their lives hell growing up. I have a lot of friends and family who grew up in some of the worst neighborhoods in New York, from Schenectady to the Bronx, and you have to be very careful how you express your sympathy if you don’t want to come off as patronizing and offend the rest of the people who grew up in those same neighborhoods and did not choose that path.
Look, here’s the bottom line: In certain poor communities—certainly not all poor communities—but in the most devastated communities, a high unemployment rate has devastating consequences on the youth who grow up there (beyond the poverty itself, which, as I said before, is obvious). It isn’t about blame or judgment or race—as I pointed out earlier, nearly half those living in Harbor Hill identify themselves as “white.” But a high unemployment rate in a small neighborhood—regardless of who or what is to blame—means that much of the total available working population in that neighborhood is not employed. That shouldn’t be a controversial statement. That’s the definition of high unemployment. The point I was making was not that Republicans aren’t “even allowed to TALK about black people any more,” as you put it. The point I was making was that Liberals know this, they agree with this, and they have a very clearly defined vocabulary and set of concepts they use to discuss this. They celebrate films like Precious which depict this. Their lexicon includes terms such as “urban blight,” and the “the cycle of poverty” (not to be confused with the much more highly controversial “culture of poverty” which, until recently, has been a taboo term in sociology).
To automatically assume that Newt’s statement only applies to ethnic minorities is basically saying that inner city poor neighborhoods are only composed of ethnic minorities, which is just blatantly false. I can’t speak for black communities, but I sure as hell know and am related to white kids who grew up in poor inner city neighborhoods who were not surrounded by a whole lot of adults who held steady jobs. Again, this isn’t about blame or judgment. And it is a very small segment of the poor community which is generally referred to as the “working class poor.” But this is a reality for SOME people, and ironically, it has been my personal experience that many rich white kids who like to think of themselves as socially conscious and racially sensitive have no problem looking at the families I’m talking about and calling them poor white trash. When those families are rural families, they get called trailer trash, and no one bats an eye. I personally can’t think of anything more demeaning and degrading than to call another human being a piece of garbage, regardless of the color of their skin. Implicit in this phraseology is the underlying premise that BECAUSE they are white, they are to blame for their circumstances, as opposed to minorities who are the victims of their circumstances. If there is one thing I agree with you on is that race is used as a wedge issue to divide the poor. As a matter of fact, following the whole Newt debacle, I sat there and watched an ivy-league educated African American professor go on national television to say that the reason what Newt said was racist is because “inner city poor” was code for “black people,” and then he went on to refer to white rural poor people as “The Bubbas.” Come on. Really?
Your sentiment that there “is no America” deeply saddens me, and I’m sorry that’s the conclusion you’ve come to. As an Iraq War veteran, there is not enough space on this page to express to you how much I have come to love and appreciate everything that is America—and as someone who once walked the fine line of paths to take in life, I cannot impress upon you enough that my sentiment is not one that came lightly or was simply handed to me because I grew up surrounded by patriots. I think it’s a mistake to equate America with her politicians. At the risk of sounding like Metroman the cartoon, I believe America is better than the people running it because America is an idea, some might even argue a Masonic one, that is the greatest experiment the history of governments has ever known. It is an idea that values freedom over security and has the audacity to assert that when left alone, human beings are not only capable of taking care of themselves, but they are capable of achieving great things, in spite of the infinite differences you yourself have pointed out. It is precisely this “hodge-podge of diverging interests” and disagreements that defines America—the fact that somehow, in spite of these differences, we have found a way to co-exist under one roof, that we have shown the world that a country does not need to be monolithic to live in peace. Politicians suck because they are people and sadly, most people are looking to serve their own interests, but in spite of all the God-awful people who have risen to power in our brief history, somehow every decade America continues to move forward, expand rights, and open doors where they were once closed. Yes, there are still many injustices and wrongs that need to be made right in our country, but in order to appreciate where we are, you have to look at how far we have come from the beginning in such a short span of time.
Well on that note, if anyone else is even following this thread anymore, I’m sure I can expect a backlash that includes a long chain of hurled insults and commentary on my naiveté following that last bit, but seeing as I spent many years viewing these topics through the lens of the far left, I’ll have to just smile at the irony because I doubt I’ll find another opportunity for rebuttal any time soon. I did promise you a response about a month ago, however, so I wanted to hold good on my promise. Even though I don’t agree with your position Duly Noted, you appear to be sincerely interested in finding answers and making an honest effort at research. Incidentally, I noticed somewhere else on this blog you said you were sincerely troubled by how our country has gotten itself into this financial debacle, and you have set out to find out what happened. You cited an article that proposed a Bush-conspiracy theory, but in the interest of well-rounded research, I would like to suggest you look into Barney Frank’s role in the housing crisis as well. The Boston Globe published an op-ed a couple years back that presents the other side of the argument quite well (http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/09/28/franks_fingerprints_are_all_over_the_financial_fiasco/).
I’m sorry this turned out to be so incredibly long-winded after all. I guess that’s what happens when you wait a month to respond. Maybe next month I can respond to Collin;)
I’m really impressed that your millionaire grandmother felt that toilet cleaning in motel rooms was an experience that she wanted to share with you. Guess what–it doesn’t give you special insight in to anything. And the words that Newt said were in fact that “really poor kids in really poor neighborhoods have no habits of working and nobody around them who works.” That is in fact the point the was making–that really poor people don’t have good work habits–which really seems to imply that they are lazy rather than currently unemployed, not that that people can’t succeed without good role models. To try to defend his comments by interpreting them differently is disingenuous, to say the least. I wonder how often he accuses Democrats of class warfare?
My grandmmother didn’t “share” the experience of cleaning a toilet with me. She was teaching me how to clean a room. It’s called a job. At the end of the day, I received money for the work I did, and that’s pretty much how it worked in my family. It most certainly did give me some insight. It’s called a personal experience. It may resonate with you, it may not. But the problem with people like you is that the second you encounter someone who doesn’t fit neatly into your ingrained world view, rather than having a discussion about the different point of view and possibly even examining your own assumptions, you resort to personal attacks.
Instead of actually addressing the substance of what I–or anyone else on this blog with an alternative point of view for that matter–wrote, you just want to spew your venomous hatred and make snide comments to boost your own ego and make yourself feel better about being you. “Guess what, it doesn’t give you any special insight into anything (translation: Who cares. You’re stupid). Nice argument. I stopped worrying about validation from people like you after I spent 15 months dodging Katyusha rockets and shitting in buckets that we later set on fire to disposed of. I should have stopped worry about that when I was 7 years old and had to stick my hand in a toilet bowl for my allowance, but I guess it really sunk in after spending 15 months with people who have no running water and have to go outside to relieve themselves and who have to worry about dying from diseases like tuberculosis and dysentery. The “special insight” I gained from that experience was realizing that indignant Americans from any class seem pretty ridiculous.
I don’t really care one way or another about what Newt said. As Sick of the Conversation pointed out, it’s pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. What I did get aggravated with was the long list of posters who think that janitorial work is demeaning to lower income families and that suggesting young people should work is to promote “child labor.” If you read what I wrote carefully–instead of full of disgust for someone whose point of view may differ from yours–you’d see that my entire post addresses those views and my personal experience was quite relevant.
Telling you that cleaning toilets with your grandmother doesn’t give you special insight is hardly a “personal attack.” If you take that to mean I’m calling you stupid, so be it. That is your decision, not mine. What I’m really telling you is that your experience of having your grandmother pay you to help her with a task that neither of you had to do in order to survive is in no way comparable to anything poor people, who do menial labor in order to have a roof and to eat, experience. And if your grandparents started out really poor and managed to get ahead, good for them. But that is their experience, not yours. You have no personal experience of poverty, and no personal knowledge of what poor people in this country really go through, nor how they really live, nor what values they may or may not have.
Visiting poor people, even for an extended period of time, is not the same as knowing you are one. It’s really nice that you care about poor people living in horrendous conditions in other parts of the world. So do I. Of course, I have never had the resources to leave my job and home to go help them personally. I’m stuck volunteering at homeless shelters here. (Ever see a foot that needs to come off due to gangrene? I have, here in my own home town. Stinkeeeee!)
And by the way, I grew up cleaning my own toilets from about the age of 5 on for my allowance, doing and yard work and house cleaning for various elderly freinds of my grandmother’s for money from about 10 on, baby sitting beginning at 12, and getting my first payroll job washing dishes in a restaurant at 14. And I did all of this because my very hard working single mother couldn’t really afford to give me an allowance or buy me clothes and still pay the rent and buy food.
My grandparents went through the Great Depression, and I grew up hearing about how my grandfather left home at 14 to ride the rails just so his mother-a widow with six children-would have one less mouth to feed, and about how he, at 16, lied and said he was18 so he could go fight the Nazis. Guess what–He did that, I didn’t, And none of his experience magically descended in to my psyche just because he told me the stories.
“I guess it really sunk in after spending 15 months with people who have no running water and have to go outside to relieve themselves and who have to worry about dying from diseases like tuberculosis and dysentery. The ‘special insight’ I gained from that experience was realizing that indignant Americans from any class seem pretty ridiculous.”-
-Does this mean that because there are other people worse off elsewhere, you don’t think we should be trying to create a society here where an impoverished diabetic has as easy access to healthy foods as she does to crap? And where a poor person with health problems can go to a doctor without having to go on some kind of government assistance? That if these people would just get off their asses and start working they wouldn’t be poor anymore? Because unless that is what you are saying, I really don’t know where you are going with “indignant Americans from any class seem pretty ridiculous.”
Not to mention that most able-bodied poor people do work, and work very hard. There are far more people in this county living below the poverty line than there are on welfare. The ones who don’t are more visible, I guess. But even in a neighborhood like the one I live in (I’m no longer poor, but I bought a house in a very poor neighborhood) where you see lots of disheveled people who certainly don’t appear to work walking around all day, the vast majority of my neighbors get up every day and go to work, just like I do. Often, the jobs they go to are the ones that Newt thinks their children should be doing–fast food servers, hotel maids, low level manufacturing, store clerks, nursing aids, etc. A janitorial position is a pretty plumb job in my neck of the woods. In any case, there really aren’t enough jobs to go around right now for the adults. Suggesting that we take the ones that do exist and give them to the kids seems counter-productive. (Not that you suggested that–Newt did.)
I am certainly snide. I own that. But I am attacking your statements, not you personally. And while I do find your political position repugnant, I assure you that I do read what you say. And I still disagree with it, and with your tone, and with your assumption that your experience gives you a right to pass judgement on others.
Poor people do all kinds of janitorial and house keeping work–trust me, it’s better than working in fast food!–and they don’t find it demeaning. But when someone from outside comes in and tells you that your only problem is a lack of work ethic, and that your children should be put to work as janitors while they are still in school, that is demeaning. Now I realize that that is what Gingrich said, and not what you said. But you are saying that people shouldn’t be offended by him saying that, and I really don’t think your experience relates to that at all.
Same response as I left on the other thread …
Boy you sure showed me! You’re not blinded by venomous rage at all! I’m spiritually ugly? Did you have to wipe the spit off the keyboard when you were done writing that, cause I’m pretty sure you must be frothing at the mouth by now. From your reaction, I think I made my point, although I’m not so sure you can see through the fog of your animosity.
If you read my post carefully, then your attention to detail is absolutely horrendous. You have gotten so off topic, I’m not even sure where to begin. But beyond that, the gigantic leaps and bounds you have taken, the incredibly faulty assumptions you have made, based on your own prejudices are astounding. You have taken tidbits of information that I have provided, filled in the blanks, and created such a wildly inaccurate picture in your mind, I reiterate my challenge to you and beg you once again: please set aside your hatred and start examining your own assumptions.
The main focus of my entire post was that janitorial work is not demeaning, going to work when you’re young is not necessarily child labor, and many impoverished people attribute their own success in life to working early in life. I never in any way, shape, or form said my experience cleaning toilet bowls gave me some kind of special insight into poverty. If that’s what you got out of it, you missed the entire point, which was that there is nothing demeaning about janitorial work or bad about having a job when you’re young. But that is just the tip of the iceberg as far as where you have gone way out into left field.
Not only did I never say that experience gave me special insight into poverty, I never mentioned my own financial situation at all. Oh, I’m sure you think you have that all figured out because I mentioned my grandparents died with over a million dollars in the bank, but let me light a lamp for you, just in case. I didn’t discuss my own financial situation because it wasn’t relevant at all to the point I made, which clearly went right past you, and because it’s nobody’s business what my income is—I don’t need to submit a financial prospectus or a lifetime resume so that people like you can decide whether or not I’m in the club and deserve a point of view or not. But if for no other reason than I hope, I really sincerely hope, that it helps you realize you need to take a good look at how YOU judge others, I’ll just fill you in on some basic facts that are, again, none of your business…
My son’s birth was covered by Medicaid, as were my son’s medical expenses the first 18 months of his life. My family of three happens to be surviving on less than $25K a year in New York State—an income we now share with my sister and her son who have recently moved in with us and are surviving on food stamps. I only mention where I live because just how rich or poor an income of $25K a year makes you is, in fact, quite relative to where you live. For example, if we were living in Iowa, our expenses would be dramatically less and we might even have some disposable income. Am I poor? I actually don’t think I am. I think relative to millions of other families living in our own country that I am incredibly blessed and because of the multitude of opportunities I’ve had throughout my life, I think it would be insulting to many people less fortunate than me to refer to myself as poor. But again, whether I am or am not poor is not relative at all to the point I was making, and therefore is none of your business really. And if you can’t fathom how someone whose grandparents died with a million dollars in the bank ended up in the situation I just described, too bad. Learning from other people is a privilege you earn when you show them a certain level of respect that you definitely don’t demonstrate in your communications with people.
But while we’re on the subject of my “millionaire grandmother,” I’d also like to point out that you don’t have a fucking clue what her or my financial status was when she taught me how to clean rooms, or whether or not it was a job we needed to do to survive. It sure as hell wasn’t a hobby. I said my grandparents DIED with a million dollars in the bank. I also said I was 7 years old when I was cleaning rooms with my grandmother. Which brings me to my next point, and if you pay attention to nothing else I’ve said, please, pay attention here:
You sincerely doubt my grandparents worked their way out of poverty? You bet they’re like all of the immigrants you’ve known who came to this country and ended up buying a hotel? My grandparents weren’t immigrants. I never said they were. Once again, you took a tiny piece of information I put out there and constructed a picture in your head based on your own prejudices, and in this case what sounds an awful lot like blatant racism. (Just out of curiosity, what country was it you assumed they immigrated from?) You doubt they worked their way out of poverty? I guess you just skipped over the paragraph where I explain my grandmother had to drop out of school in the third grade to wash porch steps after her father was murdered in a drunken card game. One of her sisters spent her entire life completely illiterate. Her brothers made their living either boxing or working at Tyson’s meat packing—oh yeah, in case you haven’t revised the picture yet, all this happened IN THIS COUNTRY. My grandparents didn’t just end up buying a hotel. They worked their asses off and saved their money and BUILT a tiny little 10 room motor inn. My grandmother didn’t clean rooms for fun. She was the housekeeper. And the desk clerk. And the bookkeeper. My grandfather was the maintenance man and whatever other job title that needed to be filled. Technically speaking it wasn’t even a hotel. It was a motel. If you grew up in the industry, I don’t have to explain the difference.
Oh, there’s one more incredible assumption you made that is so far out there, I have to address it:
“It’s really nice that you care about poor people living in horrendous conditions in other parts of the world. So do I. Of course, I have never had the resources to leave my job and home to go help them personally.”
I don’t know exactly what picture you created in your head from what I said. Maybe you think I was on some Doctors Without Borders field trip or something. I thought the comment about dodging Katyusha rockets made it obvious, but I guess not. I was a soldier. The only volunteering I did was to go put my life on the line to fight a war no one at home supported or wanted to fight. No resources required. The Army provided those. No job to leave. That was my job. I did have to leave home though, and I wasn’t entirely sure I’d come back. Some of my friends never did. I have never seen a stinky gangrene foot, but I’m sure it doesn’t smell anything like the charred remains of a soldier who was blown up in her bed while she slept. I did have the opportunity to smell that.
I am sincerely begging you to set aside your rage and start reexamining your own assumptions. You find my position repugnant? You don’t think my experience gives me the right to judge people? What position? What judgment? My position was that working when you’re young is good, janitorial jobs aren’t demeaning, and that a high unemployment rate, which is not the fault of the unemployed (I clearly state in my original post), makes for fewer working role models. My secondary point to that was that the reactions to what Newt said were by far more visceral than logical and was leading people to make wild assumptions, which you have so beautifully demonstrated with your own assumptions about me.
And one more thing. “Indignant Americans from any class are ridiculous?” I assumed you meant indigent, and I read it that way at first. But still pretty funny. We don’t have the right to to be indignant? Really? Aren’t you yourself currently expressing indigence over what I said to you? Sheesh lady. Think before you speak.
I know exactly what I said, and I was pretty sure you’d latch on to that. The difference is I’m not indignant with our system or your political point of view. I’m indignant with how you express it. Clearly you don’t appreciate sarcasm any more than anyone else does. I was reflecting your own tone toward Sick of the Conversation back to you. All I had to do was call you a wise ass, and look at what levels that made you sink to on the other thread. You unleashed everything you had. Shit, you went straight after my soul! lol. I think you’re the one who needs to do some thinking about you speak.
Onlyspartanwomen – what exactly does that name mean anyway? I think you have an identity crisis m’dear. You very skillfully play both sides, but what exactly ARE you for? Who are you in this life?
Typical – you meet someone who hits a nerve and you’re too scared to reply. Whatever. I see you and I know who you are.
Typically, Tired, when someone hits a nerve, they get an immediate response. When people prattle out nonsense that just makes themselves look stupid, they’re fairly easy to overlook. I am considering making a rule for myself to just completely ignore people who comment on posts they obviously didn’t read, and while you would certainly fit into that category, that is not the reason I haven’t responded to you yet. I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that you are either very young or incredibly alone. Either scenario would explain your behavior and your being oblivious to the fact that some people actually have lives and responsibilities to attend to and can’t sit around on the computer trolling the blogosphere all day long. Duly Noted and Colin were way ahead of you on the list of people who actually deserve a sincere response to their comments, but since you are so eager to find out what I think about your not-so-clever little jabs, I will humor you. In spite of the fact that you appear just as hateful as Hannah, some small part of me takes pity on you, so here it is:
The answer to every moronic question you ask, both literal and rhetorical, has already been spelled out in plain English in the posts you’re commenting on. (The first question you answer yourself. I’ll give you a hint. It’s not a fact, it’s a ____ .) I come right out and describe my current economic status pretty clearly, so if you walked away with the impression that I live in a cushy gated community, then I’m going to guess reading comprehension is not a strong test area for you. I am definitely not above pulling out the dictionary while I read and write (most educated people use one frequently), but if you think it’s an insult to tell someone that they write like they use a Thesaurus, then that says more about you than me. (It’s down right entertainment when your last name ends in a vowel and its usually the four-letter words people complain about, not the multisyllabic ones). However, if it will help you with that reading comprehension problem, I will try to use fewer syllables so it is easier for you to understand what you’re reading.
As for my moniker, it’s called the 3rd Infantry Division kid. Look it up. If you can figure out what brigade I was in from the handle, I’ll mail you a prize. Not all units in the military allow their female soldiers the honor and the privilege of serving outside the wire. Mine did. I guess you could say I did spend some time living in a gated community, although I’m pretty sure it’s nothing you could imagine. It was on the other side of that gate, however, where I earned that title. I have a slightly different perspective than Hannah of what it means “to have to do a job to survive,” as I believe she put it. If I didn’t do my job, and do it well, people died. Period. “Hard work” to me means working six straight weeks, 14 to 18 hours a day, averaging 4 hours of sleep a night, without a single day off (No time off is pretty much standard operating procedure for all soldiers when they first arrive in country. No choice about it either. I know that the whole having a choice thing was very important to Hannah).
The moniker is a historical reference to Gorgo, Queen of the Spartans. The quote was popularized by the movie 300, but anyone who had ever picked up a history book and read about the Spartans before the movie came out would have come across it without effort. Women had a unique status in ancient Spartan society. The moniker is a tribute to my unit, to all soldiers (male and female), to motherhood, and to all women who have the courage to defend their own voice (soldiers and civilians alike). I could write a dissertation on what the quote means to me, but I’m pretty sure I’ve already provided enough material for you to take and prove yourself incapable of understanding when you make some snide comment that surely will make you giggle like a schoolgirl as you type it (that, my dear, is what I meant by making yourself feel better about being you).
It’s admirable you want to defend your pal Hannah. If you had actually read through the entire exchange, you would know that she revealed herself to be a racist when she inaccurately assumed, based on ethnic stereotypes, that my grandparents were immigrants—the kind she blatantly stated she can’t stand—but you shouldn’t let something like that stand in your way of defending a person whose position you haven’t actually read. I didn’t call Hannah out because I disagreed with her position, or because she disagreed with mine. If all she had done was left her own pithy little comment on my post, I probably would have brushed her off with a couple sentences like I did with other people who made similar comments. I called Hannah out because someone offered her an olive branch and she spit in his face—after chastising him for being not being a gentleman! You have a choice Tired. You can follow in her footsteps and continue to troll up and down this blog spitting at people who don’t share your views and cheering for those who do, or you can grow up and join the conversation. I know it’s much easier to understand the world if you divide it into “us and them,” but sadly, the world is a complicated place, and most people can’t be so easily categorized. I’m sure I’ve said plenty that contradicts your preconceived notions of who I should be or what I should believe, but please, show me one place where I contradict myself? I pose to you the same challenge I posed to Hannah: start questioning your own assumptions. The idea was apparently so painful for her, she just completely dismissed it. I’m curious if you’re any more up to the challenge.
LOL. Damn I bet the military was happy about your end of tour. Could anyone ever get a word in with you around? That aside. You never did answer my question. And you’re wrong as well about who I am. I’m neither young nor lonely, just tired of folks like you. An I’ve plenty of challenges in life, so I’ll take a pass on yours.
“But the problem with people like you is that the second you encounter someone who doesn’t fit neatly into your ingrained world view, rather than having a discussion about the different point of view and possibly even examining your own assumptions, you resort to personal attacks”.
please tell us what planet you live one where you do not recognize this in yourself?
The planet where I defend people like myself and Sick of the Conversation against snide bloggers who try to bully people into silence with sarcasm and outright suggest they shouldn’t even express their point of view simply because they don’t agree with it. I don’t agree with all of the statements Sick of the Conversation made, but I’m not going to attack him for it or tell him he should take his point of view somewhere else. Hell, he doesn’t even agree with what Newt Gingrich said, but that didn’t stop someone from lashing out at him. And what did he do when someone confronted him directly? He acknowledged his own overemotional tone, he validated and even agreed with her point of view, and quite sincerely apologized, stating:
“Forgive me for being ill-mannered about this subject but it does make me angry,”
What did she do? She responded with MORE SARCASM and CONTINUED to go after him, concluding with the statement:
“I suggest that since you think others should get over it and move on, you provide an example for all of us by doing so yourself.”
So yeah, when I see that type of bullying behavior, and that same person makes some snide comment toward me on my own thread, I’m going to call them out on it. That’s the planet I live on.
I took the Blue Line from Ktown in LA to the South Bay every day for a year, a route that took me through Watts right up the the edge of Compton, the exact poor areas the author describes in his rebuttal. I changed trains at the Rosa Parks Station in Watts every day, at all hours and,. I saw hardship and more than my share of mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters dragging themselves home well past sundown, bone tired, world weary and visibly beaten down by a day filled with the type of backbreaking, physical labor that I suspect Newt doesn’t really know exists.
The only thought that would fill me with fear and dread while passing through one of America’s “poor” neighborhoods is telling the people there that they don’t work hard. Then again, most of them would shrug such a statement off, too busy or tired to entertain the blather of someone so willfully stupid they’re not worth the energy it would take to prove them wrong.
I know a lot of Americans are also bone tired and weary. I also know that if it ever becomes necessary, we’ll swat our sides and find the energy necessary to complete one last annoying and nagging daily task: showing Newt Gingrich and his ilk off somewhere far away to blather out of earshot of us adults who are actually trying to get some work done.
Ok, Travon, to begin with…I would in no way vote for anyone, white, or of color, who displays a bias with consideration to race. I have no tolerance for those who blame others for their own situations, or who use their color, or lack of color (those who claim “reverse discrimination) for their current situation. YOU, and many others like Colin Powell and William Jefferson Clinton, have proven that poverty, is not an excuse for becoming educated and moving up and out. May I quote you.
“A son who received academic and athletic scholarship offers from three Ivy League schools
and countless other universities, a son with a college degree in Criminal Justice who
graduated with honors from every school he attended, and a daughter who not only
attended a Gifted and Talented Education high school, but is one year away from
completing a degree at UCLA”.
Despite your color, your financial situation, your single parent status as a child, YOU and your sister excelled! A classic example of what I have told my children since they were small. YOU are only limited by YOUR OWN lack of motivation to succeed. So, instead of wasting your time pointing out the obvious..(yes, Newt, as well as many Republicians (NOT ALL) are bigots), help young people, of all colors. learn what you have, that the opportunity is there, get educated, read read read, and pull yourself up and out. DON’T wait for others to do it for you….not the rich, not the government, not your neighbor, and not your church.
Thanks for listening!
RJ
“I have no tolerance for those who blame others for their own situations, or who use their color, or lack of color (those who claim “reverse discrimination) for their current situation.’
Who gets to adjudicate whether their assertions are valid or not? You? Based on what analytical expertise? To what degree would you agree with this statement: ‘some socio-economic statistical anomalies are, in part, a reflection and manifestation of discriminatory practices’?
If one child born into abject poverty in the slums of Calcutta somehow manages to rise above it and succeed, does that mean all the others that didn’t only have themselves to blame?
On what basis do you presume that there’s room in the middle class for everybody who strives hard enough, and good jobs for everybody with the right qualifications? From what I’ve been reading, middle-class college grads are having great trouble finding decent jobs as we speak. Suppose 100 percent of people on welfare in Detroit enrolled in college and pursued a four-year degree, in four years would there be a million jobs in Michigan for people with degrees available? What if every person on benefits in America went to community college and got a degree? Will there be 35 million jobs available when they all graduate? If not, would you agree that ‘education is the road out’ really only applies to some, and so we still need ‘a road out’ for the others? THEN will you stop pretending poor people ” are only limited by YOUR OWN lack of motivation to succeed” and admit that your success formula will only work for a small percentage of people, NOT everybody?
I’m getting tired of people who act like good jobs grow on trees, enough for everybody. They DON’T – and the more college degrees people earn in America, the clearer that becomes.
Duly noted – you rock. I’m just sayin’
ivy league brains do NOT stoop to the level of personal attacks and name calling. i hear you when you say it was only humor, but you would not accept that excuse from gingrich if he were to use it. in my opinion you negated your entire very well written letter with that one ignorant comment.
Ivy League brains? That phrase is elitist because it’s such a generalization! I, for one, have an “Ivy League brain,” and I stoop to the level of name calling quite often. I think it’s funny sometimes, since having an “Ivy League brain” does not mean I don’t have a sense of humor. And Darryl, if you have an “Ivy League brain” too, then please don’t misrepresent us all by misusing the word “ignorant.” Saying that Newt Gingrich looks like someone “poured mashed potatoes into a suit” is not ignorant, even if Newt is your dad and you love him. I might say the same thing about MY dad, and he would laugh because he has a sense of humor, too (that’s where I get it from! And my “Ivy League brain,” too).
Succinct, insightful…one of the BEST responses I’ve read to the latest vitriol from this sorry excuse for a presidential candidate. My best to your mother..she raised a fine son. You Rock!
Pingback: Kids—follow your dreams, whatever they may be. And Mr. Gingrich, clean your own damned toilets | Paging Dr. Thornton
I dont know how the American people can support the former speaker of the house, that was asked to leave congress, to be President of the United States. We judge pepeople people on moral issues, and their religion values. I think we have the value issues turned around here. I surely don’t wish to have a long winded person you been kicked out if congress, that opens his mouth without thinking to lead this country either.
Sociological studies have found that the majority of the poor class in the United States is either working or looking for work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_poor
http://www.trinity.edu/mkearl/strat.html
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology/Stratification
OK…here’s the painful truth. There IS an element of truth to what Newt was saying. If there weren’t then we wouldn’t be seeing the problems of black on black crime, gang violence, teen pregnancies, broken and dysfunctional families, and astronomical high school dropout rates. I live in Oakland, CA, and I challenge you to ride just about any public transit bus in this city during the hours of 2 and 4pm. You’ll see examples of those kids that Newt is talking about. If you take what he said as an insult to your mother…then fine. You should. Your mother should be applauded for doing the right thing. But to think these problems don’t exist in the black community is foolish. Instead of getting on Newt for painting a broad brush of this issue, you really should be addressing why the black community has the problems it does.
The truth is painful.
Gerry you ignorant a-hole. There is no element of truth to what Newt Scroogerich said. That you believe that there is only speaks to your own, personal prejudices.
This nation was built by and on the backs of the poor and middle-class Americans. It was their labor, their taxes, their very blood, sweat, and tears that created this country.
And who defends the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness that his loud-mouthed fatheadenness (I’m talking Newt the asshole here) enjoys?
The poor. The middleclass. They are the defenders of America. They have sacrificed their very lives that these ignorant Grand Old Tea Party shit-heads can go around spouting whatever ridiculous bullshit comes into their pea-brains.
The only problem that needs to be addressed is why so many Americans enjoying the fruits of the sacrifices made by poor and middle-class Americans are so filled with hate.
Why does Bill Cosby basically say the same thing?
I don’t think Bill Cosby says that poor people have no work ethic, and he’s certainly never said that blacks are the cause of their own problems. He’s simply been critical of anyone who blames their problems on someone else instead of taking their life into their own hands and doing something about it. Newt says that in poor neighborhoods people don’t know how to show up on Monday or stay at work an entire day, and that’s just pigheaded and foolish. I doubt Newt’s ever worked a real day of hard labor in his life. He is an out of touch blowhard that is looking out for the concerns of mega corporations and special interests. I started working doing manual labor at age 14, and while I want my kids to learn the value of a hard days work, how are you going to ask a highschool kid from a poor family to compete with a kid from a well off suburban family for a college scholarship if one of them has to work 30 hours a week after school? Get real.
Yeah Newt makes a good point.. grab the mop, stop dealing drugs.. and when you get a wee bit older you can join the military and we’ll send you off to war where you can die like the dog that you are.. Newt Gingrich is just flat out EVIL.. where the hell have you supporters been the last 15+ years.. its obvious to where your heads are up now..
Brilliant! rotflmao!
Although I don’t agree with what Newt said exactly, this writer of this blog is not in the majority of people coming from poor households. I do believe that anyone can work hard and work their way out of any situation given to them, but unfortunately that often does not happen. Look at the poorer population as a whole, most people from this situation don’t work their way up to Ivy League Schools. This is because of a lot of factors but does also greatly reflect the home life. Although I am sure many of the parents of these children are working everyday, showing up every Monday morning, many of these children are not getting help with homework anymore, are not being read to each day, are not sitting around the dinner table discussing the days events or current events in the world. Of course not every parent or child falls into this category but many do. It is not the fault of anyone, as in order to support a family, sometimes parents must work when the children are doing their HW, need to be read to, or throughout dinner time. Much of education, value in school and furthering education, and aspirations come from what we see and learn from home. If people are not around to help their children, the children often get caught in the same cycle, Fortunately for the writer of this letter, he did not have this same fate. At the same time, as ignorant as Newt sounded here, the author of this letter sounded just as ignorant when he grouped all republicans in the same boat calling telling Newt that he “represents a whole party of greedy, selfish, out of touch…..” people. Practice what you preach sir and just as you thought it was ignorant for Newt to group a whole group of people into one insult, you then did the same thing. Instead of bashing one another, why don’t we come up with solutions to a major problem which is giving these children who often don’t have parents home when they get home from school the proper homework help, dinner table etiquette, family conversation skills, being read to and with, etc…. Let’s help solve the problem instead of turning against one another.. And just to add, on the mention in the letter of Obama– I follow politics and policies very closely as I respected Obama a great deal and was excited to see what he would bring to the table once elected and I must say, he has done nothing, nor proposed anything to help with the “poorer” people in this country. This man is not one to reference to add to your point because he has added nothing to better this country’s less fortunate people the past 3 years.
Margaret – Wake up call: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/poverty
On Day 16 of Obama’s presidency, he signed legislation expanding health coverage to 4 million uninsured children.
Obama’s immediate response to the ever-rising unemployment rate — which officially stands at 16 percent for African Americans — has been repeated extensions of unemployment benefits. While pushing a contested bill last summer, he said, “We need to pass it for all the Americans who haven’t been able to find work in an economy where there are five applicants for every opening.”
According to census data, extended unemployment insurance in 2010 kept 3.2 million people above the poverty line. The American Jobs Act calls for another extension, as well as legislation making it illegal to refuse to hire out-of-work job applicants.
Modeled after the successful Harlem Children’s Zone — which provides charter schools, parenting workshops and weekend community centers to support education from “cradle through college” — the administration’s Promise Neighborhoods grant program helps cities jump-start their own neighborhood interventions. On the higher-education front, the president has more than doubled Pell Grants for low-income college students.
Plugging several provisions from the Recovery Act, the administration says that its youth summer jobs program for low-income youths employed 367,000 young adults — approximately 40 percent of them African American — in 2009 and 2010. The legislation’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families emergency contingency fund hired 260,000 low-income adults in subsidized jobs.
In June the Department of Labor announced $39.7 million in grants to help low-income noncustodial parents and ex-offenders gain job skills (and boost their employability) by placing them in temporary, paid work experiences. And the American Job Act’s infrastructure investment reserves $50 million for transportation-related job training for minorities, women and low-income workers.
Margaret – and what are you , in all of your brilliance, doing to solve the problem? Are you out there tutoring, mentoring, or doing anything at all to correct the deficiencies you speak of? Sick and tired of rich folks callin’ people out without doing anything about it.,, Same shit different day……
No John , Reagan’s welfare queen was made up. It’s called L-Y-I-N-G ?? I realize your end of the political spectrum is unfamiliar with the concept , as unfamiliar as they are with a basic moral framework ( since to you folks lying is only ever ” whatever is inconvenient to ME ” ) – but I repeat myself – however you could at least TRY to keep up. Noone in their right mind is saying ALL welfare queens or their male counterparts are fictional , we’re saying THAT one was . And that’s a fact . There was no woman , on welfare , in that particular midwestern town Reagan mentioned , driving up to the Welfare Office IN A CADILLAC . That is , if you recall , the kicker of the story , the thing that pissed off everyone who never bothered to find out if it actually happened or not ; that someone on for chrissake WELFARE was driving up to the office in a CAD. It would for a fact have pissed me off too. If it had ever happened like that . The problem is there was no Cadillac .
But why on earth let facts get in the way of a good , polarizing , poor-folks-blaming , racist story , eh?
The story is true, There were not one but four Cadillacs out of about 12, in the visitor parking at the County Office and it was in 1973 or so, when it was a bigger deal. Reagan was governor then and trying to reform welfare in our state. The Sac Bee wrote story and it wasn’t about the Cadillacs. It was about how they needed a new building.
What happened after was the conservative Sacramentans commented about it a lot. M Deaver picked up on it and gave it to Reagan. Reagan used it in a few speeches but dropped it.
If you did a Sac Bee archive of Metro Sections you could probably find the pic and article. Not and urban legend though, I’ve lived here all my life and it did happen and then got exaggerated. It’s worse now. We have welfare folks pulling down @120K tax free. And not just one.
Actually, Reagan used that term throughout his campaign. Here’s the problem. There may have BEEN a kernel of truth in the Sac Bee’s telling, but then every time Reagan mentioned it, the woman’s crimes became more and more outrageous. This is the problem with politics (and has been for decades). It’s about the showmanship, not the actual truth. Yes, there are people who cheat the welfare system. Name a system, and I’ll show you a system that somewhere has cheaters. That said, this “baby out with the bathwater” scenario that a lot of the Tea Party seems to advocate is an unnecessary draconian measure. Let’s talk about that Cadillac. Was it hers? We know that for sure? We saw the registration? Did she get to keep it or was it a bad financial decision that got repossessed a month later?
The minimum wage in this country right now on a 40 hour a week job is less than $30K a year. That’s wicked hard to live on. I think sometimes geography plays a role to because the cost of living varies wildly. When I tell my friends in SC that people making under $40K a year are granted state health coverage in MA, they call MA a welfare state….. but that could be because rents for a 2 bedroom apartment might run $500 or so there (when I was in grad school, mine was $325 a month, about a decade ago. Figure that has doubled). Rents in MA for the same apartment in the same condition (not great) would run about $2500 a month. Throw in a kid and some day care there and you don’t have a lot left over. Notice I said one kid, not 12. I’m just saying that raw numbers are deceptive.
actually, minimum wage full time for one year (52 weeks) before taxes is only 15,080.00 a year. take away about 15% of that for taxes and soc.security. where I live here in Virginia Beach, I cant support myself on that. my rent is 860 a month (and i live in an apartment complex that even dominos wont deliver to, not that i can afford pizza delivery.) my utilities are included thank god. do the math. i bring in 877.00 a month. i have to have a roomate. so i pay half a months income just to have a roof over my head. i have no medical insurance (cant afford it) i drive a kia which is 6 years old and i pay 300 a month for, but public transportation is so lousy that i cant work at all without a car (my 15 minute commute to work takes 2 hours one way with our current bus schedule and routes. that would turn my 8 hour a day work day into a 12 hour work day. because i am a single female my insurance is 60 a month for full coverage (because i have a lean on my car.) i have a cell phone (not a smart phone) and i pay 40 a month because i have to share a plan with someone else. I have to have a phone for work and emergencies, just like everyone else. this leaves me $47 dollars a month to eat, gas and incidentals. i have no life outside of work, and because i have no children, i do not qualify for assistance. this is the american dream right? oh, forgot, i use the computer at the library to access the internet, i have no pc or laptop or even cable at my house.
thank god the above isn’t real, it would be a nightmare to live like that!
I teach in two schools — one catering to low income students and one….. extremely NOT, let’s say. I see no difference in the work ethic in my students. I have extremely hard workers and extremely lazy slackers in both schools. I don’t “forgive” laziness in either school, but I do understand it more in the low income school as those students often DO have fewer role models. That said, they are all aware that college education is their only ticket out.
A lot of people (mostly Conservatives) like to point out that these poor kids often have smartphones. They scream and moan about them taking government assistance while they have that “$400 phone.” I would like to defend those students. It never occurs to these Conservatives that that “$400 phone” IS many of my students’ computer. It is their source for the Internet and their only source other than the dozen or so computers their school has in their one computer lab. With cable internet topping $50 a month (and often only if you also bundle other services thus increasing the bill), this is the only way many can do research on the internet. Libraries don’t have reference rooms like they used to….. to access scholarly journals, students must have internet access to the library’s database. They are doing the best they can. Find me a place they can get reliable internet access and a machine for $400 + $40 a month or less, and I will gladly pass that information on to them. They will thank you.
Eloquent and shining. Thank you so much for this!
The wide range of stories/backgrounds in the posts above should be evidence enough that NO generalizations can be made about race, economic status, or upbringing that are always or even mostly true. So everyone needs to shut the fuck up about how it “really is”.
Douche Gingrich is not being racist, he’s being stupid. And saying that his words are “the most
idiotic, unfounded, racist, and ignorant…that I have ever heard” makes you sound equally stupid. REALLY??! THOSE words are the MOST racist thing you’ve ever heard?? I seriously doubt that is true if you grew up in Compton in the early 90s. Words have meaning, use them appropriately. The statement should read “I’m mildly offended by words that could possibly be construed as racist and I have nothing better to do than to try and contribute to the media bullshit surrounding the presidential campaigns.” Newt is a fucking idiot and has proven to be unfit to be president HUNDREDS of times. For example, cheating on his cancer stricken wife while accusing then president Clinton of lying about a BJ?? How much in tax revenue was used up by that farce? And THIS incident is what tips you off?
The truth is many rich kids have terrible role models, as do many poor kids. Some grow up and continue the pattern, some break the mold. STOP generalizing and making stupid fucking claims. “I grew up in blah, blah… and now I’m a blah, blah so that means…” Who gives a shit??!
A strong work ethic does not mean you deserve financial success. Being really great at and dedicated to, a job that doesn’t pay shit isn’t the government’s or white peoples’ or black peoples’ fault. If you ask a poor teacher? It’s the government’s fault… Ask a poor white man? it’s all the minorities, affirmative action, and immigrants’ fault… Ask a poor black man? it’s whitey keeping them down. And a weak work ethic does not mean that you will be poor or unsuccessful…if you fall ass backwards into something that other people are willing to pay you lots of money for with little or no effort then you got lucky. People are responsible for their own circumstances and that’s just how it IS. You can waste time complaining about how it SHOULD be or you can just accept it and change your circumstances.
There is REAL racism in the world, and REAL oppression. Using hyperbole and anecdotes about how hard your life is/was in America is fucking sickening. Grow up and move on, this is a non-issue.
PS. If anyone can guess my race, background, and current economic status purely by the content of this post, then I concede that I am wrong and all posters above me should re-post their entire life stories in the hopes that we may finally learn the secret to racial harmony and peace on earth.
No, I can’t guess anything about you except that you have a different standard of poor than I do if you think that “ask a poor teacher” makes a good argument. By my standards, teachers are middle class. The average teacher income, while not high, is still miles better than that of someone struggling to make it on minimum wage with no benefits, or for that matter, on welfare or social security disability.
I really think that part of the problem we have is that a lot of people who aren’t poor think that their struggles are really comparable to those of poor people (Yes I recognize that this statement is a generalization).
They aren’t, and the danger inherent in such thinking is that if a person in household that has never gone without medical care, or lived in fear of eviction, or worried about running out of food or just having no transportation to get to the store to buy food starts thinking that wishing they had money for nicer clothes, a better car, or to buy lunch at work instead of packing a sandwich is struggling with poverty, that person may buy in to the fiction that we all really have the same opportunities in life.
There is no secret to racial harmony or peace on earth, but not everyone is in a position to “just accept it and change your circumstances.” And frankly, I find your assumption that because you don’t like what the author is saying he must be lying about both his childhood and his feelings to be…well…lets not say stupid, lets just say ignorant and arrogant. (Not to mention ill-mannered.)
Ask a poor teacher was not an argument. Simply an example of the type of whining I was pointing out, not the best one I’ll admit, and definitely a generalization. Teachers DO make a decent living, and have AMAZING benefits. The good ones stick with that job because they love what they do, not because of the paycheck. And it is a CHOICE. Growing up poor is not a choice, but what you do while in that environment clearly IS. The original poster, his mother, sister and father are perfect examples of that fact. My reason for posting was that it’s clear that his background did not dictate his future circumstances, and neither do anyone else’s.
You’re right, we definitely have different definitions of poor. The fact is that term is relative. Yes, the plights of your hypothetical first example should shame the second’s for simply wanting nicer stuff. But poor people in other countries without the safety nets that our government provides would consider “fear of eviction” and not wanting to walk two miles to the nearest grocery store to trade in food stamps for clean food, equally ridiculous when compared with their very real fears of rape, slaughter, disease, and famine.
I did not suggest we all have the same opportunities. That is absolutely a fiction. A greater fiction is the idea that this is an attainable goal. Welfare and similar programs by and large do what they are supposed to do: provide a safety net for those that need it, while and when they need it. There are some exceptions of people falling through the cracks, and others gaming the system. Nothing works all the time. This is reality, not utopia, and people do need to accept it. It doesn’t matter how much the government spends or whether the president is praying hard enough, there will always be poor and there will always be rich. Acceptance and doing something to improve your life does not require any pre-condition or being in some “position”. The danger in this type of thinking is that it leads people to wait for someone else to motivate them, or provide the means to do so.
Your last point is quite the straw-man argument. I did not assume nor say that he was lying about his background or feelings. I can now only assume you’re referring to my statement about doubting Gingrich’s words as being the most racist thing he’s ever heard. I don’t doubt he grew up in Compton and I’m sure his outrage and his feelings were real, and THAT is the problem I was pointing out. The hyperbole that he and many other posters in this thread employ to underline weak points about made up issues make it difficult to point out REAL issues. If this is the most racist thing he’s ever heard from a politician, then what words are left to describe Strom Thurmond calling all black people “Freds”? If everything that happens in this country is described with similar hyperbolic language, the end result is meaningless sensationalized news and a numb public unable and unwilling to sift through the bullshit to find things that actually matter. Forgive me for being ill-mannered about this subject but it does make me angry.
“I did not assume nor say that he was lying about his background or feelings.”
Your exact words sir:
“REALLY??! THOSE words are the MOST racist thing you’ve ever heard??******** I seriously doubt that is true if you grew up in Compton in the early 90s (read: you are either lying about your background or about your experience)*******. Words have meaning, use them appropriately. ****** The statement should read ‘I’m mildly offended by words that could possibly be construed as racist ….’(read: you are lying about your feelings)******** ”
And poverty is not relative. It is a well-defined term, based, I believe, on sound statistical analysis. I don’t have the exact specifics, but please, don’t just take my word for it, feel free to look it up.
Your basic complaint seems to be that you are irritated by reading the opinions of people who feel that their background has some bearing on their feelings or beliefs about what Newt Gingrich did or didn’t say, and that you feel that people who speak of having grown up poor should just get over it and move on.
I suggest that since you think others should get over it and move on, you provide an example for all of us by doing so yourself.
“Your basic complaint seems to be that you are irritated by reading the opinions of people who feel that their background has some bearing on their feelings or beliefs about what Newt Gingrich did or didn’t say,”
Wow! That’s the pot calling the kettle black, coming from the woman who thinks she’s an authority on what personal experiences do or don’t give an individual insight! (I’m referring of course to your reply on my post: “I’m really impressed that your millionaire grandmother felt that toilet cleaning in motel rooms was an experience that she wanted to share with you. Guess what–it doesn’t give you special insight in to anything.”)
He’s not accusing the author of lying–the word is hyperbole. Maybe you’ve heard of it. He’s pointing out that the author’s description of his feelings–maybe even the feelings themselves–are EXAGGERATED, and for you to harp on him for that and insist he has accused the author of lying is, well, an example of the kind of distracting emotional overreaction he is referring to.
“And poverty is not relative. It is a well-defined term, based, I believe, on sound statistical analysis. I don’t have the exact specifics, but please, don’t just take my word for it, feel free to look it up.”
You might want to look it up yourself wise ass. For example, are you speaking of statistical analysis that defines poverty based on the HHS Poverty Guidelines or statistics that use the Census Bureau’s Poverty Threshold, because they’re different. HHS sets the poverty line for a family of three at $18,530 a year while the Census Bureau sets the bar at $17,374. And I’m pretty sure a family of three trying to survive on $19,000 a year would consider themselves poor, but if poverty’s not relative, then I guess they’re not. As sick of the conversation pointed out, even the “richest” citizens of Iraq view themselves as poor relative to our poorest citizens because our poor don’t have to go to the bathroom in a hole in their backyard or worry about dying from dysentery. But feel free to keep dissecting his language instead of responding maturely to the substance of his argument because that way, only the people who already agree with you will want to listen to your point of view.
As for the special insight I gained from my grandmother–she didn’t “share” the experience of cleaning the toilet with me. She was teaching me how to clean a room. It’s called a job. At the end of the day, I received money for the work I did, and that’s pretty much how it worked in my family. It most certainly did give me some insight. It’s called a personal experience. It may resonate with you, it may not. But the problem with people like you is that the second you encounter someone who doesn’t fit neatly into your ingrained world view, rather than having a discussion about the different point of view and possibly even examining your own assumptions, you resort to personal attacks.
Instead of actually addressing the substance of what I–or anyone else on this blog with an alternative point of view for that matter–wrote, you just want to spew your venomous hatred and make snide comments to boost your own ego and make yourself feel better about being you. “Guess what, it doesn’t give you any special insight into anything (read: who cares. You’re stupid). Nice argument. I stopped worrying about validation from people like you after I spent 15 months dodging Katyusha rockets and shitting in buckets that we later set on fire to disposed of. I should have stopped worry about that when I was 7 years old and had to stick my hand in a toilet bowl for my allowance, but I guess it really sunk in after spending 15 months with people who have no running water and have to go outside to relieve themselves and who have to worry about dying from diseases like tuberculosis and dysentery. The “special insight” I gained from that experience was realizing that indignant Americans from any class seem pretty ridiculous.
I don’t really care one way or another about what Newt said. As Sick of the Conversation pointed out, it’s pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. What I did get aggravated with was the long list of posters who think that janitorial work is demeaning to lower income families and that suggesting young people should work is to promote “child labor.” If you read what I wrote carefully–instead of full of disgust for someone whose point of view may differ from yours–you’d see that my entire post addresses those views and my personal experience was quite relevant.
Now for the personal attack, since you started it.. You are a sad, spiritually ugly little woman, and your heart and brain are both withered by your sense of superiority and entitlement. There–that’s what a personal attack reads like. (And yes, I certainly have a sense of superiority to you and to many others who share beliefs similar to yours. At least I really did work my own way out of poverty and don’t just claim that an ancestor doing so entitles me to enjoy being well off while others are not. Heck, I even have the brains to understand that my brains gave me more of an advantage in escaping poverty than hard work ever could. And those I got by luck of the genetic draw, not because I was deserving.)
Actually, I sincerely doubt that your grandparents actually worked their way out of poverty–in all likelihood, like most of the immigrants I have ever known that have come to the U.S. and ended up buying a motel, they were comparatively well off (not rich, but I bet their neighbors woudl have thought they were) in their original homeland and chose to move here and invest their money in a business. Furthermore, the several immigrant hotel owners that my mother worked for as a cleaner when I was a child were horrible employers, who tended to cheat their employees and their costumers. But I’m sure your grandparents weren’t like that.
The multitude of formulas to define poverty do not mean that the term is relative, nor do they mean that someone with a teacher’s income anywhere in the US is likely to live below any defined poverty line (I understand that depending on family size this could happen, but I challenge anyone to find statistics to support the contention that it often does.) My income is right in line with teachers in my area, and my life is quite comfortable now. In fact, I consider myself rather well off.
And I certainly never said that people’s experiences weren’t pertinent to this discussion. The fool you are defending said that. I said YOUR experiences weren’t pertinent to what you were claiming they qualify you to speak on. No pots, no kettles.
I know having people call you on your bullshit is a disheartening experience for you, but you’ll just have to get used to it. You may be kinda smart, but you really aren’t the brightest kid in the classroom. (HA-now THAT’S a personal attack, just so you can see the difference.)
Boy you sure showed me! You’re not blinded by venomous rage at all! I’m spiritually ugly? Did you have to wipe the spit off the keyboard when you were done writing that, cause I’m pretty sure you must be frothing at the mouth by now. From your reaction, I think I made my point, although I’m not so sure you can see through the fog of your animosity.
If you read my post carefully, then your attention to detail is absolutely horrendous. You have gotten so off topic, I’m not even sure where to begin. But beyond that, the gigantic leaps and bounds you have taken, the incredibly faulty assumptions you have made, based on your own prejudices are astounding. You have taken tidbits of information that I have provided, filled in the blanks, and created such a wildly inaccurate picture in your mind, I reiterate my challenge to you and beg you once again: please set aside your hatred and start examining your own assumptions.
The main focus of my entire post was that janitorial work is not demeaning, going to work when you’re young is not necessarily child labor, and many impoverished people attribute their own success in life to working early in life. I never in any way, shape, or form said my experience cleaning toilet bowls gave me some kind of special insight into poverty. If that’s what you got out of it, you missed the entire point, which was that there is nothing demeaning about janitorial work or bad about having a job when you’re young. But that is just the tip of the iceberg as far as where you have gone way out into left field.
Not only did I never say that experience gave me special insight into poverty, I never mentioned my own financial situation at all. Oh, I’m sure you think you have that all figured out because I mentioned my grandparents died with over a million dollars in the bank, but let me light a lamp for you, just in case. I didn’t discuss my own financial situation because it wasn’t relevant at all to the point I made, which clearly went right past you, and because it’s nobody’s business what my income is—I don’t need to submit a financial prospectus or a lifetime resume so that people like you can decide whether or not I’m in the club and deserve a point of view or not. But if for no other reason than I hope, I really sincerely hope, that it helps you realize you need to take a good look at how YOU judge others, I’ll just fill you in on some basic facts that are, again, none of your business…
My birth was covered by Medicaid, as were my son’s medical expenses the first 18 months of his life. My family of three happens to be surviving on less than $25K a year in New York State—an income we now share with my sister and her son who have recently moved in with us and are surviving on food stamps. I only mention where I live because just how rich or poor an income of $25K a year makes you is, in fact, quite relative to where you live. For example, if we were living in Iowa, our expenses would be dramatically less and we might even have some disposable income. Am I poor? I actually don’t think I am. I think relative to millions of other families living in our own country that I am incredibly blessed and because of the multitude of opportunities I’ve had throughout my life, I think it would be insulting to many people less fortunate than me to refer to myself as poor. But again, whether I am or am not poor is not relative at all to the point I was making, and therefore is none of your business really. And if you can’t fathom how someone whose grandparents died with a million dollars in the bank ended up in the situation I just described, too bad. Learning from other people is a privilege you earn when you show them a certain level of respect that you definitely don’t demonstrate in your communications with people.
But while we’re on the subject of my “millionaire grandmother,” I’d also like to point out that you don’t have a fucking clue what her or my financial status was when she taught me how to clean rooms, or whether or not it was a job we needed to do to survive. It sure as hell wasn’t a hobby. I said my grandparents DIED with a million dollars in the bank. I also said I was 7 years old when I was cleaning rooms with my grandmother. Which brings me to my next point, and if you pay attention to nothing else I’ve said, please, pay attention here:
You sincerely doubt my grandparents worked their way out of poverty? You bet they’re like all of the immigrants you’ve known who came to this country and ended up buying a hotel? My grandparents weren’t immigrants. I never said they were. Once again, you took a tiny piece of information I put out there and constructed a picture in your head based on your own prejudices, and in this case what sounds an awful lot like blatant racism. (Just out of curiosity, what country was it you assumed they immigrated from?) You doubt they worked their way out of poverty? I guess you just skipped over the paragraph where I explain my grandmother had to drop out of school in the third grade to wash porch steps after her father was murdered in a drunken card game. One of her sisters spent her entire life completely illiterate. Her brothers made their living either boxing or working at Tyson’s meat packing—oh yeah, in case you haven’t revised the picture yet, all this happened IN THIS COUNTRY. My grandparents didn’t just end up buying a hotel. They worked their asses off and saved their money and BUILT a tiny little 10 room motor inn. My grandmother didn’t clean rooms for fun. She was the housekeeper. And the desk clerk. And the bookkeeper. My grandfather was the maintenance man and whatever other job title that needed to be filled. Technically speaking it wasn’t even a hotel. It was a motel. If you grew up in the industry, I don’t have to explain the difference.
Oh, there’s one more incredible assumption you made that is so far out there, I have to address it:
“It’s really nice that you care about poor people living in horrendous conditions in other parts of the world. So do I. Of course, I have never had the resources to leave my job and home to go help them personally.”
I don’t know exactly what picture you created in your head from what I said. Maybe you think I was on some Doctors Without Borders field trip or something. I thought the comment about dodging Katyusha rockets made it obvious, but I guess not. I was a soldier. The only volunteering I did was to go put my life on the line to fight a war no one at home supported or wanted to fight. No resources required. The Army provided those. No job to leave. That was my job. I did have to leave home though, and I wasn’t entirely sure I’d come back. Some of my friends never did. I have never seen a stinky gangrene foot, but I’m sure it doesn’t smell anything like the charred remains of a soldier who was blown up in her bed while she slept. I did have the opportunity to smell that.
I am sincerely begging you to set aside your rage and start reexamining your own assumptions. You find my position repugnant? You don’t think my experience gives me the right to judge people? What position? What judgment? My position was that working when you’re young is good, janitorial jobs aren’t demeaning, and that a high unemployment rate, which is not the fault of the unemployed (I clearly state in my original post), makes for fewer working role models. My secondary point to that was that the reactions to what Newt said were by far more visceral than logical and was leading people to make wild assumptions, which you have so beautifully demonstrated with your own assumptions about me.
Oh, and just for the record, I didn’t share my grandparent’s experience to establish my credentials to speak on the topic. I was demonstrating the point clearly stated in the beginning of the thread–that the level of poverty they pulled themselves out of doesn’t even exist in this country anymore. It was so horrendous, you assumed they must have immigrated from a third world country.
” You have no personal experience of poverty,”
You’re right. Guess what. Neither do you. You think because you had a single mom who couldn’t afford to pay your allowance after she paid rent and bought food, that means you were impoverished? That your opinion is more credible than anyone else’s here? You did have food though, right? No one in your family died of diphtheria (like my grandparents) or dysentery? You went to school, your mom paid rent and bought groceries? That’s nice. My sister lived in a tiny section 8 apartment in the ghetto and bought groceries with food stamps. Compared to her you sound rich. Oh wait–I don’t actually know anything about you–I’m just extrapolating from the tiny little bit of information you provided. Do I still win the pissing contest though?
You’ve gone on far to long for me to waste my time reading it all. You accused me immediately of resorting to a personal attack,spewing venomous hatred, and not replying to the points.
I make a few snide remarks. If you don’t think your tone in your original post, and the tone of the author of the original comment in this chain across come as condescending, off topic, etc., you didn’t read it them way many others, including myself, did.
Guess what. Other than those few snide comments, my responses to both of your emails was entirely on point. Sure, the author of this post may have intended to point out hyperbole, but he did so not by saying “surely your statements are exaggerated.” Instead, he decided to use very antagonistic wording that specifically and in fact imply that the author was lying. He was going personal. I was pointing it out. Funny, even he didn’t respond to me in the venomous fashion that you did.
Somewhere in your chain of blather, (and yes, I’m being most deliberately antagonistic here. We don’t like each other, so why not?) you say that I’ve made assumptions about you. I haven’t. Shoot, for all I know, you grew up in in a traveling carnival. I really don’t make any assumptions about you, or at least any that I state. Your go-to position seems to be to take a laundry list of things you can accuse people of, and to apply that list liberally to anyone who disagrees with you.
You were mortally offended that I thought your story of cleaning toilets with your grandmother was not a good example of why poor people shouldn’t think what Newt Gingrich said was offensive, and I made a snide remark about it. The rest of my response to you contained no personal attacks, no venomous hatred. You responded like a wounded buffalo, and then I saw that you had posted an even longer response, just chock full of personal attacks, to my comments on this post. Clearly I really get under your skin. Got to admit, that gives me a tickle. I’m sure by now we both look completely ridiculous, so this will be my last post here. But seriously, you need look in the mirror. You really like to accuse others of your own behavior.
If you had actually bothered to read my response, I’m pretty sure you’d back pedal that entire retort.
Ahh crap. Just read your last paragraph and have to break my word. Trust me, your sister is better off than we were. Much better off. We never got section 8. Sorry if she has to live in a ghetto. So do a whole lot of us. Maybe she should work three part time jobs and go to college for six years to get a degree and better employment like I did. At least she doesn’t have to pay her own rent (which, by the way, I don’t begrudge her–Unlike many-not saying you, just the average Republican, and I don’t even know if you are a Republican-I take pride in paying my taxes and knowing that at least some of the money goes to help people have a chance to get ahead). I have in fact had periods in my childhood where I did not have a roof over my head, and where only the kindness of strangers kept me fed. Your fascination with dysentery is kind of odd, by the way…… And your assumption that people aren’t dying of poverty-related disease in this country today is just plain wrong–there are in fact outbreaks of tuberculosis occurring in cities all across the US. No, no one in my family has, but my mother almost died from her gall bladder bursting because during the months of agony leading up to it, she couldn’t pay to go to a doctor. She had a lot of health issues-cervical cancer, bad gall bladder, tumors on her remaining ovary, brown recluse spider bite, and lack of access to medical care meant that every time she was starting to build a good life for us, she would get sick and everything would fall apart. So yes, I have a real, intimate first hand knowledge of poverty, here in the good old US of A. Grant you, many people in Haiti or Darfur or Afghanistan are far worse off. But that doesn’t mean that what’s going on here is ok, and that doesn’t mean that it’s ridiculous for an American to be indignant.
Whoosh! That’s the sound of the point flying straight over your head. But you just can’t help yourself, can you? You simply can’t pass up the temptation to get into that pissing contest and compete for your position, can you? And commenting after you’ve already told me you’re above commenting. Tisk-tisk. Who’s getting under who’s skin again? And after all that time you spent telling me how smart you are. So sad. It’s okay, you don’t need to read what I wrote. I know the truth hurts. You said so yourself–it kinda stings when someone calls you on your bullshit. I wouldn’t really know, but I’ll take your word for it.
Spartan women only or whatever – damn you have a sophisticated “rationalization” system goin’ on don’t you? I bet you live in a cushy, gated, community and have all the time in the world to read the thesaurus and write pithy little responses to women like Hannah, et al. don’t cha? Oops! you better stop reading this and get back to figuring out ways to make yourself feel better about being wealthy and smart and educated and all dat!
Hannah,
I find it hard to believe that someone who frequents a stand-up comedian’s blog has that difficult a time picking up on sarcasm. This leads me to the conclusion that you are well aware of what I meant, and you are willfully ignoring that knowledge in order to strengthen your “position” in an argument that you have invented and are so desperately trying to win. Aside from the sarcasm, my exact words (as you so skillfully copied and pasted) were “I seriously doubt”. That is a far cry from “You’re lying”. You even documented the stretching you had to do to in your response (read: smugly including your baseless interpretations as facts parenthetically), because on the face of it, it’s OBVIOUS that I was not calling the original poster a liar.
Here’s a “specific” for you:
Definition of the word poor:
Lacking enough money to live comfortably in a society.
I think you would a agree that “living comfortably” can mean many different things, and “society” is clearly not the same everywhere in the world. This is what I and people who own a dictionary are referring to when they say that poverty and being poor is relative. I know that you understand this…stop rephrasing my statements to make them easier for you to disagree with.
Yes I’m irritated, by people like you, altering the conversation to make it more sensationalized, overblown, and easier for you to feel indignant. It’s not about you or your background. Obviously a person’s background has bearing on their feelings and beliefs, that is not what’s irritating. Inserting your background into a discussion unnecessarily in order to make outlandish claims of racism or “class warfare” is very irritating. It diverts the conversation away from anything meaningful or worthwhile, and steers it towards bullshit outrage, name calling, and dick measuring contests of who has more experience being poor (read: your ridiculous exchange with spartan below). A person’s experience being poor does not make a terrible idea good. Nor does a lack of experience being poor make a good idea bad.
Grow up and have an adult conversation. You’d be surprised at how easy it is to get things done when you’re not searching for ways to be upset.
Marry Me. (kidding of course–I am a happily married woman). Concise, pointed, and relatively dispassionate (a disposition I myself am not always able to maintain). I couldn’t have stated it better myself.
You’re both icky and deserve each other.
(Same response as the other thread …)
Typically, Tired, when someone hits a nerve, they get an immediate response. When people prattle out nonsense that just makes themselves look stupid, they’re fairly easy to overlook. I am considering making a rule for myself to just completely ignore people who comment on posts they obviously didn’t read, and while you would certainly fit into that category, that is not the reason I haven’t responded to you yet. I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess that you are either very young or incredibly alone. Either scenario would explain your behavior and your being oblivious to the fact that some people actually have lives and responsibilities to attend to and can’t sit around on the computer trolling the blogosphere all day long. Duly Noted and Colin were way ahead of you on the list of people who actually deserve a sincere response to their comments, but since you are so eager to find out what I think about your not-so-clever little jabs, I will humor you. In spite of the fact that you appear just as hateful as Hannah, some small part of me takes pity on you, so here it is:
The answer to every moronic question you ask, both literal and rhetorical, has already been spelled out in plain English in the posts you’re commenting on. (The first question you answer yourself. I’ll give you a hint. It’s not a fact, it’s a ____ .) I come right out and describe my current economic status pretty clearly, so if you walked away with the impression that I live in a cushy gated community, then I’m going to guess reading comprehension is not a strong test area for you. I am definitely not above pulling out the dictionary while I read and write (most educated people use one frequently), but if you think it’s an insult to tell someone that they write like they use a Thesaurus, then that says more about you than me. (It’s down right entertainment when your last name ends in a vowel and its usually the four-letter words people complain about, not the multisyllabic ones). However, if it will help you with that reading comprehension problem, I will try to use fewer syllables so it is easier for you to understand what you’re reading.
As for my moniker, it’s called the 3rd Infantry Division kid. Look it up. If you can figure out what brigade I was in from the handle, I’ll mail you a prize. Not all units in the military allow their female soldiers the honor and the privilege of serving outside the wire. Mine did. I guess you could say I did spend some time living in a gated community, although I’m pretty sure it’s nothing you could imagine. It was on the other side of that gate, however, where I earned that title. I have a slightly different perspective than Hannah of what it means “to have to do a job to survive,” as I believe she put it. If I didn’t do my job, and do it well, people died. Period. “Hard work” to me means working six straight weeks, 14 to 18 hours a day, averaging 4 hours of sleep a night, without a single day off (No time off is pretty much standard operating procedure for all soldiers when they first arrive in country. No choice about it either. I know that the whole having a choice thing was very important to Hannah).
The moniker is a historical reference to Gorgo, Queen of the Spartans. The quote was popularized by the movie 300, but anyone who had ever picked up a history book and read about the Spartans before the movie came out would have come across it without effort. Women had a unique status in ancient Spartan society. The moniker is a tribute to my unit, to all soldiers (male and female), to motherhood, and to all women who have the courage to defend their own voice (soldiers and civilians alike). I could write a dissertation on what the quote means to me, but I’m pretty sure I’ve already provided enough material for you to take and prove yourself incapable of understanding when you make some snide comment that surely will make you giggle like a schoolgirl as you type it (that, my dear, is what I meant by making yourself feel better about being you).
It’s admirable you want to defend your pal Hannah. If you had actually read through the entire exchange, you would know that she revealed herself to be a racist when she inaccurately assumed, based on ethnic stereotypes, that my grandparents were immigrants—the kind she blatantly stated she can’t stand—but you shouldn’t let something like that stand in your way of defending a person whose position you haven’t actually read. I didn’t call Hannah out because I disagreed with her position, or because she disagreed with mine. If all she had done was left her own pithy little comment on my post, I probably would have brushed her off with a couple sentences like I did with other people who made similar comments. I called Hannah out because someone offered her an olive branch and she spit in his face—after chastising him for being not being a gentleman! You have a choice Tired. You can follow in her footsteps and continue to troll up and down this blog spitting at people who don’t share your views and cheering for those who do, or you can grow up and join the conversation. I know it’s much easier to understand the world if you divide it into “us and them,” but sadly, the world is a complicated place, and most people can’t be so easily categorized. I’m sure I’ve said plenty that contradicts your preconceived notions of who I should be or what I should believe, but please, show me one place where I contradict myself? I pose to you the same challenge I posed to Hannah: start questioning your own assumptions. The idea was apparently so painful for her, she just completely dismissed it. I’m curious if you’re any more up to the challenge.
“A strong work ethic does not mean you deserve financial success.” uh, yes it does. That is part of the contract with America, the American Dream and if it is broken, well then we can just all go home because our reason for coming here has been taken from us.
By financial success I ONLY mean that you can live knowing that you can meet your basic needs, properly raise your replacements in the workforce and not worry about keeping utilities on in old age or disability and then we can get to discussing whether or not vacations and entertainment are “basic needs” cuz millions of US citizens never get either after working very hard but our CIC has no problem taking them constantly IN OUR FACE! NO MODESTY!
Sarum,
Again, we’re getting into relative terms that will only lead us down the path of pointlessly arguing over small portions of a person’s statement. A path that Hannah and Spartan have demonstrated more than well enough. This is the beauty (Hannah, read: Sarcasm) of the internet…instead of listening to a person’s statement, absorbing the spirit and point of the statement, and crafting a response, we get to copy and paste and fixate on a detail or two.
SUCCESS, is relative, as you proved with your need to qualify the statement.
I agree, there is a social contract between the country and it’s citizens. But it is not “work hard and you will be provided for” as it seems you’re claiming. America agrees to provide an environment conducive to success in exchange for your hard work and innovation (and taxes). Some people excel in that environment and others do not. There are safety net programs in place to help people when they make poor decisions or are just plain unlucky. But their success or failure is not wholly dependent on their work ethic, their economic status when they’re born, their skin color, or any other single attribute. All of these things combine to make up a person’s circumstances. Some we are in control of and some we are not.
Once again, my original points (which have yet to be addressed) are:
1) Your background is irrelevant to your point. So stop qualifying all of your statements with your life story. Either your statement can hold water on it’s own or it can’t. Bringing your personal life into it results in people being offended (like the original poster) without warrant, assigning meaning and subtext where it does not exist, and leads us to try and win an argument as opposed to find a solution.
2) Words have meaning and they need to be used appropriately. Nothing gingrich said (despite how stupid his ideas were) were racist. Throwing that around just weakens a person’s argument and makes them look stupid. The story here should not be, “Gingrich is a racist dick”…it should be “Gingrich has TERRIBLE ideas about addressing poverty in this country”…his ideas (including his belief that prayer is more effective than research) and his actions while in elected office are what make him unqualified to the lead the country. Made-up racism and hyperbole only serve to distract us from this reality.
To ANY poster: Please at least attempt to consider these points before copying and pasting one sentence and going on a tirade about it.
This is so much BS. If anyone suggests that people need to take responsibility for themselves and their family and not depend on the tax payer to do so they are racists. That is exactly the reason our country is going to Hell in a hand basket. If there was ever anyone who was not qualified to be president it is BHO. He has proven it day in and day out since he has been elected. Get off Government hand outs and make something of yourself.
Did you even read the post? Your ignorant comment suggests not.
Once again, a page from someone out of touch. A proust to the first Amendment. Designed by a REPUBLIC.
What he said may have been figuratively incorrect at least he attempted to propose to help inner city kids who proportionally do not have the same employment opportunities, educational opportunities or even roll models to encourage them to succeed in life as opposed to joining a gang, selling drugs or worse. 1 in 3 black men from the age of 18-25 have been arrested from the inner city. 1-8 have spent time in prison. Michelle Alexander reported recently in the Huffington Post that more black men are in prison today than were enslaved in 1850! (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/12/michelle-alexander-more-black-men-in-prison-slaves-1850_n_1007368.html
That is under President Obama’s watch and in my opinion doesn’t speak very highly of his undisclosed proposals to help inner city youth. I can’t name one that President Obama has proposed or even addressed in any speech, can you?
Tell me Travon, exactly what has President Obama done to address poverty in ANY underclass neighborhood let alone the black community underclass….hmmm? NOTHING that’s what, even his adopted home town of Chicago has experienced increased levels of violence since he assumed office. So you may be the “Black Kid” who found it necessary to write a retort to Mr. Gingrich’s statement, at least it was the GOP found it necessary to at least propose to do SOMETHING to assist those in improvished environments in this country. btw, I used to be a Black kid from Oakland California. Let me tell you from first hand experience Oakland as well as Compton are far worse communities today than they were in the 90′s “Brotha”. Let’s be clear, you are the exception Travon not the norm in Compton, Oakland, D.C., Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago and every other slum or impoverished neighborhood in America. So I ask since you made the statement towards Mr. Gingrich…. who really is the one who is full of shit? hmmm.
That would be you.
I lived in LA between 1990 and 2006, Venice to be exact. I experienced the wealth of LA and the abject poverty. I lived in a small but cool cottage employing a house keeper and at times when I travelled for work, a gardener. Both from non white communities and both people I would trust above all others, boy did they have a work and spiritual ethic, tI considered them family.
they don’t come much whiter than me!
They worked so they could be home for their kids and to put their kids through college. I also mentored a young hispanic guy who is now about to graduate and is a tribute to what makes America a great country. It was because of this and other experiences that I became an American Citizen. Sure there is much wrong however, it is the people who are so right, I love it. And thanx a million for you Blog! And
Pingback: A Hollywood Republican » An Open Letter to Newt Gingrich
P.S.: I speak as someone who grew up in a single-parent, minority immigrant, economically disadvantaged household that received food stamps and other benefits from time to time. While my mother worked hard in school and at various jobs, I also learned that you didn’t really need to work to survive — and I don’t think it was a good lesson. I think that made me much lazier. While I was fortunate (and perhaps inspired) academically, and was actually numerically qualified for top universities and grad schools (ulnike the last three presidents), it’s hard to shake the belief/knowledge that the government will take care of you if you don’t feel like working.
Funny. I too grew up in a single parent household that received food stamps and other benefits from time to time. In my case, my mother had recurring serious health issues and the only way she could get life-saving medical treatment at three points in her life was to go on welfare. What I got out of it was that if you aren’t able to work, it gets really really difficult to survive and everything you have can be gone gone in an instant. I still live in mortal terror of losing my job with good benefits and being forced to go on some kind of government assistance. Interesting that you have such a different viewpoint. My guess is that it must be because you have right wing political views and need to lie to yourself to justify them.
Let’s break this down:
1. By global standards, almost no one in America is “really poor.” Ask any third-world immigrant, and they’ll tell you. Most such immigrants (including Africans) work very hard when they come here, and end up with pretty good lives. (America’s “poverty level” is arbitrarily determined, and obesity is a far larger problem for America’s poor than hunger is.)
2. The only people here who come close to being “Really Poor” are those who choose not to work AT ALL. (I.e., the long-term welfare cases.) This is who Newt is referring to, and there is no question that there are in fact communities dominated by such people. (1/3 of all women who use welfare stay on it for over 5 years. Their children grow up thinking this is an acceptable lifetsyle, with no work ethic.) Newt is clearly not talking about the working “poor.”
3. If we simply look at the example of poor immigrants, many of whom cannnot even speak english, it becomes clear that there is always some work for those truly willing to work.
4. Most poverty in this country is created by poor people having kids before they’re able to provide for them. (Poor people have far more kids than non-poor people, compounding the problem, especially since poverty is strongly correlated with low intelligence and mental problems, both genetically influenced and therefore passed on.) Such choices condemn both parent and child to poverty, because they make education and career commitment/advancement more difficult for parents, in addition to dividing scarce resources.
5. Voluntary/optional jobs for such kids would in fact teach them good work habits, in addition to gettting extra money to their families. Middle-Class kids already have both benefits with paper routes, etc. — poor kids deserve the same.
6. Janitors, along with teachers and most other union employees, are overpaid by any global standard. Giving some of that money to kids, and otherwise bringing salaries into line with other developed nations, would mean lower unemployment and more money available for more productive areas of the economy.
7. Whatever one thinks of the wealthy (like Gingrich), they pay almost all of the taxes in this country, and far more than their fair share. This is true even though they are far less likely to use government services, with most federal spending going to the bottom 1/3 of the population.
8. These are the simple facts of the situation, and we ignore them at our peril. Liberal welfare polices have failed to reduce poverty significantly over the past 40 years, despite masssive spending and unprecedented prosperity during that time. We clearly need a new approach, especially now. Mindlessly attacking those who offer practical, obvious solutions simply because we’ve been brainwashed to hate conservatives, republicans, and those more successful than us will simply lead to more of the same.
Which is, of course, what liberals want. The more that people are dependent on the government, the more power (and voters) they have.
Comparing the salary levels of anyone in this country, doing the same job in another country is nuts and completely off base. We have a much higher standard of living in this nation, due to the DECADES of hard work of the MIDDLE CLASS, upon whose back this nation was built, as was the massive wealth of a minute portion of our nation.
I pay FORTY PERCENT between Federal and State Taxes. I DOUBT Newt is paying anywhere near that. And the wealthy derive a great portion of their income from the stock market, paying 15% in cap gains.
Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with someone being successful and wealthy. But they derive their prosperity from THE SOCIETY, not the other way around.
When did a certain portion of this nation’s population become so uncaring, selfish and only out for themselves? We are the richest nation in the world, well we were before supply side economics destroyed our way of life, we is it so hard for people to understand that one of the things that makes this nation great is our unending ability and desire to help those that can’t help themselves?
And yes, I know there are many that “game” the system, and agree that that must be stopped. But cutting off aid for everyone, making everyone fend for themselves is NOT what this country was about. It IS about neighbor helping neighbor, no matter race, creed, religion, sexual orientation or any other thing that defines an individual.
No offense, Ed, but you seem confused on several points.
First, how is it “nuts” or off-base to compare ourselves to other countries? If we only define poverty as the bottom 10%-15% of our country, then by definition it becomes impossible to ever eradicate it. Similarly, in the era of globalization, we clearly need to reference other nations to help evaluate appropriate salaries (unless we want all jobs to be outsourced).
Second, the reason we’re richer than other nations is because we have a largely free-market system where EVERYONE who worked contributed — not just the “middle-class” but also the working-class, and the wealthy. Moreover, if you understand market economics, than you should realize that the most successful generally got that way by contributing more than others to society. Yes, there are some who game the system, and the humblest worker plays a role, but the most important actors have been people like Ford, Gates, and Jobs — those with the unique ability to transform the humble efforts of others into something truly productive. In a free market, you are compensated according to what you contribute, except where distortions like government, monopolies and unions interefere, usually with negative results. Society derives its prosperity from productive individuals, not the other way around.
If you pay 40% in taxes, you must be fairly wealthy, but you have no apparent basis for claiming that you pay more %-wise than Newt. (Most wealthy people don’t in fact get most of their income from capital gains — Buffett is an exception.) And even if you did, he probably paid more in total taxes, despite taking no more in government benefits.
The reason we remain the wealthiest major nation is precisely because of “supply-side” economics and conservative economic policies, which have allowed us to remain competitive despite sharply increased foreign competition. (Even Clinton was a fiscal conservative who was forced to govern as such by the Republican Congress.)
Finally, the key thing that traditionally makes our country great is most people’s willingness to take responsiblity for themselves, and not try to mooch off others. That willingness to accept individual responsibility helps ensure the opportunities that create our prosperity, and if you want to look at what is truly threatening our prosperity today, it is the growing tendency among some (mainly middle class) liberals to demand that others meet all their core needs.
No one is saying that all aid should be cut off to the needy. (No one has criticized aid to the truly disabled for many decades.) We are simply saying that if we actually want to help lift people from poverty (instead of simply allowing them to survive in squalor), then we should probably look at the actual causes of sustained poverty. Which are generally not what we’ve been taught to believe.
Finally, I certainly support neighbors voluntarily helping their neighbors if they wish too, as neighbors can gauge true need far better than distant governments. And I agree we need to stop harping on irrelevant details like race/religion, and focus only on things like income when determining things like jobs and educational opportunities. It’s ridiculous that a wealthy prep-school kid like Bobama receives preferential admissions to college and grad school over poorer, more qualified asian students.
When you say “and if you want to look at what is truly threatening our prosperity today, it is the growing tendency among some (mainly middle class) liberals to demand that others meet all their core needs” you show us how out of touch with reality you are. As a self-employed contractor, I make enough to pay my bills but basically live check to check. I cannot afford health insurance. Although I am a healthy 28 year old non-smoker, It would cost me almost $600 a month for health insurance. Is it wrong that a middle class, tax paying liberal like me thinks that affordable health care should be a basic right? I don’t demand that anyone pay for any of my “core needs”, as you like to say, but at the same time, if affordable health care isn’t a core need, what is? Newt doesn’t want to help anybody lift themselves from poverty. He just wants to protect the big fat piece of the pie that he’s already got on his plate.
Comparing US to other nations is bogus because everything is very different. For years I have been wondering how they had an Orange Revolution? If people here did that they would become homeless in the same amount of time because the banks have no forgiveness. And others that live on $3 a day. Do they need a mortgage? How much do they pay for transportation to work? How much are food costs? These comparisons are ridiculous, take advantage of US people ignorance and serve only to make false points.
@Rational Thought:
Wow, someone who actually has a solution to the problem, not just someone trying to pass on the blame. I agree with you completely. This “article” is a joke and simply an instance of mudslinging. If you want to talk about bad candidates, look at Obama and the Chicago Political Machine. Just because you are black doesn’t make you better than all the rest of us @Travonfree.
Well said
Rational Thought (of which you have none) and Not Racist (which you probably are or you wouldn’t need to say you’re not -what do your ACTIONS say about you?):
You both appear to have been dupped by the conservative machinery that has you panting after their pitiful handouts of a promise that if we just deport all the immigrants, get rid of the gays, abortion doctors, and birth control, ferret out the welfare queens, and get back to GOD, everything will be ok, and we can go back to the Ward and June Cleaver days. After all, everyone was so much happier then. Right? The conservative machinery is playing the oldest game in the history of the US, that is, pit one low power group against another low power group to take the focus of both groups off of those who have the real power, the real greed, and who pose the real threat. I’m a public employee (unionized) who never in a million years, could have imagined a similarly paid private sector employee accusing me of being over paid. First off, if you, as a private sector employee, think public sector employees earn better wages and benefits then get a job as a public employee. Second of all, why are we fighting with each other when we are more similar than different in our life circumstances? Unions were created and exist for a good purpose, that is to prevent the wealthy and powerful from returning all of us to a state of indentured servitude and sub-standard wages. How many private sector employees have had their 401K’s gutted, retirement pensions destroyed, homes foreclosed because of some greedy CEO who shipped their jobs overseas? Are those the people you want running the country? Give me a bleeding heart liberal any day, Obama included. I want someone who can look themselves in the mirror everyday and be proud of who they are, someone who can stand in their integrity and someone who knows that the next decision they make isn’t based on a campaign contribution. What happended to empathy?
Unions have become a corrupt political class too. Screwed us too many times. And stabbed us in the back with their Civil Rights Ride for Illegal Workers driving-down-our wages-and-taking-our-jobs-with-our-own DAMN DUES! Even without the illegal component they all were sold-out long ago. They are not visionaries in any sense of the word – otherwise they would be on top of this psych warfare that has been used against them and they would have fought the predatory workplace culture that often exists in a form of entertainment as we cannibalize our own. IOW we have institutionalized bullying/mobbing as a form of anti-unionism and if they had any brains at all they would have figured it out and started addressing it rather than totally capitulating. But no, they keep cutting secret deals with management and losing ground. They started running their locals like mini-fiefdoms and they perverted the process to line their own pockets and screw the workers repeatedly, changing nothing so they can file again a couple of years down the road and put that addition on the house, put the kids through university, have that vacation that no employee ever gets or can afford. I believe in unions but just like our government I can’t even write what I truly think and feel . . . . yeah, I will, every single one of them should have all their assets removed from their possession and given to their victims, as should our politicians, and as should all those companies & CEO’s that took our bail-out money and then off-shored our jobs. Then we should put them in stocks and let them be tortured to death. And their children. And their children’s children. They are the scourge of the earth paying some lab psychos to make the super flu to kill us off? China remembers the Opium Wars and prosecutes drug dealers with death. Yeah, ain’t the USA great? Everything is for sale! Even the intimate secrets of our drones apparently. The talking heads parrot talking points about “freedom” but pay attention – the only freedom is enjoyed by corporations purveying various poisons that should be outlawed. Food poison. Drug Poison. Mental Poison. Spiritual Poison. Culture? Only when there is financial remuneration, like persuading parents to let their youth go and die for some corporate profit . . . . Are the suicides so high because they have realized the lie? We rot from within in so many ways I almost can’t see a way out.
“Janitors, along with teachers and most other union employees, are overpaid by any global standard”
You are full of it. I’m sure you’ll argue that financial planners and hedge-fund managers are NOT over-paid. Since they add SO much value to our society.
You write like a Trojan soldier.
Not facts idiot. Not even close
A few pieces of data you seem to have misplaced when framing your response:
Most Low intelligence and mental problems are not genetic. Genetically-based low intelligence is constantly culled by evolutionary forces. Most low intelligence and mental problems in poverty-level America are caused by:
The fact that impoverished neighborhoods are extremely toxic, carrying a pollutant load that would seem excessive even in communist China;
The fact that high stress levels, including both income insecurity and threat of violence, directly and adversely affect fetal brain development;
The fact that impoverished neighborhoods are “food deserts”, where the few stores selling any form of food are both massively under-supplied with fruits and vegetables, and charge from 25% to 40% more for what little they do carry — thus leading to inadequate nutrition to support developing brains both before and after birth;
The fact that supplemental nutritional programs such as WIC are deliberately made difficult to access and easy to lose, as “cost-cutting measures”, _in spite of proof that they save the public millions in long-term care dollars_;
And the fact that the single most critical factor in both prenatal and early childhood brain development is adequate access to high-quality protein, the component of modern American diets that is consistently both the least available and the lowest quality in impoverished neighborhoods.
Oh, by the way: one universally acknowledged cause of overweight is protein deprivation. Your body makes you hungrier and hungrier in a desperate attempt to raise your protein intake. If you’re rich, you Southbeach diet your way to slender health. If you’re poor, the hamburger rich suburbanites buy for $1.79 costs you $3.29, and has _15%_ more fat – thus 15% less protein. So you eat two burgers instead of one, and you gain weight. …And tomorrow, you’ll do it again. Because every neighborhood you can reach with public transportation, or drive a car in without getting charged with “loitering”, still has no place to buy decent veggies or low-fat meat, and the trash they do sell costs too much.
Last point: I was on “welfare”- WIC and food stamps- for more than five years, because my wealthy husband bought his way out of child support and left me, a disabled Veteran, to raise my handicapped child alone. My IQ is somewhere above 185, I have a college degree, and I started a home business because no one would hire me.
Summary: you’re wrong.
When you say that the wealthy like Newt Gingrich pay the majority of taxes in this country, and far more than their fair share, did you ever stop to think that they are also the ones who have benefited the most from being in this country? Did it ever occur to you that they’ve accumulated more than their fair share?
If we’re in a debt crisis right now where we’re spending too much and not taking in enough, doesn’t it make sense to tax the rich (who can afford it, and who are paying lower taxes right now than they ever have since the introduction of the income tax?) instead of the middle and lower classes?
NNice Articlei
In the seventh paragraph, second and third sentences should be combined to read, “Your solution is child labor AND degrading young children… blah, blah.” Otherwise, the third sentence is not a sentence, but a fragment. Excellent letter.
In the first sentence, after your introductory clause, the sentence should read, “[the] second and third sentences…”
As a side note, “blah” is a colloquialism; it is not formal English.
I LoLed.
In real-world persuasive writing, fragments are often used as a rhetorical device to convey emphasis.
How can you or anyone else for that matter, presume his comments are racist unless that is how you think. It takes one to know one!
there is a piece of ancient wisdom that sums this up “if you spot it, you got it”
So Gary, when is your kid gonna sign up for toilet duty?
Yeppers, and I think I know where you are coming from. =))
y’know, he really DOES look like mashed potatoes in a suit!!
Thank you for this letter. I grew up in the inner city of New York a white poor daughter to parents who both worked so many hours that my brother and I rarely saw them together. My mother ate her heart out daily at the things she could not afford to give us.Stress on how to pay bills and buy food was an overwhelming contribution to her death at 60. I ask America to stop being enticed by the goings on of celebrity and to pay attention who those you elect are!. Demand transparency and question who are their financial backers, as they will be who your elected will work for NOT for you. See that there is a “dumbing” down of America at hand. The younger up and coming generations are more concerned with tabloid gossip crap than what their legacy will be when they become adults. The rich have only gotten richer. There were NO trickle down jobs created with those Bush tax cuts, they held onto that money and grew fatter and richer while average Americans lost their homes, signed up for Government help with food and other basic needs.
What will it take for average citizens to say enough is enough?
Well that’s one shoe to drop. I’m waiting for the other one. I can’t wait to vote to see this fool lose.
Well said, Travon Free. I am not a minority, but was also offended by Speaker Gingrich’s comments. As you say, it shows how out of touch he is. And if my agreement with your comments makes me a bleeding heart liberal, I’d rather that than to support ideas that hold us back and do not allow us to move forward for the betterment (hopefully) of all. I want leaders in the world with a positive vision of the future, not those that feel the need to get the support of a far-right group simply in order to get a nomination. That type of pandering is shameful and cringe-worthy.
Thank you for this post and many others. As a white woman who grew up poor in the inner city of New York, to parents who worked so many hours that I did not see them hardly at all. Watching my mother stress and worry and eat her heart out at the things she could not giver her children, I am sure contributed to her death at 60, was a hard lesson learned. Now a mother of three daughters I to struggle since i am in the majority of those that work and still have NO insurance, no savings and little hope that as a nation we will truly be so disgusted that we turn off the Kardashians and take to the streets, the polls and ELECT true representatives of THE people. Not the 1% that we seem to keep electing but to those that are real reflections of us. Demand transparency of your candidates and know who are giving them money, since in the end THOSE are the people they really are serving. Not you or I!
Bronwyn McCracken
Great post.
Poor people work very hard, my father was so poor he wasn’t even born in a hospital he was born in a box car outside of the fields his parents were working in yet he went on to serve his country proudly and get a masters degree. My mother faced a similar upbringing as well living in conditions so 3rd world that she didn’t know what running water was until she was 11-years-old. She too has a college education and they both lived the American dream despite being kicked off their land and being stripped of their identities in their own country. My grandparents worked everyday, back breaking labor that most Americans would NEVER do now. So to say poor people have no work ethic is pretty unfounded. I see more middle class and upper middle class people in American who have a sense of entitlement than I have in poor people. My folks did all of this despite horrible racism and poverty, if they can do it anyone can & no one gave them anything they earned it. Oh it is true he does look like rotten mashed potatoes in a suit.
I love what you wrote but must take exception to this – “if they can do it anyone can ” as it is no longer true. It simply is not possible anymore in most cases. Your point about the sense of entitlement exhibited by middle classers (and up) is SO TRUE!
Newt Gingrich is pretty retarded. But a big part of why you got those scholarships and acceptances to those schools in the first place is because you were a poor black applicant. Claim whatever you want but as long as affirmative action exists no one is going to believe that disadvantaged minority students got accepted to prestigious programs by their own right. Can’t have it both ways. Disadvantaged minorities can’t support affirmative action then whine that people don’t regard them as an equals. It’s simple, applicants are accepted despite being subpar because of their race/financial status.
Gingrich is a conservative, conservatives hate the idea of affirmative action and he probably had affirmative action, not just in the realm schools but on a social level (employment etc…etc..), in his mind when he made those statements. Conservatives hate the idea of handouts to the poor that they feel are undeserved, that’s just part of their platform.
Tireless arguments about the short comings of affirmative action from privileged White folks like you are oh so……tiring. Affirmative action helps level the playing field for poor people and People of Color so that they can compete against the “sub-par” White students who get into Ivy league colleges because their Daddy is an alum, or Daddy gave the University a million dollars for their athletic field, or the White privileged child could pay someone to take their SAT test for them and get a great score, or Mommy was a Chi-Omega, or any of the other 100 reasons why “sub-par” White students get into colleges when they’re dumb as dirt. There is an invisible form of Affirmative Action for White people in America that no one wants to talk about, so unless YOU want to talk about Affirmative Action for White people along with Affirmative Action for People of Color, shut your mouth. You can’t have it both ways.
Thank you, Tired. Well said.
This is the most uninformed post I have ever read. Next time when you try and make an argument, try not to completely antagonize an entire race, it is far more effective.
How so?
Never heard of “Legacy”?
I was a faculty brat of the Ivy League. I’m here to tell you, despite Tired’s strident tone, (s)he is quite right.
Children of alumni, Frats (Or “eating colleges at Princeton, Stanford, etc.) are first on the list.
I was a bit strident wasn’t I. Sorry Tyler. I love all the races. Really…..
Don’t get me wrong, I freakin’ love strident.
Even the way it sounds, all kinds of swagger and standing tall’n'shit.
Excellent response to the ignorance about affirmative action, thanks for your clarity and succinct-ness!
YOU ARE A FUCKTARD AND I HOPE YOU BURN IN HELL WITH YOU IDIOT FRIENDS… HOW THE FUCK DO YOU GRADUATE WITH HONORS?! AFFIRMATIVE ACTION?! NO! THROUGH HARD WORK?! FUCK YES! I AM ONE OF THOSE BLACK KIDS WHO WENT TO AN IVY LEAGE… DID I GRADUATE TOP OF MY CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL THAT HAD A 88% MAJORITY OF WHITE STUDENTS?! YES… WAS IT BECAUSE I WAS BLACK? IM NOT EVEN GOING TO ANSWER THAT. FUCK YOU.
You are sad and tired, Mr. Free said he was offered those scholarships on intellectual merit. Read idiot.
WHAT THE…?Are you serious Retard. WOW this guy or Gal “Conservative” can’t be real. Disadvantaged Minorities can’t be smart? Is this in America, or are we talking about somewhere else? I can’t, dude I really can’t. I wonder if he put on his Application “Poor Black Applicant” I can’t believe someone has the nerves to write this sort of thing. WOooooooOW! Can’t have it both ways. So they take Color over grades? Dude/Gal you been smoking too much or snorting too much coke. You Probably saw “How High” with Method Man & Red Man right before you wrote this. You Can’t be serious, thinking that Poor Children are all stupid or dumb. I wish I could catch this person in a debate my God I would thrash your dumb ass. And by the way I’m Black, and was Poor. Probably still poor.LOL. I don’t know what to say any more this comment threw me off.
Affirmative action just makes schools that accept federal money accept a certain percentage of minority students. Academic scholarships, however, are need blind, meaning that you get money based on your accomplishments, not your financial standing. Additionally, on the SATs when it asks race or ethinicity there is a box marked “other” which anybody, including a white person can select, and you’ll get minority status. The only time affirmative action is going to get a minority student into a school over a white student is when they are both barely have the credentials to get into the school and they can both come from families that can pay to send them there. There are no colleges out there throwing out scholarships to C students just because they are poor or a minority. The scholarships simply go out to the most qualified applicants.
Travon bash Newt all you want because I think he would be a terrible choice for the republicans. You’ve got to realize when you point your finger at the republicans you need to take the index finger of the opposite hand and point it right back at the democrats as well. When it comes to greed and the destruction of the middle class the democrats are equally responsible. Remember 7 or the top 10 wealthiest members of congress are democrats. Look at what Jeffery Immelt did while he was Obama’s Job Czar. Look at Nancy Pelosi getting away with insider trading. Look at everything Charlie Rangel got away with.
My point is we are at a point where people need to get themselves educated over the next 11 months because there are a lot of bad people that need to be removed from congress. If we have people making emotional decisions based on hate speech our problems will not be solved.
Thanks for your posting while not being raised in a poor home I have experienced racism firsthand in my life. As my sister married a black man although in another state as my father disowned her and the state of Florida literally kicked her out I have experienced racism. Working for a fortune 250 company I can tell you that racism is as prevalent today as it ever has been during my life. Some things never change, however let’s hope Newt wins the Republican nomination so we can have President Obama for another term as the People’s President! Also as current polls indicate congress is in for a big wake-up call as even die-hard republican constituents are calling for Boehner and the like to be voted out of office from our republican led do nothing congress.
To Whom It May Concern,
The rants about “race” are entertaining and miss the point. The divide of humans by color was devised by the British Colonial authorities in the mid-1600s – There were and are many prior countries/colonies that operated according to the same color principle – however, the British colonials introduced the concept to Anglo-America. If it interests you, check out Nell Irwin Painter’s work, and go online to look up Theodore Allen’s work. And for those who need an actual account of what happened to an African Indentured servant, look for the name Anthony Johnson. According to the accounts that I have read, he started out as an indentured servant, graduated to a wealthy landowner who also owned slaves, and died with considerable holdings; the British colonial authorities ruled that his heirs were not entitled to his wealth and swiftly strip the family of its wealth by declaring that Anthony was never a “real” citizen because he was from Africa, therefore an alien. STUDY THE HISTORY OF THE BRITISH COLONIES IN THIS LAND. THE HISTORY WILL SOBER US UP, IF WE ARE READY TO LEARN HOW AND BY WHOMTHE “CHESS GAME” WAS INSTITUTED.
Study the History of all British aka ‘English’ Colonies and you will see the same divide, it exists here in Aotearoa New Zealand and is perpetrated day in and day out. We have a rate of colored incarceration that would shock most Americans. This is a legacy of the English, not the British
sure, I am being picky, my choice !
I am a first generation college student from a poor white family. I graduated 4th in my class, and I work really hard in school. I was also a part of the gifted program from the 2nd grade on. I agree that Gingrich’s speech shows that he is out of touch with the majority of Americans. I was astounded that he presented the idea of making kids become janitors as if they have no prospects for college or a career. Secondly, he acts as if the adults who are janitors don’t need the wages they are working so hard to earn. Newt Gingrich is one of the many who do not seem to comprehend that working class is the foundation on which the rich and powerful stand. Some people have to do the “dirty” jobs – we need janitors to keep building clean, road workers to keep the roads safe, teachers to educate the children, social workers to to help those in need – all of these underpaid and under appreciated careers that leave families struggling to make ends meet are met with upturned noses from those like Newt Gingrich who say “you should have gone to college and become someone powerful like me if you didn’t want to struggle.” We have news for them; Everyone can’t be a Politician; Everyone can’t be a CEO or executive; just because one chooses a career that people disregard shouldn’t mean they should be paid little and insulted.
Unfortunately, the white working class has bought into the lies spewing forth from Faux News. Divide and conquer at it’s worst. I am not astounded that there has not been a general strike, as occurred in 1934 by the longshoremen. So many issues have been tossed in front of them, that they work against their own self-interests.
Well put Barbara. I keep saying the same, especially to my parents, but alas they don’t listen, and continue to follow the lemmings as they fall one by one off the cliff…..
Yes I am gathering from some commenters here, and politicians in general that low-wage people would preferably not reproduce according to them.
Dear Writer,
Thank you for writing this letter! I am a product of single mother working 3 jobs just to provide and for this jerk to say otherwise is beyond me. He didn’t come up struggling so he wouldn’t know what struggle is if it hit him in the face. He meant to put blacks down but he not only offended people of color; he offended everyone whose had/has to work and sweat for whatever they can get. And to the guy defending his actions, youre just as a racist as he is! Wonderful job!
Sincerly,
A Proud Poor Child with a Mastors in Communications
“Mastors in Communications”
That’s pure genius.
I am a middle-aged white man who grew up relatively poor as well, and I was offended all over by Newt’s outrageous thoughts. I know very well that he meant and implied people of color. No doubt about it. For anyone to say that we ought to return to a time of child labor is incomprehensible! There is no justification of any kind that can ever make such a suggestion tolerable. It is saying that e wants us to return to industrial revolution, third-world standards. This is the kind of thinking that will make America great again!? Astounding.
Newt Gingrich is supposedly the brains, the idea man, of the Republican Party. With this kind of faulty thinking, unreasonable conclusions and terrible deductions, this man should not even be allowed to visit the White House on a tour.
Newt should check this out
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1192636/index.htm
The story of Kitam Hamm, a highschool student from compton and one of the most impressive humans I have ever had the joy to read about.
Well said!
I’m no fan of Newt, but this kind of crap just makes the blogger look like an idiot. Newt made a generalization that DOES apply to a vast majority of the people he speaks of. Like everything in life, there are exceptions to that rule, but you have to live life looking at the 98%, not the 2%. The word racist being thrown around….did they not define this word for you? Most Ivy Leaguers I know don’t automatically assign a color to the word “poor”. Poor can be any color. Rich can be any color.
People like Newt are not the reason we are so far from being a color-blind society – it’s you. People who keep wanting to blame things on race, even when they aren’t said. Who gives a damn who is black, white, brown, yellow, or green with purple polka dots. Stop trying to pigeonhole races to make them garner sympathy. It’s archaic and makes you look like a buffoon.
The mashed potatoes comment was the only thing funny about this post (because it’s kinda true) – that’s the one thing you shouldn’t be apologizing for. Writing the rest of this nonsensical crap, well, there’s where the apology should like.
hey SCOtt,
how about you shut the fuck up and go fuck yourself!
i think i love you
Hey, boogie. How about YOU shut the fuck up and go fuck yourself?
Rationale Thought – think you mis-named yourself because that last thought was anything but rational
Scott since you are so sure it DOES (as you put it) apply to the majority of people he spoke of. What proof do you have of this? Do you know the majority of urban (code word Scott) youth that Newt speaks of? I spent my early years living in the projects with two hard working but poor parents. Now, I’m successful and I live in a high-rise overlooking NYC! I’m not trying to as you say “garner sympathy”. Obviously, you’ve never walked in my shoes. Stop trying to tell me how they feel.
Seriously Scott,
Newt did not make a generalization! He spoke with perfect diction, succinct in his dialogue and using words that equal nothing but ignorant racist bullshit!
It is his ‘racial bias’-that or those characteristics assigned to a class of people for the sole purpose of denegrating such class….geez, maybe it is the knowing too many “Ivy Leaguers” that has you so caught up in ignorance. There should be sympathy for ‘anyone’ and/or ‘everyone’ that has been diminished or otherwise scourged by the likes of Newt Gingrich et al. That children should clean toilets as opposed to paying someone a decent wage in order to teach them an ethic? WTF? To think that you are going to vote for this guy or someone like him, well, it just puts me in a panic!
Don’t listen to the haters Scott. You are absolutely right.
So… we are to take it that Mr. Gingrich is color-blind? Wouldn’t THAT be nice? I suppose it must be, in Cloud-Cuckoo Land, where all the nice poor people keep their mouths shut and work for twenty-five cents an hour. And yes, I’ve heard a pissed-off farmer grumble about the pay scale not being on that level any more for the local First Nations people. We don’t have to make up cruel, stupid things about the stuff the GOP says; they will go go go on their own, like mad little wind-up Energizer Bunnies (I’m voting for Obama — again — because I want to vote for people from THIS planet).
He ain’t from this planet either. sorry . . .
Did you read what he wrote? Maybe you just skipped to the bottom when you read the word “racist”?
I read the story of a family that started at the very bottom of the economic ladder in this country, worked hard, and achieved. No one used racism as an excuse not to be all he or she could be. Then AFTER all this hard work, they heard some millionaire, puffy-faced politician, who’s probably never spent the night in a poor neighborhood, saying poor folks are lazy, This guy didn’t “blame things on race”, or “pigeonhole races” He’s calling Newt on his crap.
Sorry, I’m going to stick this on several posts.
Listen, these are the facts, most people on welfare are white & live in rural areas, thereby the only logical conclusion to reach, given Newt’s statements, is that the man is a freakin’ racist. He completely disregards the fact that, in his state, that he “represented”, that he should have perfectly well known, that most people living in poverty and receiving welfare are the white folks that were his constituents.
He wants to be the president such ignorance is inexcusable and can only be a result of being a racist (expletives deleted)
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n2_v48/ai_12970819/
http://missourifamilies.org/cfb/briefs/ruralurban.pdf
http://www.raconline.org/topics/statistics/
As much as we would all like to believe that color doesn’t matter, and that we should be a color blind society, that utopia does not and likely will not ever exist. All of us see color – it’s the first thing we notice about a person, and unless we know a lot of people, personally, who don’t look like us, we will automatically assign whatever stereotypes we have, about that group of people, to the person standing in front of us. It’s not our fault that we may have been bombarded with negative stereotypes about the “others” as we grew up. But it IS our responsibility to educate ourselves about what actually happens on a daily basis in the life of a Person of Color. Do you have any close friends who are People of Color? And I mean people who you hang out with, go to dinner with, who come to your house, your wedding, your kid’s baptism. Do you talk with them about the small and large acts of racism that they endure on a daily basis? To deny someone’s color is to deny them their identity and their daily lived experiences as People of Color, an easy thing to do when you are a well-meaning, well intentioned White Person.
“but you have to live life looking at the 98%, not the 2%.”
isn’t that the issue here, Newt can’t see the 98%, that is why they are occupying squares around the planet. Living in Venice Beach I remember, not that long ago, Police pulling over a Volvo with a group of Blacks, making them lie on the ground only to find they were all Professors of something some where, did they pull the car over because it was a White Swedish model or because it was full of Blacks? Racism is endemic around the Planet, it doesn’t make it right.
Kids from poor neighborhoods have no habits of working???? How is that a fact?! Idiot.
it is sad but the majority don’t
Unless you actually have spent any amount of time in a poor neighborhood, you really have no moral right to speak on this issue. There are kids form poor neithborhoods that become involved in drugs or crime, or who have childrent early and end up on welfare, but the same is ABSOLUTELY true for kids form nice middle class areas. Think about it for a moment, and you will be able to remeber enough of your highschool calssmates to make my point.
In my experience, poor kids know they have work and appreciate their jobs, while a lot of midle class kids honesty beleive that their priviledge is a birthright, and when they do graduate from college and get a good job, many of them sit on their asses doing next to nothign and expecting to be praised and promoted just becuse they show up most days. I know. I grew up poor, worked my ass off to get an education, get a good job and make the ranks of middle class, and now I carry the load those middle class kids who never saw their motherworry about how to pay the rent or had to be embarrased in the checkout lane wehn they pulled out the foodstamps don’t think should be theirs. I find that amongst my coworkers, the best and hardest workers tend to be those who grew up poor. I find that when I go out to eat, the trendy restaurants that have nice white middleclass students as servers tend to have shitty servie, while the places that hire people who can’t afford to go to college have decent service. So I really hope you all shut your stupid mouths.
I agree 100%. The Gingriches of our country don’t know how hard they make it sometimes. The man doesn’t understand reality.
Newt Gingrich – “Ignorance will never end. Even those with money can’t buy SENSE!!” Author: Curmilus Dancy II The Political Agitator
Pingback: An Open Letter To Newt Gingrich From A Black Kid Who Grew Up In A Poor Neighborhood – Source: Freedom of Speech « The Political Agitator
-He wants “poor kids ” to clean while other kids are going to music lessons, gymnastics, internships, after school tutors, etc. It’s good for kids to have work experience but that is ALL kids, not just his selection.
Thekla, Newt doesn’t want kids to go to music lessons, gymnastics, internships or after school tutors either. I’m sure given the opportunity, he would cut funding for all educational programs. This is all part of keeping people under-educated and reliant on the likes of people like Newt. An uneducated population is much easier to control–black, white, brown and every color in-between. How easy is it to learn when you’re cleaning toilets? Not very–which exposes the truth behind his words.
You are totally right. I think Newt wants us all to watch the propaganda child-labor video from Zoolander that Mugatu uses to get Derek to assassinate the president of Malaysia.
Let us not also forget that those kids from underprivileged backgrounds actually NEED those gymnastics classes and music lessons and student office/ time requiring positions on their college resume. Grades aren’t enough to guarantee admission into an elite school anymore. Straight A’s also won’t necessarily get you a scholarship. Look up almost any college and see how they are looking for well rounded students — that means they want the valedictorian who plays the cello and sculpts clay while doing a perfect backflip after participating in Model UN. If there’s one universal about my college freshmen, it’s that they come to college TIRED. I have a 14 year old family member who wants to go to the Naval Academy. At 14, he leaves home at 6:30 am and rarely returns before 6:30 pm — and none of the stuff he does is paid. He wouldn’t have time for a job.
I applaud you young man! My kid is from the hood as well and is now on her second year at USC!!! Si se puede
i don’t know how anyone can take politicians seriously these days – but thanks so much for your statement about mr. gingrich … i’m only slightly offended by the mashed potatoes comment, but that’s only because i like mashed potatoes so much.
Just thought I’d share my FB post about this:
I always knew he was a moron, but my jaw actually dropped when I saw this video. “Really poor children have no habit of working…and they have nobody around them who works. They have no habit of ‘I do this and you give me cash, unless it’s illegal.’” Um Newt, how about Russell Simmons and Jay-Z, who grew up in the projects? And how about their mothers, who worked tirelessly to provide for their kids? Did you ever consider that maybe people are poor cause it’s really hard to find a job and really expensive to get a good education, and even if they find one it pays shit money, and that’s why they’re poor????
Thank you. Thank you for writing this and so eloquently telling him what an ignorant, pompous asshole he is. Him being elected to office could only do more damage to this country than has already been done.
How on earth is this racist? You and everyone that agrees with you is simply hearing what you want to hear. There are very poor white people, very poor hispanic people, very poor asian people and and, yes, very poor black in America. Too simply assume that he is talking about black people is simply playing the race card. It is a tired and ineffective old trick.
While Newt is not my favorite person in the world, I absolutely agree with what he says in the brief video you posted. I will make some assumptions of my own. I assume that when he says the poorest people and neighborhoods in the country he is talking about people that are on welfare. Those people don’t work so Newt is right. Children in families that are on welfare don’t learn the habits of work while the family is on welfare. If a child is in a family who is always on welfare they will likely never see experience the habits of work. So again, Newt is right. That, in my opinion, is all he is saying. Are black people the only ones in America on welfare? Nope.
If you want to support the black interests, stop playing the race card. It simply shows that you are a victim. Nobody likes a victim.
I will trust that your mother did work very hard and taught you some good lessons. Newt is most likely not talking about her or you. Stop taking it personally.
Sorry Dave, but you are missing the point of this letter. Yes it’s true that there are poor white people. I am one of them. But there was clearly at best a shocking level of insensitivity and ignorance in Gingrich’s speech and at worst an arrogant out of touch man who would be a horrible president. Newt is a shameless self promoter. Travons letter to Newt was from the point of view of a Black person who came from the situation Newt was referring to. It was an honest and heart felt reaction that requires some empathy to fully understand.
Ron, you may be right about Newt being a shameless self promoter but that does not make Newt wrong in the clip. Travon’s victim letter to Newt is NOT from the point of view that Travon, the race card player, came from. He said his Mom worked. Newt is not referring to the situation Travon came from. It may be honest and heart felt but it is stil wrong.
wow, Davenotsmith, your comments make me very, very, sad.
Why? Please explain. I am honestly interested. I truly can not figure out why this guy’s letter makes sense to some people and why what Newt said is being taken so negatively. I have read many of the posts and almost all of them seem completely out context.
I have worked in social services for 11 years. There has not been a “welfare” system in the United States since Bill Clinton ended it in the 1990s. So the assumption of Mr. Gingrich and you is patently false. There is short-term aid for some really poor people in some states, but no family is living on aid for very long. You should learn about the system before making any comments about it.
Seriously, if you don’t see the racism in this, at least you have to see the class-ism he is spewing….. And the fact that you believe that people on welfare don’t work, only verify that you are as ignorant as Newt in regards to this….. There is a class of people in this country that is the “Working Poor”. To assume that everyone that is on welfare “don’t learn habits of work” is incorrect to put it mildly. I am sure that there are some people who take advantage of the system, but not all are lazy, uneducated, and worthless. Welfare is a supplemental income source for individuals who need assistance to feed their family, it doesn’t mean you have to be out of work to be able to receive this program, but just not making enough to make ends meet.
To say that Newt was only referring to people on welfare is a mistaken assumption. If he meant communities on welfare, he would have said that. He said poor children from poor families.
Times were hard for me in the 90s and I’m not ashamed to say that I accepted government funded aid to make ends meet for a little while. The entire time I looked endlessly for a job that would meet my financial needs and allow me to quit needing help. To suggest that, just because I was on walfare, I was lazy and had no work ethic is insulting and narrow minded.
I will not disclose my race to you because it has no bearing on my ability or willingness to work hard to provide for my family.
So let me clarify….I am not suggesting that some if not many people on welfare are not hard workers or willing to be hard workers. The reality though is that there are many, many people who consider welfare a way of life. There are generations of families that have been on welfare and it is their way of life. That is a fact. The welfare system rewards unwed mothers to have more children by giving them more money for each child they have. Again, that is a fact. If a person that consider’s welfare their way of life brings children into that system, they are doing that child a huge disservice in life because they do not teach the child the value of work. “Mash Potatoes” Gingrich might be suggesting the same thing.
And those people are white people living in rural areas.
Not in the inner cities.
Denying that Newt is speaking in what is thought of as racist coed is pure ignorance.
But I imagine that you’re a Fauxian?
Sorry, them’s the stats.
That’s one of the reasons why we have a census every ten years as mandated by the constitution.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_n2_v48/ai_12970819/
http://missourifamilies.org/cfb/briefs/ruralurban.pdf
http://www.raconline.org/topics/statistics/
Dave Not Smith: and I quote you “The reality though is that there are many, many people who consider welfare a way of life. There are generations of families that have been on welfare and it is their way of life. That is a fact. The welfare system rewards unwed mothers to have more children by giving them more money for each child they have. Again, that is a fact”. You throw out the words fact and reality time and again, yet provide no credible references for your “facts”. Perhaps the reality is that you have not educated yourself about the current public assistance programs, many of which no longer reward women for having multiple children. Perhaps the reality is that reading about White people who might actually be racist makes you nervous about the possibility that you yourself could be racist. And in the end perhaps that fear is why you insist that Mr. Gingrich’s remarks are NOT racist, It is afterall ever so much more fashionable to hate poor people who are not White.
Revision on my last sentence: It is afterall ever so much more fashionable to hate poor people than it is to hate people who are not White.
You say with certainty that these opinions you are offering are facts. Where is the concrete, exact evidence needed in order for something to be a fact? “Many, many people”? How many, exactly? “Generations of families that have been on welfare and it is their way of life”? Like who, exactly? Where do they live, exactly? How many families, exactly? How many generations back does that stretch, exactly? “The welfare system rewards unwed mothers to have more children by giving them more money for each child they have”? How much more money per child, exactly? What’s the cap on that, exactly? How many women have done this, exactly?
very well said… poverty does not invoke a specific race or “color”…
So, Were YOU ever on Welfare? Then Just HOW would you KNOW? MORON!
I WAS, and The Picture You Paint is Utter BULLSHIT MEdia Garbage, derived from too many stereotypes from TV. I worked Hard, Learned Hard, and Got myself OUT of Poverty. everything the Blogger says is Valid, I am white, and I lived in a Mostly Black neighborhood. ALL of us worked in some way to better ourselves. and yeah, the Code speak Is ALWAYS referring to Black & Brown people, since thay are the Cultural equivalent of Lazy, Shiftless people, as reffered to by Newt, SO Yeah, that WAS a Racist statement. Please Pull Your head out, and get out of Your state of Denial. We Obviously Know that code, and That’s exactly what it was.
In Compton, it’s poor Black and Brown people. That was his context. The poor whites in LA tend to be in the exurbs. The poor Asians are in Long Beach, the SGV, and parts of South Central LA, which are far enough away that he may never have seen them. I’m sure he didn’t mean the criticism to be mainly about race, but about Gingrich’s attitudes and misconceptions about poor people. This essay resonated with me the way the old disco song I’ll Always Love My Mama by the Intruders does.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post. It’s amazing that the old rich white guys are still blaming our country’s problems on poor black kids. (Or maybe not.) Keep speaking the truth!!!
Newt did not say or infer that the poor kids he mentioned are Black. All races have representatives in the welfare without work community.
Ken – he didn’t have to. We all knew what he meant. Your indignity is misplaced and I believe that you, at some level, know that.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post. It’s amazing that the old rich white guys are still blaming poor black kids for our country’s problems. (Or maybe not so surprising.) Keep speaking the truth!!
The one thing that is appropriate is his name Newt. a larger lizard has never existed. How despicable can a person be and still receive peoples attention, much less their support. As an American I am ashamed.
Couldn’t have said it better.
Like so many other Americans, you refuse to face reality. If you disagree with Newt, state your reasons for disagreement. Don’t nip at his heels with words like despicable
unless you have facts and sound reasons to say so. As an American you are a mental dropout.
Ken,
I think YOU are the dropout; from Douchebag University.
yours truly,
Go fuck yourself
and you my dear Ken have a mental blindfold on.
Sad reality..yet, an sadder truth is that you are out of touch with society. Face your reality..I can imagine that you employed as executive making well over $50,000. To make a comment like that is an insult to me and mine’s I raised my son on income levels under $30,000 a year yet, I was qualified to earn more. To think that equal opportunities exist you’re blinded by fact that millions are out of work..if you agree with Newt. Why not quit your job that allows you to live comfortable and clean toilets.
OMG…how can such a bigoted, heartless, out of touch being be allowed to run for President. The republican party should be ashamed of itself. The man is an arrogant talentless windbag
Angela,
Every American has a right to run for public office. There is nothing bigoted or heartless or out of touch about running for President. I suggest that before you start calling people names you should search your heart to see if perhaps those terms apply to you. The arrogance seems to apply to you Angela. You don’t have any basis for what you are saying so maybe you are the talentless windbag.
Ken,
Your logic is faulty, at best. It is not THAT running for President denotes heartlessness, being out of touch, etc. It is that Angela believes him to be an out of touch, heartless person who happens to be running for president. I’m sure Angela is just wondering aloud about how this clusterf*ck occurred. If you are looking for some basis for her comments, I suggest you re-watch the YouTube clip.
Every American has a right to run for president. But only people with the means to gather millions of dollars possess the ability to actually do so.
There is nothing bigoted or heartless or out of touch about running for President, and Angela never implied that there was. She was talking specifically about the bigoted (and I don’t mean racist, but rather classist), heartless, and completely unsympathetic man that Newt Gingrich has always been.
I’m pretty sure that if you google “arrogant talentless windbag” you actually get a picture of Newt Gingrich. If you don’t think he’s arrogant, then you’ve probably never heard him talk. Or maybe you never heard him condemn Clinton for the Lewinsky affair and then get caught in an extramarital affair of his own a few years later. Arrogant and hypocritical! Talentless? Okay, you got me there. He’s extremely talented as a mashed potato impersonator, as well as being talented at being an arrogant windbag. And if you don’t think he’s a windbag, I remind you that the man was once speaker of the house, a job for which being a windbag is pretty much a prerequisite. And as far as being bigoted and heartless and out of touch? The guy said that the poor have no work ethic so we should send their kids to work. That’d at least bring home a consolation prize in a bigoted and heartless talent show.
Idiotic rambling from the latest dork to jump on the political “attack the pack leader” bandwagon.
You fail, your blog fails, and your comedy fails. Plus you look like a turd someone forgot to clip off of a dog’s butt.
Wow, Sharita.
What is wrong with you?
…and you, my dear, write like a pathetic guest of the Jerry Springer show with a double digit IQ and a 2nd grade education. Have a nice day.
I do not see a problem with grammar or punctuation. My guess is that you disagree, and therefore feel a need to be condescending… good luck with that. Oh, and have a nice day.
What on Earth makes you feel as though a comment like this is acceptable? I feel terribly sorry for you as your hate will only dig you into a deeper emptiness of anger – what happened to you to make you have such a deep hate of others and a lack of respect for a difference of opinion? I hope that you have a realization one day that treating others like trash only reflects that you treat yourself like trash. Have some respect for yourself Sharita Wilson.
The Sharita Wilson “comment” must be a fraud. No one could possible be that inbecilic.
only an imbecile would use the word “inbecilic”… idiot
im·be·cil·ic
[im-buh-sil-ik] Show IPA
adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of an imbecile.
2.
contemptibly stupid, silly, or inappropriate: an imbecilic suggestion.
Eh Tu Bruti.
Sharita, I think your comment is precise, concise and pithy. I also think it’s funny. Criticism is not hateful, it’s just critical. I’m sorry that these politically correct, intellectual zombies are so self-righteous.
He says, self-righteously.
Classy. And we should take you serioulsly
because…..?????
I wonder where Mr Ken Stephens is to critizise this woman for using such language for “unfounded” reasons.
Young brother you keep your stance and you are exactly right, the code words Gingrich are using are clearly targeting minorities. His bigotted and racist past has been clearly documented and the fact that he is being supported by so many says this country has not let go of its racists past even with the election of Obama. He and his Repugnant cronies are a dangerous bunch for this country. We will never go back to the racist past many today in this country seem to want to embrace. With that being said, the Demagogues are not much better. Being an Independant is the only way to go.
Young brother stay the course and put your words into action by getting in the voting booth and vote your convictions.
Here is what we do know, Obama is not he greatest but any one on the other side is far worse and the irony is they have told you what their plans are and middle class, the working poor and people of color are not included on anything positve they have to offer.
Stay positive young brother and remember to pay it forward.
Newt is intelligent, factual and speaks clearly about how we can dig out of the mess created by liberals in this country. He does not have a racist past. Being from Georgia does not make him a racist. You seem to be the one who is using skin color as the basis for your opinions. We are all in this together, black, white, brown, etc. Start thinking about how we can save our country and stop calling people racists as a way of diminishing their thinking.
“dig out of the mess created by liberals in this country” were you in a coma from 2000 to 2008? do you remember which presidents deregulated the banks? Do you remember who signed TARP? Amazing how all of those facts seemed to just vanish into thin air on November 4th 2008
Travon, I believe Ken may have only learned to speak and write, but is incapable of hearing or reading…SO SO SAD
Newt is verbally fast on his feet. That is all. He is a perverter of facts. He creates his own reality. Oh . . . Palestinians are an invented people? Oh, it violates the Constitution to create individual mandates for health care – but we have individual mandates for auto insurance – absolutely everything he says needs to be evaluated – but who has time? He is intelligent – that is ALL I will grant you, and nothing more. He is slinging shit faster than anyone can shovel through it. And I’m sorry, no self-respecting woman could love that man, it’s all about climbing the ladder and nothing more. See how he is constantly checking on his wife, her delivery and how people accept her and what she has said? She is merely window dressing, an accoutrement and nothing more.
BRILLIANT RESPONSE to a speech that took only 56 seconds to watch to make me sick. Let those people on top live like “those poor people” for a couple of weeks, just as an experiment and see how they deal with it.
You Look like someone
Poured mashed potatoes
Into a suit
Like Frosty
The Snow Job
With a Magic Boot
Let it snow let it snow
Snorty snort it goes
Up your snoot
Borrow more Sam
Buy more for I am
A Federal kohoot
Sacrifice a child
Desecrate his drive
Your fairy tail a flute
Mega-Media praying
Upon innocent children
Is your bootee institute
Your Mother Goose
Is doing badly as
Your kind’s becoming moot!
Why is it that when individuals like Newt Gingrich say things that are flagrantly disrespectful and might I argue that transcend race and land in the heard of the greatest inequity, social class, comments find themselves arguing about President Obama? Mr. Gingrich’s gross misrepresentation and sweeping generalization of low income people is shameful. The largest group of the poor–are the WORKING POOR. These are the people who go to work (often multiple jobs) 6-7 days a week and still reamin under than sham of a threshold the federal government has defined as the poverty line. The comments Mr. Gingrich makes have nothing to do with President Obama or any other individual. They have to do with the heart of man who wants to be the President of a country that survives on the backs of the poor. His thoughts should be concerning.
Rian, there are millions of families in this country who have sunk into the welfare way of thinking. Every race has representatives in this group. These people have lost the desire to work for what they want and need. There are many who work but don’t earn enough to have big TV’s and Cadillacs, and cell phones, and all the niceties of our gluttonous society. They feel cheated because they don’t have as much as others do.
The answer for these folks is to get more education and training to acquire skills which are well compensated. They will never get what they want sitting on the sideline whining.
Ken,
I am glad that you admit to our society being gluttonous. Unfortunately, the majority of the working poor [or, generally poor] are worried more about the cost of living and feeding their children than not possessing fancy cars and televisions. They feel cheated because they can’t eat.
It’s difficult to get an education when the cost of attending school at a post-secondary level is as exorbitant as it is currently.
Ken, You have no idea what you’re talikng about. You are a Bill O’Lielly Vidiot, with Absolutely NO CLUE as what being on Welfare is about. You are a Right Wing Shill, Go home, White boy! and That’s coming from a White Boy Himself.
oh yes, the student loan debt bubble. you are so clueless.
Great post Travon Free. Keep it up! God bless.
Thanks for this!
I’m just one of those WASP kids that grew up poor on the northern edges of Oakland when one of my first icons of beauty was the wanted posters of Angela Davis in the post office.
It’s easy for me, being a white, liberal, Quaker boy, to contemplate racism without having to swim through it.
For guys like me it’s all to easy to bemoan the fact that Fishbone never made it big rather than to feel the visceral gut stab of something like that wretched performance of Newt.
And here I thought we got rid of him in the last millennium.
PS. My first thought of that photo was that the old rascal looks like Mussolini. I think I’ll call him “Il Duce Americana” from now on.
“For guys like me it’s all to(o)(oops) easy”
I had a wretched work ethic for the first part of my youth. I acquired it from being a faculty brat of a Princeton professor. Growing up (but not being wealthy) around all that idle wealth was quite detrimental to the idea that if you want to eat you got to work.
So much here. Don’t know where to start. “Eloquent” has been redefined. But you’re entitled to your opinion, even if it’s not really that informed. I’m not crazy about Newt for several reasons. Foremost in my mind are his horrible progressive philosophies. They scare almost as much as Mr. Obama’s.
“The Queen”?
‘Nuff said.
Progressive philosophies? Don’t you mean reactionary and racist policies?
I am very intrigued as to what you consider “progressive” and what could be considered “progressive” about our friend Newt. Could you elaborate?
Excellent argument; so eloquently written. And completely ruined by your P.S. Oh, it’s only a joke? So it’s not OK to denegrate poor people, but it is OK to denegrate those who are overweight? Your P.S. doesn’t just slam Newt, it slams every overweight person. Imagine an overweight young person reading this, agreeing with it, certainly learning something from it–and then getting kicked in the end. Shame on you for doing that. And Shame on you for ruining an eloquently written argument that should be heard. You negate everything you said before the P.S. by exhibiting the same behavior as Newt in the P.S.
Kitty, get over it and into a gym.
You’re disgusting.
Not as disgusting as fat “people.”
please look up the first amendment, and as for the P.S. Stating that (it was a joke) he strengthens his point. By stating it was not an insult but a joke, but I guess you can spin it however you like.
How does “mashed potatoes poured into a suit” translate into an attack on overweight people. I’m a cute little fatty fat and I didn’t interpret it that way at all. Look at the picture of nasty Newt and tell me he doesn’t look like an ugly mass. Also, this is the blog of a comedian….you’re gonna get jokes so get over it. Your assertion that the joke negates his entire post is your subjective opinion and I would disagree with you. “Mashed potatoes poured into a suit” is exactly what he looks like and it’s funny. If nasty Newt, as a public figure with considerable influence, can denigrate the poor on a public forum then he opens himself up to criticism and ridicule.
It’s funny because it’s true. The truth will set you free! It’s not about him being fat, it’s about him being a bland, starchy side-dish on the dinner plate of american politics. Ride that gravy train!
Kitty – I actually don’t think Travon was referring to his weight, I think he’s referring to Newt’s sort of mashed up face and neck. It’s really quite icky and in my mind at least, does resemble mashed potatoes.
Well it is true what you say and I myself have lost my figure due to neuro-endocrine tumor that causes massive weight gain so usually I am the one militantly telling people not to judge one’s character by their weight, or the book by the cover but in this case, Newt is not playing fair by any means so I am willing to let it slide and have a laugh. And really, once one learns about causes of weight issues, how one carries their weight is a huge indicator of their health – and I am surprised nobody has brought this up – because the way he carries his weight tells me that he is very unhealthy, and this can affect mental/emotional function uncontrollably in some cases.
The thought of that out of touch douche bag as president is scary beyond belief. The Hitler youth that follows him is even more so.
Well said…scary doesn’t even cover it!!!
DITTO!
I agree with the stupidity of Newt’s comments, but I do have a bone to pick about your last paragraph and how you and others think that Obama helps minorities. Let me give you an example of what democratic socialism like what Obama pushes has done to a group of people–the indigenous people of North America. After our people were subdued and subjugated, most were put on a reservation and given aid to help “get them on their feet” and adjust to reservation life, and try to assimilate into the white ways of living. What was supposed to be temporary became a dependence on the government for most, if not all, their needs. And this led to the poorest people group in the nation, and one of the poorest in the world. In some aspects, it is still true today. The trickle down effect has been disastrous. For example, the commodity food given to the reservations consisted of white flour, salt, baking soda, and oil. What can you make with that except bread, something our people never ate. We were a people of the corn, and we were told we could not cultivate it like we used to, or the land was so deficient that it couldn’t grow anything. A staple now on the reservation is frybread. Not surprisingly, Native people have one of the highest rate of diabetes and diabetes-related illnesses per capita. And since health care for Native people is government run (socialism), they have a lot of health issues to treat. All problems started from democratic socialism. It created more problems than it solved.
So for you who are believers in this form of government, take a look at Native history. You might learn something.
No Newt, no Obama, no Romney. All bought, sold, and owned.
Ron Paul 2012!
I have heard Ron Paul and Rand want to abolish the BIA and funding to Native Peoples…
I am one of those “Native Peoples”. Let me tell ya, the funding isn’t so great. The medical care is horrible. No one lives rent free… The people would probably be better off if they governments help was kept.
This is huge problem that is mystery to outsiders who have not time to study the issue – how can some of the wealthiest tribes have people dying every winter from inadequate housing, inadequate infrastructure etc.,? Inter-tribal reservations seem to have less problems than those that are for one tribe only? We cannot all be authority to judge everything – we have inadequate information – very complex.
Jodi,
The Libertine (spelling intentional) constructs of the Ron Pauls of this world will only serve to act in the very same ways that those of Dawes Act and other acts of forced “Assimilation”.
It was not in the spirit of Social Democracy that such acts were committed but in the intent to subjugate.
Sorry, I very well might not have a right to speak on this. I sure don’t want to be a Wan’na’be or anything, yet I feel compelled to warn against the basic philosophy of the Libertinian Party. In that they speak of deregulation and all it must be understood that the main drive of proposed deregulation only goes to that which protects the moneyed interests from the greater populace. You will find that for every ecological regulation sought to be overturned there will be equal support for the rights of corporations over people and, if not the military, a para military police force to enforce those laws which support a new “Wild West” paradigm. The Libertine Party has no true interest in real freedom, only in the freedom of those who would steal being protected from those who are being stolen from.
I have no interest in returning to “Wild West”.
Or, to quote Luther Standing Bear
“We did not think of the great open plains, the beautiful rolling hills, and the winding streams with tangled growth, as ‘wild’.
Only to the white man was nature a ‘wilderness’ and only to him was the land ‘infested’ with ‘wild’ animals and ‘savage’ people. To us it was tame.
Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with blessings of the Great Mystery.
Not until the hairy man from the east came and with brutal frenzy heaped injustices upon us and the families we loved was it ‘wild’ for us.
When the very animals of the forest began fleeing from his approach, then it was that for us the ‘wild west’ began.”
specious conclusion to your argument, sorry. Youre going to put your future in the hands of corporate private profiteers? thats the road to feudalism
I used to consider myself a democrat but now I consider myself and independant. I finally realized that Obama and the left don’t have all the right answers just as all those republicans and the crazy Christian right( I am a person of faith by the way) don’t have all the answers either. I vote for the man Or woman I think will do the best job. The problem is that no one does a good job. No one up there in Washington gives a crap about any of us working people, democrat or republican. We have a bunch of people who see public service as a meal ticket and a way to get rich for themselves. There is too much party fighting and trying to advance ones own parties agenda when both sides should be worried about their constituents and what is their best interest according to them. no one in Washington is in touch with anyone in middle America. In my opinion, Obama is no better than Ginrich or God help us, the Donald. If it were not for us middle class the rich could not get rich and none of those assholes would be on the hill; and they forget
that on a daily basis! They are only there because the American people allow them to be there. The only problem is that average Americans do not realize the power they posses when it comes to lawmakers; they do not realize that we are the lawmakers. Middle America does whatever those career politicians tell us to do. People, they work for us! We have every right to kick those people out of office and put someone in who we believe will do a better job! That is what makes our country great, not military might!
Wake up people, no matter what you believe, let our government know that we run it, it doesn’t run us!
And now I am probably on the FBI watch list!
Gerorge Carlin spent from the early eighties trying to get people to act out then, or at least use the power that they have, but it fell on deaf ears mostly, watch any of his shows and you will hear the truth in them and he said it 20 years ago. I (white/poor/father) fear the government as much my fellow man, both are out to take what ever they can, our real power is in where we spend the few dollars they allow us to have. We need to stop playing video games, and watching reality tv, and controlling our money and not let it control us. This and a return to having PRIDE, SELF RESPECT, COMPASSION, HONOR, DIGINITY, Things that we were taught, or should have been, by our parent(s), those of is who have these things have it worst of all, we have to watch what is happening and try as we might it will get worse. WE ARE AMERICA! COLOR DOESN’T MATTER, SEX EITHER OR AGE. Standing and fighting will not bring us together, it will split us up even more (keep us fighting each other so we will not act as group) and they know this! On a side note I don’t think the profanity is needed, I let my children read these posts, Well, I’ve said enough to get me on several list already so I’ll go back to living, or trying to. lol
Thank you! Been saying for years that we, as a country, need to get back to basics. The America I see today sure as heck isn’t the one I grew up in.
I will grant you that both sides are full of power-hungry folks looking for riches. And of course neither party is always right.
OK, so now what?
Here’s the thing: One of the parties tries to gain and hold power by doing everything they can to screw everyone else in favor of rich folks. The other party sometimes does that, but also spends a lot of effort trying to get everyone health care, a safety net, and working infrastructure.
So while we wait for political nirvana to rescue us, which party (as a general rule) would you rather vote for in the meantime? The one that wants gain and hold power by raising your taxes in order to cut taxes for the wealthiest while letting deficits go up forever? Or the one that wants to gain and hold power by giving your health care and more jobs and at least un-skew tax rates a bit?
Those are your choices, unless you actually want to be one of the folks doing the hard work to change this system for *real*.
obama is not the left. far from it. he is middle of the road, leaning right and it sucks
Absolutely. That’s part of the problem. The whole political system has shifted so far to the right that Obama only SEEMS to the left in comparison. If Reagan was running today, he would be considered too liberal to be nominated by republicans.
As a product of post war America my family was on welfare during the 50s. My father had a health problem (heart attack) and couldn’t work so for 6 months so we braved the embarrassment of welfare. After his health problem improved he returned to the work force. Later, in Viet Nam era, I served with the US Army as a Medic. Later, because of GI Bill, I went to night school at Queens College and after 7 long years of work and school graduated with a degree in business. I’ve seen role models up front and real. Mr. Gingrich is no role model nor is he a historian. He is a well paid lobbyist who rewrites history to suit his needs. When he says he was responsible for the downfall of Russia and Communism he is full of shit. When he say his wife is like Mrs. Jackie Kennedy I say this. Mrs. Kennedy would never have an affair with anyone. She has too much class for that crass behavior.
Love this response!
I find your “letter” to Newt, quiet interesting and I appreciate you sharing it with the public – only wish Newt himself could and would actually read it, it may give him a more realistic perspective of how out of touch he really is, not only with the America public, but himself as well.
” four more years of a man working diligently to help them and the communities ”
Are you any better off than you were 3 years ago because of Obama’s Socialist programs?
We’re certainly no closer to have a Constitutional government. The fact is, it’s not the government’s job to help you. It’s yours. It’s your churches. It’s your neighbors.
Congress has no Constitutional authority except for those explicitly laid out in Article 1 Section 8
http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_A1Sec8.html
Taxes collected can not be Constitutionally used for anything except “to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States”. That’s very different the Obama’s vision of Specific welfare of some at the expense of others.
What, exactly, do you think “general welfare” means? It IS open to interpretation. We believe (well, Democrats still believe. The Tea Party definitely DOES NOT believe) that the education of all citizens is paramount to a healthy and robust citizenry. That’s why we all contribute to public school systems, even people like me who do not have children and do not intend to. I know I DO get something back from the education of others’ children. We believe that the general welfare of the US includes easy transportation between major cities so goods and services can be moved with ease; voila, the Eisenhower Interstate System. Some people believe that the citizenry would be more productive if they could reasonably expect to have access to doctors so that we would not have to face continuing years where thousands of people die because they can’t afford to be treated. Since 50% of all bankruptcies come from people WITH health insurance who are not able to pay for their medical care, I have a tendency to agree.
Suzanne – Maybe those thousands of people who die because they can’t afford to be treated should have taken lessons from the illegal aliens in this country who are provided with free healthcare daily.
Do you have a reference book full of Fox News-isms, or is your memory just that good? Look, poor people of any variety do NOT get “free” health care. Sure, they can go into the ER and have acute situations seen to so they don’t die on the spot, same as you and me. That said, they don’t have ANY of the services that health insurance provides. They might get their broken leg set, but they don’t get follow up X-rays or during-the-injury follow ups. They don’t get the ongoing care that can mean the difference between a full recovery and a pronounced limp. Let’s use the example of a broken leg, which I had. ER puts on a splint. This is where the poors’ healthcare ENDS. For me, someone with insurance, I had 4 follow up visits with an orthopedist, each one involving X-rays. I went from the splint to the cast at the first visit, and then into a shorter cast, a walking cast, and a boot. Afterwards, I got physical therapy to strengthen the muscles that had atrophied from not being able to put weight on the leg for 8 weeks. THIS is health care. The “immigrant who gets everything for nothing” WOULD have gotten the splint for nothing, sure, but he would have gotten none of the other necessary treatment for an adult with a big injury. Don’t act like it’s the same thing.
Suzanne, you are a goddess. Cogent, informed, civil but not white-washing the truth. Given the number of knee-jerk reactionaries in this discussion, I just thought you should know that someone appreciates the time and effort you spent in trying to educate folks.
Aren’t you awesome? You made my day.
No habla Ingles… hahahaha
You are so wrong. Dean is right. The last time I went into the emergency room, I had to wait in line for like 8 hours in the “US Citizen Line” with a double compound fracture of the leg, a herniated testicle, and an Obama-care promotional pen shoved into my eyesocket. It cost me $200,000. While I was waiting, about 30 different illegal mexican immigrants waltzed into the Undocumented Alien line and traded a bag of tacos for this card that said free health care for life and they were slamming beers with the doctors and nurses while I was waiting for my treatment. Then this guy with an IRS badge came in and handed them all a big bag of cash, and on the way out, he tried to strangle me with a big old roll of liberal redtape……. NOT!!!!
Come on man Dean you have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about! It’s not like you can go into a hospital and be like “oh, I’m one of those illegals, so, I get the free health care, right?”
Larry, when you went to the hospital, did you see the 7 foot doctor who talks to Michele Bachman?
(From her town hall @ http://thinkprogress.org/health/2011/11/17/370181/two-minutes-of-crazy-michele-bachmann-unleashes-outrageous-new-attacks-against-health-reform-law/ )
“One man stood up, he was over 7-feet tall. He was a physician in the community. And he said, ‘I had a little lady in my office and because of Obamacare, I had to call the IRS and I had to get a number to put on a form before I could see her.’”
After WWII all “developed” nations of the world agreed that universal healthcare is a human right. International law will prosecute USA if we deny medical care to illegals. Border town hospitals have gone bankrupt and literally closed their doors due to this unfunded mandate. Meanwhile, US citizens suffer and die for lack of care while out-of-touch corporations brag about qualifying for most US taxpayer funding to perform gratis work around the planet – like free dental care in Mexico while US citizens are dying for lack of it and no program to help them afford – not even sliding scale from entities that also qualify for funding based on the fact that they help low-income people when they simply do not. Overt lies and nobody does a thing.
Meanwhile, there are plenty of charitable organizations that pick up the ball for illegals without ever telling you that when they take your money. This includes churches as well as organizations under the Umbrella of the United Way. This enables illegals to get all kinds of things that working poor citizens cannot afford ranging from baby seats to get
their newborn out of the hospital and baby carriages that some of us could never afford for ANY of our babies, all brand new clothing for every member of the family – no Goodwill for our illegals, funding for medical care above and beyond the basics paid for by the government -like vision and dental, and even charitable make-overs with salon services of hair and nails for their “self-esteem.” Also help with language, getting social services, housing – all of it paid for by your charitable donations to the United Way. Their prospectus never tells you things required by law (I thought) like this is only for illegals, this is only for Spanish speaking illegals, and nobody has money to put into enforcing the law.
So all this help that illegals get is flaunted in the face of the working poor who don’t get it and this blatant inequity fans the flames of hatred. Then of course my landlord hiring illegal Mexicans to do the roof while my neighbor has 10 citizen friends who are unemployed roofers standing out there watching them – no – it’s not a good thing.
There have been articles stating thousands of new IRS agents hired and in training in order to make sure that people pay for Obamacare. What is true?
And Suzanne, my memory is that good. Years ago, before illegal immigration got as hot as it is today, our local paper ran a series of articles about how citizens were dying while illegals were getting medical care. I was shocked to read that a young mother of 3 little girls ended up on Medicaid due to kidney problem. A kidney transplant was denied to her because the same monies could be used to fix the broken legs on 10 illegal aliens working in construction. She died and 3 little girls lost their mommy. The truth is clear – citizens die, illegals get to live. We pay into that for our own benefit and then we get denied, we die, and the benefit is given to a stranger, an interloper, someone who took my cousin’s son’s job too. This is all so wrong. It is also why the illegals sneer at us and scream racism at us because they want to keep these benefits and they have no legal standing – so they use the thought terminating cliche of “racism.”
You say, “After WWII all “developed” nations of the world agreed that universal healthcare is a human right.” This isn’t true. Unlike the rest of the developed world, WE decided that humans DON’T deserve health as a basic human right. I think that says something about the Good Old USofA. Unlike every other member of the developed world, and a WHOLE BUNCH of the undeveloped world, we DON’T care about each other. We only, as your post states, do the right thing when we are forced to by international law. If you are proud of that fact….. well, go right ahead for one of these “Let them Eat Cake” monsters the Tea Party has thrown at us. They have sunk to your level of humanity. God help the rest of us.
To be honest, the rest of your post made me laugh. When will people learn how ineffective the rhetorical device of “these are all the things we aren’t told as a people….. and here are the newspapers I read it in.” Do you see the problem there? IF the situations you described happened, which I highly doubt, they were in the newspapers because they were anomalies or one-offs. They are NOT the S.O.P. of US hospitals. There is NO WAY that a citizen didn’t get a kidney because a Mexican broke his leg. That didn’t happen. Turn off Fox News. Medicine doesn’t work like that. There might be a finite amount of money available in a charitable organization’s pockets, and they may choose to spend it on who they like, but there is no way an Organ Transplant Specialist was called from the room to go down the hall and set a cast instead. In fact, I believe in our current litigious society, an Organ Transplant Specialist would be fired if he tried to set a cast. Look, I know it’s fun to feel like the only one who “knows” in a society of people who you think don’t question things, but the problem here, for reasons described in SEVERAL previous posts, isn’t illegal immigrants. You make one valid point — that our healthcare money goes to corporations rather than hospitals. This is why when Massachusetts adopted full coverage for all citizens, they passed a rule that said 80% of everything we pay to the insurance company has to be spent on care for a covered individual. If I pay $100 a month, some medical professional has to get $80 of it (not for my care, but for someone’s). The downside to this is that our Health Insurance CEOs are some of the worst paid in the country….. oh well, they’ll make it on a few million a year, if they tighten their belts.
Yes, I did mean to correct that first sentence to read except the great USA. Ummmmm . . . I have spent upwards of 3 decades of living at Ground Zero for illegal immigration here in central AZ and I have worked for AHCCCS administration (AZ’s Medicaid program) and my Mexican family are in medical and law enforcement/military so please do not deny our truth. I never said I am OK with it – where did you intuit that from what I wrote? My Mexican family has first hand experience with people including family members dying because the border town hospital closed due to the unfunded mandate of treating border crossers. It is not laughable and it is certainly not something I read about in a faux news article somewhere. WE LIVE WITH THAT RAGE.
I think that many people of the USA are finding themselves shaken from their moorings in the sense of what they thought they believed. USA citizens of Mexican descent from the last amnesty are finding their youth in the education loan debt bubble, unable to work at the career they indebted themselves to an education for. IN some cases those jobs have been outsourced to illegals – as in airplane mechanics in TX bordertowns who come across the line daily to work on our major carriers’ equipment, often unable to read the manuals, often with no mechanical training at all – thanks for the job creation Rick Perry! Longtime Mexican descent families that have been citizens for generations are torn between the cause of illegals and the truth of their effect on our society, and yes, what it says about us in so many ways. However, when you live the fact that your education, your facility with USA English, your citizenship, your wealth accumulation etc., can make you a foreigner in your own hometown due to the “Brown Power” movement – to where you are constantly discriminated against while grocery shopping, while taking a walk, whatever you do because you are not Mexican enough despite having suffered decades of discrimination because you are too Mexican – well it has a way of crystallizing your viewpoints. A conservative might realize that Michael Moore had it exactly right when he stated that if we got rid of the health insurance companies and simply put that money to health care directly we most likely would have enough money to care for everybody. In a sense our medicine has been socialized for years with providers of Medicaid spending big bucks with TV advertising for recipients to choose their plan and hard working folk finding Medicaid recipients alongside them in the doctors waiting room. It burns in a way, to work your hind end off and have someone working the system get the same for free, but it is also better that they not be put in a separate system and we must always remember that “There but for the Grace of God, go I;” – any one of us could find ourselves in their shoes at any time.
I also believe that US citizens have been subsidizing through their high costs of medical care, affordable medical for other nations. This is why my co-workers can go to Turkey and pay $2 with no insurance, for an Rx that costs them $80 in US AFTER THEIR INSURANCE HAS PAID ITS PORTION. Also why comparisons of US poverty to poverty in other nations are ridiculous if one does not get into these details of cost of living. Also since many of these Rx firms are global or semi-global, there is the dirty secret that other nations are more restrictive and protective of their citizens in terms of questionable ingredients and I personally know people who have dual citizenship and/or receive Rx from 2 nations and they state in no uncertain terms that the US variant of the Rx has more side effects and less efficacy than the exact same label, strength, manufacturer etc of the same Rx from the other nation. No I have no faux news articles to support my premise but it’s not like US people do not talk to citizens of other nations and often, without even bringing the subject up – they do – they WANT us to know we are getting screwed – they WANT us to better ourselves.
As far as charitable organizations having finite funds – that is not what I am saying. These charitable organizations are fraudulently collecting your/our monies for discriminatory practices that are written into their mission statements and bylaws of their organizations but not openly acknowledged or stated in the United Way catalogue presented for your information to pick who you choose to give to. This is illegal. This is immoral. This is true. I know it for a fact. I have spoken with attorney about it. Nobody touches it. So in addition to our taxed $ supporting people and things we don’t agree with or don’t know about, even our charitable dollars are being used against our wishes. You are talking to someone who forced United Way to support women’s issues and extend their umbrella to things like rape crisis centers back in the 70′s.
Suzanne, I believe your interpretation of “General Welfare” is wider than intended and, in that light, flawed. The way in which the Constitution was laid out is very specific. The “Founding Fathers” feared the usurpation of powers over time, leading to an overly brutish central government. This concern is addressed in Article 1 Section 8, listing specific powers granted to the Fed. Govt. Any powers not expressly granted to the Fed. Govt. is reserved for the individual states.
What works for Maine may not work for California. What works for California may not work for Arizona (my current place of residence). Each state can determine how to best take care of its citizens, based on its resources and perspective. Most states, if not all, already have some sort of state legislation governing it’s welfare system. The people are being taken care of.
With that being said, we work for what we have. The notion that “All men are created equal” does not mean that we are the same and are entitled to the same things. There are discriminating factors; some people are shorter/taller, stronger/weaker, more and/or intelligent. These factors are not along racial or social lines. What it means is that we all have the opportunity to work for a better life and seek out what makes us happy (within reason). Some are more successful at this than others. Some find breaks while others are constantly working. Having lived more on the “constantly working” side of the fence, I do not fault those that have done well for themselves.
Although, I do not agree that the current President has worked to make lives better, I do laud the author, his perspective, and commentary with respect to the pile of mashed potatoes in a suit. -still ROFLMAO at that!
“I believe your interpretation of “General Welfare” is wider than intended and, in that light, flawed.”
No, it’s not flawed; it’s just not YOUR interpretation. The fundamental beauty of the Constitution is that it IS open to interpretation. The Founding Fathers knew one inherent truth that we seem to have forgotten today — society changes and its system of government must also change and adapt or it is doomed to failure. The only iron clad truth in the Constitution is that it must forever be changeable and adaptable to fit a fluid society. It doesn’t surprise me that so many of the “I know EXACTLY what the Founding Fathers meant and it is my way or COMPLETELY WRONG, so help me GOD” Tea Partiers are also charismatic, evangelical Christians who believe that the Bible has only one meaning and that meaning is, of course, their meaning. Never mind that they can’t even see that their “inherent truth in the Bible” is only the latest of interpretations. the Founding Fathers knew they couldn’t envision what society would be in a century or two or three, so they made a document that could be all things to all people. We just need to figure out what we need now. My guess is that it isn’t Newt Gingrich.
Perhaps reading the Federalist Papers would clear things up. I don’t need to interpret what the founding fathers meant… they tell you EXACTLY what the meant. “General Welfare” with respect to the country as a Union of individual States… not to individuals within those States and Union. The modern understanding of general welfare with respect to people, programs, etc is very different than the definition and notion with respect to the Constitution.
The Constitution is absolutely a living document; it has changed and will continue to do so. However, that change does not take place in usurpation of powers nor unchecked policies; the change takes place according to Article V. It is not a simple process. There is a reason for that.
Congress has the power to make laws to provide for the general welfare of the entire country and if they see that the country needs a program to aide those persons in need, they can create it…it was also that interpretation which gave the “Union” the power to keep the southern states from seceding from the Union…general welfare is just that…the idea that the Congress should promote our country’s well-being…the interstate system is a great example of that as well as funding for airports and higher education programs. Perhaps someday Congress will give us a healthcare program similar to what they have (oh no that would be like socialism). Congress can decide that our States need assistance or promote the general welfare of its citizenry in any way they see fit. If poorer states were left to provide for their neediest citizens on their own, many would starve. That is why a State like Arkansas or Mississippi gets so much aid while a State like New york pays more per capita taxes and receives less federal aid. It promotes the general welfare of our Union.
The federalist papers don’t tell you exactly what the founding fathers meant – they represent the view point of one faction of the founding fathers.
People REALLY like to have claimed they’ve read the Federalist Papers. I don’t think many people have read more than the pulled quotes in a high school history textbook. But it SOUNDS good, doesn’t it?
I should say this happens in all fields. As an English major, I couldn’t swear I’ve actually read The Odyssey. I know I talked about it for a good half hour in Oral Exams and I was convinced at the time that I had read it in high school….. but I wouldn’t bet my life on it….. I just think I’ve heard the stories so much that it sunk in….. I think this happens with the Federalist Papers….. we kinda get the gist.
I would love for you to provide a single “socialist” program that President Obama has created during his time in office. Just one.
In Obama’s latest venture socialism, the Obama administration has offered Obama’s crony buddies over at General Electric (GE), a new program that gives GE a 90% taxpayer-funded guarantee on their accounts payable for foreign exports.
Washington Examiner reported:
Largely out of the media spotlight, the federal government operates a network of financial subsidy programs that benefit big banks by putting taxpayer money at risk. And President Obama, that self-styled populist scourge of Wall Street, is increasing this racket of private profit and public risk that Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) aptly dubbed “venture socialism.”
In its latest act of venture socialism, the Obama administration has offered a novel taxpayer backstop to General Electric, the multinational industrial conglomerate that is famously close to this administration, and that spends more on federal lobbying than any other company. The government accessory in this instance is the Export-Import Bank of the United States, a federal agency that finances U.S. exports at taxpayer risk.
Ex-Im exists to subsidize U.S. businesses, with most of the subsidy dollars facilitating Boeing sales. Other industrial titans like GE, Bechtel, and General Dynamics devour most of the rest of the Ex-Im subsidy pie. But manufacturers aren’t the only beneficiaries of this little-known federal agency — banks profit from it, too. For instance, when Ex-Im recently approved $1 billion in financing to subsidize Pemex, Mexico’s government-owned oil company, 3M and other U.S. exporters of oil-field equipment benefited, but so did some big banks. Bank of America and JP Morgan financed these sales, and so if Pemex defaults, it’s these megabanks the U.S. taxpayer will be bailing out.
Now Obama has created a new Ex-Im subsidy for banks. The name is a mouthful: “The Supply-Chain Finance Guarantee Program.”
Here’s how to understand what’s going on: Imagine I’m a shoe exporter. I ship shoes to stores in Europe, and then I wait a few weeks to get paid by the stores. But what if more orders come in, and I need to restock the shoes right away, before I get paid for my last shipment? I could just borrow from a bank. But another option is that I can just sell my invoices, in effect, to the bank. If the shoe stores owe me $1,000, I might sell Citibank, for $950, the right to be paid by those shoe stores. That’s called supply-chain finance, and it’s a quintessential capitalist arrangement.
But in the midst of this commerce among banks, exporters, and importers, Barack Obama has inserted the unwitting U.S. taxpayer. As part of his Export Initiative aimed at doubling U.S. exports in five years, the Supply-Chain Finance Guarantee Program to guarantees 90 percent of the banks’ exposure. In our hypothetical example, if the European shoe stores welched, the U.S. taxpayers would cover 90 percent of Citibank’s loss.
As a South Carolinian, please don’t use Sen. Jim DeMint as any example of anything other than a buffoon,tea party ass-kisser who panders to the multitude of my fellow Carolinians who hate Obama because he is Black. Note that DeMint is the ONLY senator who voted against the bill giving benefits to businesses hiring veterans because he saw it as pandering to a special group and a “Democratic trick”.
Please explain “general Welfare”? If that does not mean help, then I do not know what does.
Should we also go back to only white men being able to vote? Constitution was written more than 200 years ago, don’t take it as teh gospel, Martin. Try to move on…
Are you kidding me. Every word the man spoke was true. He’s not saying every black or brown person, he’s saying that in that enviroment there is no structure. No wanting to do better. No role model. This is exactly why the welfare situation is nothing less then a joke.
Welfare was ment for people to get back on their feet. It was not ment to be used and passed down for generations. I could go to our local County Services Bldg. and if I had access to personal files, I could find dozens of families recieving benefits, benefits I and thousands of others pay for by taxes that have been on the gravey train for generations.
I worked in Law Enforcement, and EMS for years, and thousands of times we get a call to render assistance of some kind to a lower income housing development, again paid for by our taxes. They are supposed to be single family dwellings, but I have seen up to three families living in these structures. All on public assistance, but there’s a Flat Screen TV in ever one of them, they all have XBoxes, or Playstaions, and everyone has at least one cell phone. Its absurd, and yet we put up with it. Its nothing less than fruad. Start making an example out of some of these people, no matter what the nationality, and things would change. Thirty days in jail for fraud can turn a lot of heads….again, playing the race card does no one any good. I know many black people who take advantage of the “system”, as well as white people. Just like Obama, he’s not a bad President because he’s Black, he’s a bad President because he’s inexperienced. Why would anyone think a one term Senator would do any better? He’s never been Chief Executive of anything, over 94% of his votes in the Senate he abstained…and all this because he’s Black??? He’d be just as inexperienced if he was Purple. People play the race card because they don’t have a legitimate argument to explain why he has been so inept, and why he has spent us into obliviation. He’s well into his third year, you can’t keep blaming Bush. He is the worst President, including Carter. I would take Newt, hell, I would take Bachman over Obama any day of the week.
As far as fraud goes, I would dare to say that there is more criminality perpetrated at the top offices of Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, Bank of America, etc, too the tune of BILLIONS every year than the fraud you speak of here.
Crowded housing? Does it even OCCUR to you to address the SKYROCKETING prices of housing? Greedy Landlords that over charge? Predatory Lending? No, of course not, because of course, poverty, in your mind, is a character flaw and not a b y product of a democracy that has been co-opted and distorted to function for the relative few. You mention that Obama is inept and make the argument of his inexperience. Well, it took Bush Jr. EIGHT YEARS to destroy the country- We had a BALANCED budget when Bush took office, and even had a modicum of respect – for eight years he ran the country like his own private ATM and country club, and effectively made us hated WORLD WIDE.
Those that convince themselves that the poor, working and middle class are not rich because of some character flaw are ignorant of how economics have functioned in this country from the moment the Europeans arrived.
GOLDMAN SACHS, BANK OF AMERICA, These are not people they are corps. People did this to each other to try to get ahead, we did this to our selves! We blame a company name not the person who worked there and did what ever they could to make more money, Let’s take the blame like we should because until we do nothing will change, Rick (nothing personal just want to identify who I’m replying to) your right, show me any system and I’ll show you someone abusing it, taxes, police, business, government, so saying that welfare is something special is really out there, We are not the “poor” we are people, call us by name, we are not a number, and a %, living breathing, loving, un-perfect (lol), Lets stop the race card, the poor/rich card, the blame card, we are holding all of them, As for what you saw while working, did you ask where they got these things? Did you ask why they were where they were at? I was on welfare of 2 years while I went to collage and I didn’t get a dime, I got food stamps, and housing, so I and my family could survive, I hated ever minute of it, but I had to support my family, and before you comment I was carrying 17 credit at least each semester. so working was out, I donated plasma, sold things on ebay and went with out when I had to. Also you can only be on welfare for 5 years over you live now. That’s it 5 years.
I’m a little fuzzy on your interpretation of a balanced budget. If by balanced budget you meant increasing tax intake while also an getting an annual influx of money from the Fed. Reserve (read increasing the national deficit), then yes… the budget was a balanced one.
Solange – I’m in love with you.
Hats off to you Solange. Saying the things the right want to ignore. Amazing how everyone has Bush amnesia.
You’re a shiny example of why kids need to not be burdened with janitorial work so they can focus on their schooling. I hope that wasn’t offensive, because I truly “ment” that.
If you put these people in jail for welfare fraud doesn’t that mean the tax payers are still paying for them? Not a solution and as a Law enforcement officer shouldn’t you be aware that jail rarely changes peoples habits. All you will be doing is putting people with the same mind set all in a group together to fume over the injustice in their communities. I agree people abuse the system. Even If for every 100 people that abuse the system only one makes it and gets back on their feet, that’s enough for me. Obama is NOT a bad prez. The government as a whole has lost touch with the American dream, and what their jobs are. They should be the ones going to jail for fraud!
No offense, but if you’re going write, spell check first. You’re making Bachman supporters look ignorant… oh wait… I don’t think you get it. For people who are THAT poor, that Xbox or flatscreen TV is their ONLY luxury. You KNOW they are playing that one game over and over and over. Look how many we have! I have my TV, a car, I get food on the table everyday, I can pay for a bill now if I have to. However, all this is possible because I was born in the 1%. My one thing is, why am I, offended by all of the repressive, ignorant, Fox-news-ism shit and I have the privilege to ignore all of you, including the government? Maybe because I think this country can be better for everyone, of all races, RELIGIONS and sexes. And yes, I said sexes.
Rick: If welfare is such a gravy train, is so utterly attractive, and fabulous why aren’t all of you gas-bags with your welfare”facts and figures”, quitting your jobs and signing up? Get real with your uninformed selves. Don’t compare the homes of people you run into as a police officer with the law abiding citizens who need the assistance to survive. Ever been in the homes of people who are on welfare who don’t have big screen TV’s, or a washer, or a dryer, or a phone or a vacuum cleaner? Ever spent a holiday with a family on welfare? Ever taken a welfare mom and her kid to the Doctor and watched as she is treated, by the Doctor, like a dead fly on the bottom of someone’s shoe? The majority of people receiving welfare didn’t grow up thinking, “hey I wanna be on welfare when I grow up”. Nope, they like all of the other kids in the wealthy, well-appointed, and clean schools probably had hopes and dreams of being doctors, nurses, teachers, attorneys and business owners just like the rest of us. Only they went to school in run-down, dirty, poorly funded schools without enough teachers to help them achieve their dreams. And maybe, if they had brown or black skin, they ran across a teacher or two who really didn’t think they would achieve much anyway, so didn’t bother teaching them. Quit acting like welfare is such an attractive option that is bankrupting our economy. What’s bankrupting our economy is the damn corporate welfare we hand out with every bail out, tax credit, tax deduction, etc for every Fortune 500 company who cries bankrupt. Leave the poor out of this. All of you conservative christians would do right to be reminded that your Bible says “the poor will always be among you”. So shut up and help the rest of us bleeding heart un-churched folks take care of them. And guess what? If you do, you might just feel pretty good at the end of the day, knowing you helped a fellow human out.
You don’t just represent every poor American, Newt has as much disdain and misunderstanding of middle America as well. How anyone who is not rich could support this arrogant out of touch moron is beyond me. Thank you for eloquently saying what so many of us are feel and are so frustrated by.
I got what you wish, thanks for putting up. Woh I am glad to mature this website finished google. Thanks For Share An Open Letter To Newt Gingrich From A Black Kid Who Grew Up In A Poor Neighborhood | FREEdom Of Speech.
Good post and I enjoy your writing. I take issue with thinking we should re-elect Obama however. He has accomplished a bank bailout, more adventurism overseas and…and I’m not sure what else. He has not challenged the corporate ownership Of Congress as much as I was lead to believe he would. You can’t “work with” a body that is compromised financially. That said, I voted for Obama in 2008. It will be Ron Paul this time around.
Bailouts started under Bush. War in Iraq ended today. Bin Laden and 8 of top 10 terrorists are dead. Ron Paul is a kook who believes in zero government and zero social programs. I guess Paul would be your man if your fucking filthy rich and can afford to pay cash for everything.
Yeah and Paul would suggest what? Collective buying power, economy of scale etc. all of which Big Business uses to make money we can benefit by through government. It is more expensive to pay for our preciously little personal water bottles than to pool resources (time and taxes and wage cap) for quality municipal water. We are government. Big Country, Big Government.
The above is a misunderstanding. Ron Paul is not against social programs. He is against the government controlling them – he argues that the constitution does not give the government the right. He is correct. Having the government run *anything* generally tripples the cost, and lowers the quality of the service you receive. Have you ever seen *anyone* excited about needing to go to the MVA? Or been thrilled that to be contacted by the IRS? You are talking about a doctor that practiced in a time BEFORE medicare, who would take payment in whatever form his patients could provide, or none at all if they couldn’t. I believe he understands quite well the need and application of charity.
Actually Ron Paul would suggest that we stop spending over a trillion dollars a year in foreign wars and occupations and bring that money back home. He would use that money to shore up social security and Medicare/Medicaid, as well as other social programs that we are currently dependent upon as a country, until we can get back on our feet and no longer need them. He has stated many times that his goal is to completely abolish a personal income tax, and remove the Fed, which is essentially taxing us secretly by printing money to cover our country’s staggering deficit. Every time they do this, it lowers the value of the dollar. How much better off would even the most destitute person holding a job in the country be, when they could take home 100% of the money they earned, instead of giving 33% of it to the government?
I’m not trying to change your mind, or to tell you to vote for Paul in 2012. I’m just
suggesting that a little research would show that the congressman has been 100% consistent in this opinion for the last 20 years. He predicted the housing bubble in the early 2000′s, he predicted the devaluation of the dollar as far back as 1998. Do a little research, if for no other reason, than so that you can argue effectively against him instead of spouting crap that has been spoon-fed to you via the ‘other parties’.
I can get behind some of Ron Paul’s foreign policy ideas, but frankly, his economics are ludicrous. First, let’s take his idea of re-adopting the gold standard: Many economists believe adopting a gold standard could decrease the U.S. monetary supply by about half. This would cause massive deflation and could threaten an economic collapse. Secondly, do we really want to make the size of the money supply dependent on the success of gold miners? It would also export control of our nation’s money system to foreigners. Over 90% of the world’s gold is produced by foreigners. In 1970’s OPEC cut-off oil, and Russia and South Africa could do the same thing with gold. Why not have our currency controlled by Americans? The gold standard did not work in the past, and no country has ever been able to maintain it. It was abandoned by many nations during major wars and when there was an economic crisis. The government printed too many gold back dollars and then refused to redeem them for gold. Using gold and silver is not going to prevent the government from making bad monetary decisions or creating more debt. The government could still spend too much and it would still have to contend with compounding debt and interest. Despite Ron Paul’s numerous claims, gold and silver are not sound money. They can just as easily be manipulated as fiat currency. The government can easily devalue gold based dollars. They have done that in the past to make our exports cheaper. I could go on, but really, what’s the point? The gold standard is so much worse for our country than our current fiat currency system.
Paul believes in the Austrian School of Economics which is totally ignored by mainstream academia. The standard economics texts used on the university level do not even mention it. There are no more than 75 scholars worldwide who follow the Austrian School while there are over 20,000 PhD level members of the American Economics Association. Mainstream economists use the scientific method, but the Austrians reject it. Mainstream economists make heavy use of statistics, but the Austrians claim they have little value. Mainstream economists believe in fiat money, while the Austrians believe in the gold standard. Yes, the Fed needs reform, but reform does not mean abolishment.
Not to mention that Ron Paul has many other conflicting viewpoints from his voting stances. If you actually do look at his records, you can see that. For example, he claims to be against illegal immigration, but has repeatedly voted against the border fence (with one exception in 2006), as well as the E-Verify program to stop employers from hiring illegal aliens. In fact, he is against all laws prohibiting employers from hiring illegal aliens. He opposes Arizona’s get tough policies and the deportation of people who are here illegally. He claims to oppose amnesty but that is what his program advocates.
None of this has even mentioned his questionable science relating to being a doctor. I have no respect for a doctor who does not value the scientific method (which is exactly what he is saying when he says he doesn’t believe in evolution) or is anti-vaccination. Both things are highly concerning to me as a scientist who studies diseases.
steve says: “You are talking about a doctor that practiced in a time BEFORE medicare, who would take payment in whatever form his patients could provide, or none at all if they couldn’t.”
oh and every other doctor would act the same way, of course. right? well? the problem with your argument, and Paul’s, is that when you give humans the control, there is chaos. that’s why you need the government that WE elected to handle the chaos. if you don’t like government waste, help to elect those who try to change it for the better and not those like Ron Paul who think complete reliance on inherently-corrupt humans is a good idea. It isn’t. That’s why we have a government.
Saying Ron Paul believes in zero government and zero social programs is a lie. Unlike others who rely on secondhand information and bought political candidates, I actually read Paul’s books and listen to his interviews. Paul does not believe in ZERO government, he believes in Constitutional size government and governing being done at the appropriate level (federal, state, local) depending on the issue. Does the federal government have to run every damn thing? The Constitution is NOT a blank check, it’s kind of what separates us from, oh….military juntas. Read it sometime, you might like it. Want a big, bloated government program to do X, Y , or Z? Make an amendment, Einstein. That’s what they exist for. That’s all Ron Paul is saying. But by all means, continue to vote for candidates bought by corporate money. Paul is a libertarian…why do you think there is a media blackout of him?
“He has accomplished a bank bailout” and that’s where I stopped reading your reply since you are clueless.
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Hey Travon – completely agree with everything you said, except one thing. “You
represent a party of greedy, selfish, out of touch, wealth protecting, non tax paying,
destroyers of the middle class.” Painting an entire group of people with the same brush is wrong, no matter what the group. It’s wrong when Newt does it. It’s wrong when you do it. Not saying the party is worth defending, but there are plenty of people who are republican that aren’t accurately described by your description.
“Not a proud republican” what you miss tho… is that if a “republican” had any backbone and doesn’t feel the same way as their fellow “republicans” then why do they all vote together in such a coordinated way? I say he can call them all ” greedy, selfish, out of touch, wealth protecting, non tax paying, destroyers of the middle class.” — wanna know why… cause if they weren’t greedy, selfish, out of touch, wealth protecting, non tax paying, destroyers of the middle class — you know what we’d call them then??? DEMOCRATS! —- yes, that’s right, if you are not happy with the republican party, take action and hit them where it hurts – become a democrat!
Lmao…its greedy, selfish, out of touch, wealth protecting, non tax paying, destroyers of the middle class…in other words POLITICIANS.
You guys over in the US are getting screwed from both sides equally and they get away with it because they got all you people b*tching to eachother about which side is better…
Divide and conquer in a brilliant form…time to wake up?
What I guess you want fours more years of the worst president in history, the only president to bow to another leader. No thanks and I am part of the 99 %.
I’d just like to know what history you are studying, if any. Don’t speak in generalities unless you can back your point up with specifics. That is what I told my students of history for years. Guess you didn’t sit in my class or anyone who was like me in the classroom. I don’t have to agree with you and you don’t have to agree with me but the facts backed by data not kneejerk reactions must be there if you want to make your case. I can cite at least five other examples of presidents that history have judged faulty but that is only after time and clear, objective judgement have gie us the background or setting for honest evaluation. Obviously, as a retired teacher, I am surely part of the 99% but I’m planning to keep an open mind about the process and not let the media make my judgement for me. What are you doing to stay informed and educated about the big questions?
Your comment is incorrect.
Bowing is like shaking hands in some cultures, it is not a sign of submission like in the US. It just shows Obama is one of the only presidents that respects others cultures. The strongest leaders are firm, decisive, yet humble. The emperor of Japan is willing to shake peoples hands, why wouldn’t obama be willing to bow? The emperor certainly didn’t expect it since he is usually the one adapting to the western culture of handshaking. That doesn’t mean the emperor is being submissive, it’s just a way of greeting and showing respect for each others customs.
Really? Honoring the traditional greeting of a foreign leader it wrong? No, barfing in his lap is wrong!
Thanks for pointing that out. I agree and I’m not a republican.
By accident or not it still does the same injury. Of course, a child that is given responsibility early in life has a greater chance of dealing with 9 – 5 existence. But, that child regardless where he/she is has not much input in circumstances inherited. Politicians will expose themselves for varied reasons. Sometimes it’s best to tell the King he’s naked!
The statements made are not by NG. Voice and movement do not match and the voice is someone else. A very false presentation which will get you no where. RonB
What?! Are u blind…he clearly said it and it’s consistent with everything else he says, like the ‘fact’ that Palestinians are an invented people…Newt is a classic effete snob.
Clearly you are smoking the crack.
I’m replying to RonB, by the way. Not Sean.
Yeah, you’re right, whack-job, the guy that did the audio editing in this video was probably the same guy that forged Obama’s birth certificate, right?
“Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”
I think that’s an old Lincoln or Jefferson quote … ??
The problem is .. or at least one problem is … Capital is no longer the fruit of labor but rather is the fruit of the clever use of law to maneuver money into ones pocket.
Funny I have been saying this same thing for days in another forum, unsuccessfully I might add.
If you are going to talk economics, then I will say according to our neoclassical theory that drive American capitalism. None of this should be an issues bececause. There are no power or class differences, everyone is free to do what they want, with the same opportunities to do it, and there is no need for work. Although everyone wants money, no one needs it and the poor are poor by choice and they are happy that way. Money and fun are perfectly interchangable in Neoclassical economics, and involuntary unemployment can not exist. … And we wonder why our economy is not working?!?!
For instance shouldn’t the public be made aware that Obama, while in the IL state senate dodged voting on abortion issues SEVEN times by taking the cowards way out and voting “present”?
Shouldn’t the public be made aware that Obama in the Senate voted against a ban on late term abortions? That means any baby born alive after an attempted abortion can be killed. It’s Infantcide, cold blooded murder. Obama voted cold heartly to let that practice continue.
Shouldn’t the public be made aware that Obama gave $26,000 last year to Trinity Church of Christ and it’s racist, sexist, filthy mouthed Anti-Americcan preacher? Shouldn’t the public be made aware that Trinity Church of Christ hosted and honored black racist Louis Farrakhan in 2003 and Obama was right there shaking hands with Minister “hate Whitey” Farrakhan?
Shouldn’t the public be made aware that Obama has flip-flopped on Iraq SEVERAL TIMES? First he said he would have all troops out of Iraq “as quick as possible” then “within 3 to 4 months”. Then he said a year. Then he said he would have to talk to the generals in the field and it might take much longer. Now he’s saying removal of some combat troops but we will have a prolonged presence in Iraq!!!
Shoulldn’t the public be made aware that Obama has flip-flopped on gun control? While he was in the Il Senate he signed a position paper stating he was for banning the manufacture and sale of rifles and guns. In Pennsylvania recently in front of sportsmen hunters he stated that he was opposed to gun control legislation that would change the sale of rifles and handguns. Now he’s siding with the Supreme Court decision to lift the ban on guns in DC!!
Souldn’t the public be made aware of Obama’s “father figure” when he was going to high school in HI being a Communist Anarchist and Labor activist?
Shouldn’t the public be made aware of Obama’s mother, Stanley Ann Dunham’s political activities and Communist friends? Shouldn’t the public be made aware that she not only instructed her son on Marxist Idealogy but she also arranged for others to further his study of Communism.
Shou8ldn’t the public be made aware that Obama while at Occidental College and later at Harvard selected the most liberal Socialist leaning teachers when completing his class schedule.
Shouldn’t the public be made aware that Obama has already promised to raise taxes? Souldn’t they be made aware that according to his position papers he wants to expand government and government services. That means taxes will have to be raised higher and higher to pay for these programs.
Shouldn’t the public be made aware of Obama’s friendship with Weatherman terrorist bombers William Ayers and Bernadette Dorhn who both swore to overthrow constitutional democracy in the US and create a socialist state?
Shouldn’t the public be made aware that Obama and Ayers served on the Woods Foundation board and voted to send money to the American Arab Action league founded by their Communist friends which channeled money to Islamic Terrorists in Palestine?
Shouldn’t the public be informed that while on the Woods philanthropic board Barack Obama and William Ayers violated the bylaws of the foundation by not recusing themselves, like chairman Stanback did, and voted for a grant for their friends Allison Davis and Tony Rezko.
Shouldn’t the public be informed that as “payback” for Obama’s arranging a million dollar grant to their company, Tony Rezko and Allison Davis’ company contibuted $70,000 to Obama’s presidential campaign.
Read more: http://www.city-data.com/forum/politics-other-controversies/379061-expose-obamas-many-faults-mccain-iraq.html#ixzz1ga7epAgq
If we were made aware of the entirety of the personal lives of our politicians, we would not elect a single one of them.
+1
wow brainwashing works. you should try reading something other than twilight sometime. start with a high school history book.
Farrakhan does hate all whites, just whites like you.
I dont think a womans right to abort her fetus is anybody damn business, especially a damn politicians!! I’d do the same thing as President Obama did!!
Sorry, meant to say, Farrakhan DOESN’T hate all whites, just whites like you. I’m white and hate all crackers like you. Grow the fuck up and stop blaming your shitty existence on someone else. I don’t care what color a person is or what sort of ‘god’ creature they believe in. We deserve the smartest, best qualified person for the job, not some fucking gunslingers that invade a country ultimately for US (ie. monetary) interests. Using tax dollars for ‘private security forces’ or no-bid contracts. What kind of bullshit is that?
I grew up poor and both my parents worked. I worked since I was 10. We where very poor in the seventies and very poor in the eighties. The government kept the poor alive to pay taxes by providing food stamps and goverment cheese.Trickle-down bullshit never worked and never will. Tax breaks for the rich only help rich people get more money or are you too fucking blind to see this? They don’t create more jobs. Bringing manufacturing back from China and US ‘territories’ with slave labor will get Americans working again. Or are you content to buy low quality products from walmart all of your life? I’m not, I like nice stuff that is made to last.
Wages don’t go up, but the prices for everything do. This is leading to more hard working people struggling to pay bills and feed their families. If the US taxpayers ever stop subsidizing the meat and agriculture industries most of you would starve to death. That might not be a bad idea.
What goes around comes around! Karma is a Bitch, And I don’t hate you, I Pray for You!!
No prayers needed here. I’m an athiest. Wanna do something nice for someone? Volunteer your time to benefit your community.
Sing it Brother Billy – you speak the truth.
Becky and Scott, be positive and help someone out with your time.
http://www.scotthamiltonisatool.com, why dont you do a list for gingrich and stop the political masturbation…information FAIL
What does this disconnected skreed have to do with the topic of this article?
Scott I’ll explain it to you like this…. EAT A DICK! Nobody else here is gonna say it so I will… Just EAT A DICK, you idiot!
Go back to your pathetic Tea Party rally and cite some legitimate sources…not right wing conspiracy theory blogs.
Abortion is not your business, the governments business or the Presidents business. This includes the sometime medically necessary and misnamed late term abortion. The public is aware of the Presidents voting record. Grow up, get a life (your own please).
Where the President gives his personal money is his business. This is especially true when it is to legitimate religious institutions. You should do a bit of research by the way, Trinity Church has a predominately White congregation. The minister is none of the things you have said, rather he has a clear history if Civil Rights Activism and condemned our participation in unfounded and illegal wars, including the war on “Drugs” and “Poverty” that saw generations of primarily Black and Brown men behind bars leaving their children fatherless. Grow up, get a life study the real history of America.
If his position has dramatically changed on Gun Control that is unfortunate, where are your facts?
Where are your facts on his “father figure”? Where are you facts on his mother’s teachings and leanings, were you there? Where are your facts on how he selected his instructors in University, were you inside his mind? By the way, do you actually know what Socialism is?
There is some justification for specific tax increases, nevertheless which position papers are these and when were they written? Again produce facts.
The relationship between the President and Ayers, Dohrn, Davis, Rezko has been vetted in the public forum forever and a day. Old news, so what. Got something new?
Clearly you are dredging, pop your head up.
Pretty sure Scott lives in a fact-free zone. His TV is probably irretrievably tuned to Fox because the remote buttons are obliterated by tea stains and likely jammed with potato chip crumbs.
You should know that Communism and Islam don’t mix very well, which makes it hard for me to believe there is an Islamic-Communist conspiracy. I’m sure Obama has made unsavory back room deals, he’s a politician. They’re all owned by the same people. They’ll let us fight over issues they don’t care about, it keeps us distracted. Anti-abortion presidents haven’t done anything to change the law, remember Ronald Reagan? Religion and government have been screwing us for centuries because they have been infiltrated by the ruling class and turned into tools of control. We need to take those tools back.
OooOOOoOOoOooOOoo [insert scary conspiracy theory here]
Totally nuts.
Shouldn’t the public be made aware that if you sweep any past President’s closet, you will come up with some of the same trash. I don’t know of any politician who has not made any mistakes or done things that his/her constituents wouldn’t cringe over. What I do know is this, you can say exactly what you want but I have never in my over 50 years of living seen a President so vilified and disrespected. No, I am not a true died in the wool Democrat. I am a citizen of the United States that is becoming increasingly embarrassed and disgusted by the politics of this country. Each party has some fault in this. All of them are acting like big babies and playing with the future of poorest citizens in this country.
Everyone keeps talking about people should get jobs–hell what jobs? Everyone is not lazy that is unemployed or in dire straits. The truth of the matter is that a lot of employers think like some of you…if you are a person of color, you are lazy, uneducated, good for nothing and a poor hiring risk. Such bull!!! Nevertheless anyone who thinks this does not exist is in denial. Any person who thinks that the “race card” should not be played is blind. There are so many disparities based upon race today that it is ridiculous. If you deny it, then you are definitely a contributor to the fast growth of this societal cancer. We need to be honest with ourselves and recognize, galvanize, strategize and cure. That is all that I am saying. No politician is going to do that for us.
Scott Hamilton – actually many of the things you listed are what I like about Obama. So thanks for adding to my “I like Obama because_______________” list. Marxist ideology, communist teachings, awesome! Now he definitely has my 2012 vote.
I agree with you ShadyRay. Obviously after the last few years, Obama is NOT the answer we need to pull our country out of this mess. He seems like a good guy. He tried. I give him props for stepping up, but his time is over. We need someone like Newt right now who has real, economic smarts. He might put his foot in his mouth from time to time (not always politically correct) but the dude is smart. You can’t argue that. The Left thinks the Republican candidates are awful but what has Obama done for us, other than sink us further into debt. President Obama is like a woman with a shopping addiction. He just doesn’t know when to stop spending! It’s so frustrating! I’d be curious to see what he could learn in an ECON 101 course on free markets. Big government is just inefficient BS. Anyways, I grew up a in a poor, predominantly white and Hispanic neighborhood so I would fall into the category he is referring to. While I believe what Newt said is a gross generalization, I at the same time, think he has a point. Let me be clear that, I DO NOT take offense to his statements even though, we were very poor and my father worked his ass of to provide for my sister and I. Others in our neighborhood did not. SOME poor people work hard, yes, but A LOT MORE don’t. He was wrong to say ALL but he isn’t completely wrong in his opinions. I know people who have collected unemployment for the past 2 years, not because they couldn’t get a job, but because it paid better than if they got a real job so they sit around, doing nothing and become a drain on our society. They were never taught a quality work ethic just like Newt is saying! When you say, “poor kids, and let’s be clear that’s Republican speak for black and brown kids” you are putting words in his mouth to defend your opinion of him as having idiotic, unfounded, racist, and ignorant words to pass along but you are ignorant and unfounded for making it about race. It’s not about race. Get over it. Other people besides “black and brown” kids grow up poor too and don’t get bent out of shape about one little comment that is probably taken out of context. If your article excluded the race argument I would mostly agree with what you said but calling him a racist when you put words in his mouth is idiotic.
I’d say the fact that the majority of Republican candidates want to reduce the education budget is reason enough to not vote for any of them. Education should be the primary goal of this country, if people can think for themselves then there is less worry about the government having to do it for them, and less worry about demagogues taking the country by storm and forcing people to vote against their interests. We can delay spending on education and marginalize it in the short-term, but we should be ready to get bitten in the ass again in the future.
Idiotic to call someone a racist? Putting words in his mouth? It’s certainly not idiotic for me to characterize you as a sexist for saying “Obama is like a woman with a shopping addiction. He doesn’t know when to stop spending?” This is where divisiveness starts. Wouldn’t it have been easy to say, “…SOMEONE with a shopping addiction, people who buy designer clothes they can’t afford, or people who max out their credit cards to trick out a car?” We don’t need MORE divisiveness in this country, and your sexist analogy turned me off to any argument you may have to make.
AMEN, Mambocat!!!!
well then since your family didnt need government assistance when you were growing up no one else deserves it either. did u pass economics 101? why pay taxes? we dont need streets to drive on or police to enforce our rights or public schools for the “poor” kids. everyone deserves equal opportunity in this country, it is in the constitution you might want to read the big color book on that in the children’s section of barnes and noble.
Newt is an idiot! He’s the worst kind of hypocrite this country’s ever seen and I cant believe any voter with a brain would even consider the vague possibility of voting for him!! You people are as stupid as he is.
He’s an ignorant right wing hypocrite – enough reason for at least 80% of American to not take him seriously.
Newt Gingrich is a dumb person’s idea of a smart person. Using big words and misquoting historical events isn’t smart. Starting sentences with “Fundamentally”, doesn’t mean that you understand the fundamentals. Newt is a jackass who has done more to polarize and demean politics than anyone else in or out of government.
He doesn’t care how he wins, he only cares that he wins. And that is his fatal flaw.
Scoring points on one another should not be the ultimate goal of this debate, all Americans want roughly the same thing regardless of party. We want an education system that will produce young men and women capable of thinking for themselves and with every opportunity to go to College, we want access to health-care that will support us into our now long-extended lives, and we want access to jobs that will allow us to support ourselves and take advantage of the previous two opportunities. I do not feel that any of the previous three stipulations have been satisfactorily met in this country since its inception, and ceaseless bickering only creates animosity and makes the possibility of these things even more remote than they are currently. Truly, when George Washington said he didn’t want a two-party system, I believe he was justified and reasonable. You should stop arguing about the color of the campaign button you wear, and start considering what this country actually needs.
Well said, amen and pass the donation plate. It is only when we all step out of our ideological holes and realize we are in this together that we will begin to fix the problems.
YOU ROCK!! Simply put. JUST WISH U COULD HAVE TOLD HIM IN PERSON!! ISN’T IT AMAZING THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE WE STILL HAVE THAT LAYER OF IGNORANCE AND THAT ANY ONE CAN RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!?? REALLY A DAMN SHAME….KEEP SPEAKING THE TRUTH AND THANK YOU!
To the Gingrich apologists on here, exactly what work ethic does Newt have? Apart from the pure grifter life he has led, selling political access, scamming wingnut rubes, feeding at the government rough, have you taken a close look at his so called academic track record? I have and his rise to power is the most crystallizing insight into white mediocrity ALWAYS fast tracked to unearned prominence.
I have read the entirety of his 1971 Ph.D dissertation that defends the brutal Belgian colonial rule (of King Leopold II) of Congo (now DRC) as simply the inevitable outcome of “Darwinian calculus.” And the intellectual fraud that he was he wrote this POS (with zero references, methodology, or actual research) that can best be described as a travesty masquerading as scholarship, one that no self-respecting institution then or today would have allowed to pass.
Yet here we are. He is still spouting his misanthropic belief in a “Darwinian Calculus” re: poor children with the revolting veneer of pseudo intellectual bombast. as Krugman said he is a dumb guys idea of a smart guy. Or as down home folks would say he’s pimping, shucking and jiving a greasy hustle.
Yeah, so Newt has yet to explain how a mediocre guy like him can justify his current White affirmative action position in this society. After he does this you apologists can get back to us about how poor kids of any color or ethnicity can learn some “work ethic” as exploited underpaid child laborers.
Love your post. I have been proposing for years that the schools help us and themselves by functioning as community job centers during summer. Where I live there are way too many drop outs who also have never held a job and our tax dollars pay for truant officer who has never been seen. We have so many laws preventing teenage entrepreneurship but really teachers could be working during the summer and overseeing these efforts. There are lots of people who need things done here and there and cannot afford a service contract with a company, nor do they need one. But nooooo, there is nothing for the kids to do but they can easily purchase cell-phones with a scale app that helps them to weigh the drugs they are encouraged to sell in hopes they get busted for the prison labor system for a long long time of free labor – corporate windfall? So how much $ are you willing to invest to get a neighborhood of kids hooked on drugs and how much do you pay the police to sweep through and put them all in jail?
Our kids already are exploited underpaid child laborers if they are selling drugs.
Yeah, you tell ‘em zizi. I guess Newt really does have a heart of darkness….
This is an excellent response, I’m going to share it. The GOP truly is clueless.
I appreciate that you sat down, and took the time to share your thoughts with the world. However, and I don’t mean to be rude because on a whole I agree with you, I feel the correct word for this kind of ignorance is classist. I am a poor, white, single mother of a disabled child. My first and foremost job in this world is the care, and welfare of my child. No I don’t get paid for this, and therefore it’s not considered a “job” even though coordinating appointments, travel time, therapies, home exercises, ect take up absolutely all of my waking time. I suppose by Newt’s standards he would call me lazy, but I put in more hours a day than most of the working population I know. I fear our current government is completely out of touch with the majority of the people that it’s meant to serve, and perhaps they forget from time to time that it’s “We the people” they have to thank for their positions.
What a bunch of crap. So many of you haven’t a clue about what Newt was talking about. All of you that are exceptions to the rule forget you can’t be included in what Newt was talking about. Blaming Bush and Chaney for what has happen to our economy is so lame. What killed our ecomony started in 1977 and got a boost in 1997. Forcing banks to make home loans to people that the banks knew couldn’t make the payments is what collapsed our economy. Jimmy Carter called it the Community Reinvestment Act and Clinton gave it the boost needed to collapse our economy. Someone has to pay when those loans collapse and now Obama wants to continue the program that has damaged our economy so bad. Government needs to stay out of business.
Fox n fiends has got their money’s worth in the brainwashing of simpletons like roll high
OMG!- Carter and Clinton??? (REALLY?) I believe one of the only times in recent history where the USA had a National Surplus was during the Clinton Era and also 8 years of peace!!!! (Warmonger!)
didn’t Newt write contract to america that got budget surplus –
Surplus? We didnt have a surplus under Clinton. He ran deficits every year…….look it up. The last years PROJECTIONS showed a surplus, BUT, the dot com bubble burst and those PROJECTIONS never materialized.
Wow, you seem to have all the answers. You should run for Preisdent.
I love it! Oh you republicans….you’re so silly. I guess it wasn’t enough to play the blame game and point fingers at just Obama…now you want to say that pretty much all the democratic presidents in the least 30 years are collectively to blame for the current economy? Really? Thats so ridiculous and predictable…lets just blame them for the creation of mullets and chinese drywall while we are at it…anything else you want to add to the list? Lindsay Lohan? Tornados…
Give it up and stop trying to manipulate the deeper truths about how corrupt the Republicans really are.
AGREED!
Buddy, I have terrible news for you. No matter how hard you pull on your boot straps you’re not likely to be rich. The game is rigged against you and you’re breaking your neck to stand up for the people who are making it impossible for you to ever live a decent life.
like! well said!
“Forcing banks to make home loans to people that the banks knew couldn’t make the payments is what collapsed our economy” I hardly think the banks were forced. There is much more criminality going around in this situation – it is much more complex than you write – and I would NEVER make that synopsis of it. Don’t you remember the pressure on people to purchase a home? Didn’t you catch how they were forcefully qualified, often without their knowledge? Ever heard of padding the mortgages? It was a financial win for a lot of people who have come to accept the American way of doing business – and those of us who do not accept the American way of doing business were called all kinds of reactionary names, ridiculed and even accused of being racist or unpatriotic or any other emo term they could attach to our non-compliance. It seemed that EVERYBODY was involved with making this happen – and there was most definitely a patriotism attached to it.
When we were house shopping ten years ago the banks wanted to give us $500K to buy a house. Half a million dollars! That was insane. Nevertheless we declined and got a way smaller loan for a house that we love and will be paid of in ten years.
… uhh …. except “Forcing banks to make home loans to people … ” … is a crock crap, roll high …. let along ” … that the banks knew couldn’t make the payments is what collapsed our economy.”
The CRA did not “force banks” to do anything. The CRA said iF … banks wanted to accept Federal Funds being parked in their vaults (after all, the Government needs to store its cash somewhere), you as a bank get to count those funds as part of your capitalization requirements. In return, the bank must loan a percentage money locally.
No where is is stated the deal must be accepted; the banks always have the option to refuse the near-zero interest money (from which they can loan it at at rates up to 30% as in credit card). No where is is stated loans must be given to folks who can’t pay it.
With all due respect, I say to you and many others: A little less Carte Blanche acceptance of Hate Radio Rhetoric would be good for the country.
Redlining lives! Friends of Newt make their profits marginalizing those on low income with late fees and excessive “deposits” for basic needs – utilities and city services – sewage/water because with all their advanced technology they simply cannot adapt their bill cycle for when people get their checks – oh no no! It is much better to call us all chronic late payers and make increased risk so they can charge us more for electricity and water. Class warfare is what it is.
And Newt, why don’t you take the employers to task, you know, the ones who force employees to rotate shifts constantly and with no notice so any parents of small children cannot find childcare timely? And hello? How about all the employers who don’t allow an employee to get in the habit of full-time except for once per quarter for one week they get full-time just so they don’t qualify for the food-stamps they need since it takes a whole months wage just to make rent?
And Newt, I watched you the other day state that making an individual mandate to pay for healthcare violates the Constitution therefore you no longer support it. Duh . . . doesn’t every state in the nation enforce an individual mandate to purchase auto insurance? Glib opportunist aren’t you Newt? I don’t support the mandate for health insurance – because too many people would work all month just to pay the insurance and have absolutely zero dollars for necessities like food and rent. And I think that recognition is the truth of why you no longer support it, which tells me that you know it is untenable but also that you have no intention of bettering the work environment, creating jobs, creating sustainable wage jobs, none of the things that would make it possible for us to pay for our healthcare.
I still don’t hear the candidates for the GOP talking about how they will 100% sure create jobs for US citizens. And we don’t want joke jobs anymore either. No more dumbed down jobs. No more having to go into a lifetime of debt slavery in order to have a career. Re-institute career paths, ways for people to learn on the job and grow a career while working – not this having to move on to another workplace for more of the same shafting whilst losing all the benefits we accrued. We are tired of being considered cogs in a wheel, interchangeable moving parts, working our asses off and being thrown away, every developed nation in the world seems to have more rights for workers now than US. GOP candidates have given us no hope for change. Personally I have no use for the O’Bummer either. Hardliners like to say the American people get what we deserve because we vote for it. HUH? Like what choices do we really have? Voting for the lesser of two evils is still evil.
There is much about Newt that has not even come up for discussion yet, perhaps because so many have not read his books? Or people are still evaluating the full meaning of Citizens United? Or hard working parents simply do not have time to even know? So what I really want to know is that corporations who now have the same rights as human beings – when that corporation makes a drone, perhaps a walking hearing talking one, does that drone have the human rights of the corporation conferred on it? Is this a future that Newt has wrought us, bought for us? I have posed this question numerous places and nobody with means has bit yet. I think it is highly valid question and needs to be answered. I find it quite entertaining in a way that the Christian right, who cherishes human life more and better than anyone else on the planet according to them, has brought us this potential crisis in their zeal to win at all costs.
‘Also, the mashed potatoes line is only a joke. I am a stand up comic and I leave a little humor in everything I touch. Consider it a little mental palate cleanser to remove the dirty taste of Newt in your minds!’
I personally want to thank you for that great chuckle I got from your P.S. to Newt. I grew up in the 80′s, saw the late 80′s produce the early 90′s you spoke about from a safe well to do white neighborhood and just want you to know that not all of us are ignorant pieces of garbage like the hateful words you heard come out of Newt’s mouth. I do sadly admit that I do hear that kind of garbage way too often and that is the primary reason that I left this area at my first chance by joining the Army at 17 and have seriously regretted every time that I’ve had to return.
Everything you said was dead on and I’m 1000% in agreement with it. I’m white, grew up ‘well to do’, and I was impressed with your passion and how well worded, even restraining yourself, what you wrote was. I’ve said many of the same things but I don’t quite have the experience to express it so eloquently.
Again thank you for the laugh!
David Wiglesworth
P.S. He really does look like mashed potatoes poured into a suit though. That or the pilsbury dough boy if the dough boy was made of sour dough!
Why is it always “the black community” I assumed colour was just that, colour. As it is important to remember ones culture, you can not go on a rampage claiming your not treated as an equal, when clearly you don’t see yourself as one (this goes to the white people on here too) when you end your notes with what colour your skin is.
Personally what does it matter if your purple? Get over it, the issue has nothing to do with the colour of your skin now does it?
The united states is going to collaspe on itself because you were the idiots that elected obama and bush into power.
No, it’ll collapse because people like you are so ignorant that you don’t know the difference between your and you’re and when to use which. Give me a break. Color matters very much to the GOP and the rich, white people its leadership is made up of. If it didn’t, Mr. Gingrich wouldn’t have made a point of specifying that he was talking about people of color. “Poor” is always code for black in GOP-speak, and if you’ve never been poor, I have to tell you that it’s easier to be white and poor in America than black or brown-skinned.
BadNews, Jen: the “Rich ‘White’ People” who control the Republicrat Party are the same “Rich ‘White’ People” who control the Demican Party. They have names: Soros, Bloomberg, Blankfein, Summers, Bernanke, Fuld, Paulson, the Rothschild/Warburg Bank, a.k.a. the Federal Reserve, and so on & on. Not “white”, though: Jews. The selfsame who hooked and control black Americans via the Welfare/Illfare State, crime lobby legal system, and drug culture. You are so used. And you still don’t get it.
Someone just had to go and drag the old anti-Semitism into the ring….. real classy buddy.
I know rich white people and rich black people who have worked together through hard times to make their money sometimes taking such risk as to almost losing everything so they can give their families a better lifestyle color never played a role in their decision to break the bonds of havinv an employer to rely on. The opportunity to be financially independent is available to all Americans of any color some people may have an easier lifestyle growing up but it’s the learned principles of success that most colleges no longer teach that will bring you success in whatever you do.
I believe that the author’s major point is that Newt is stereotyping low income Americans as “lazy” because they live in a poor area…regardless of race. Statistically minorities make up the bulk of those in the low income category…you might want to look that up. But you probably don’t know these things because I have a sneaky feeling that you aren’t even from the US. If you read the post, the author mentioned black, brown, and white low income Americans several times…my primary question is why do you care about the GOP canidates…you are obviously not an American due to your spelling of “colour” and the “The united states is going to collaspe on itself because you were the idiots that elected obama and bush into power” comment. Obviously you are some angry person from another country that just hates the US out of principle.
“
Strangely we’re not deterred by morons!
…Proving once again that Gingrich has no ‘habits’ of telling the truth, thinking like a human being with a pulse, or earning an honest paycheck. I’ll bet he even thinks he has a soul!
This is what comes from financial INBREEDING! If you missed the fall of the Roman Empire, here it is, streaming and in HD!
THESE are the lies people have been acting on for far too long! This is the kind of garbage that have people NIMBYing themselves out of house and home, handing over their civil liberties and selling out to the corporate plantation, bringing on the sharecropper’s economy we’ve got going on now!
If anyone needs to scrub a toilet, it’s this disgusting sack of mostly water.
This is a truly SICK individual (It’s true! They’ve done studies).
Off to the lunar mining colony with him and all of his cronies. This WORLD has no place for his kind, and if anyone is ‘poor’ in this scenario, it’s NOT people with no money, it’s this morally bankrupt windbag, et al. I don’t really care where he goes as long as he steps AWAY from the Oval Office. I wouldn’t be surprised if he burst into flames upon entry…or a splash of holy water.
The people know the truth, it’s too late for this old fool. TRUE power is in the ability to UPLIFT another and this insane task of monopolizing the infinite will result in yet another EPIC FAIL!!
That said, bring on the paradigm shift and let’s start living our TRUE purpose.
It’s a shame we have to bother wasting all that money on campaigns when the obvious choice is clear.
Disabled Hyphenated-American veteran for OBAMA 2012….
Michelle Obama for Supreme Court or POTUS 2016
(She seems to be in Amazon training with all the jumping jacks)
“This is a truly SICK individual (It’s true! They’ve done studies)”
Here is good link to recent expose’ on the slimy opportunists’ true state of mind and heart.
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/the_big_idea/2011/12/is_newt_gingrich_nuts_consider_the_symptoms_.html
Your updates, to me, aren’t necessary. You’ve no need to defend your comments or opinions, as you’re 100% right. I grew up in an extremely poor white family in Canada, had nothing, watched my parents kill themselves for the meager amount that we had, and felt (still feel) impoverished and let down by the ignorance of my government and yours.
We strive for something more. Always. That’s what we do. You sir, are within your rights as a human being to want that little bit more to be fair.
I’m behind you 100%
youre absolutely right. Thank you very much for reading and for your comment!
Dear Mr. Travon Free,
I would be delighted to work on your campaign for the Office of President of the United States of America. You make a lot more sense than any of the other candidates and are NOT a career politician (appealing to the Tea Party folks). Please consider running!
A white, middle aged mom, raised in a union household by very prejudicial parents.
Thank you for writing this.
Isn’t it funny how white people like to tell people of color, when they can and can not “pull the race card”. Oh so you create racism and white supremacy and then you get to choose when we get to point out racism. News flash, racism is not a game to be played. It’s a real, measurable occurrence, and it’s not the little acts of discrimination that white people feel time to time and cry about.
I repeat…racism is measurable. There is plenty of social indicators of the effects of racism and how it manifests in our society. Seems to me that some white people are scared that their majority is steadily dwindling…and they can’t keep running from the fact that they tried to nearly destroy all people of color they’ve ever came into contact with.
There is no such thing as reverse racism, because their is no brown majority systematically oppressing white people. There is however a white (I would argue minority) systematically oppressing people of color, not just in the US either, but all over the world.
You know what the worst thing is? White people get behind their computers and complain and make real racist comments, then they cry in public about how they’re not racist. They’re also complicit in racism because they hardly speak up when other white people exhibit racist behavior.
No white person or any person for that matter can tell me when I can and when I cannot identify white racism. Newt is a fool, as are most people who believe that poverty and racism are separate and unrelated.
BTW I disagree with the author about Obama. It has nothing to do with the president or any of these fake politicians, it has to do with the structure of our government and the way the founding fathers set up government to keep an elitist, white male, property and wealth owning class in power. The whole shit needs to be dismantled. But thank you for your depth and insight!
I would like racism to measurable, quantifiable, especially for use in workplace/school discrimination but I have not found reliable way to evaluate and prove. Unfortunately for the rest of your belief system I have to state that I do not agree and I am sad that so many still believe this. Anybody who is the minority where they live or spend most of their waking hours, can be target of discrimination. People are human and flawed regardless of whether or not they have been indoctrinated. As a mixed race person I am not always sure of the cause of what I am receiving whereas my fully qualified spouse has no doubts and is always very clear if it is racial, sexual, inferiority and so on. In this day and age I see so-called rational adults are willing to accept or ostracize a child’s playmate based on the skin color of the parent(s) – and I am not talking “white” adults either. Most whites that I meet are almost embarassingly and uncomfortably friendly and accepting. It is the people of colour who seem to chronicly behave racist against “other.”
“No white person or any person for that matter can tell me when I can and when I cannot identify white racism.” If there is no such thing as reverse racism and this is an act that can only be attributed to white people then why do you need to use the adjective? If we are to develop effective and true laws, rules and safeguards we must have a community acceptable way of determining which behaviors are racist and which have some other cause. Ideally, the lone wolf who screams “racism!” will remain alone unless we can as a community agree, not through mob rule but through meeting objective qualifying criteria that the incident deserves the appellation. Sorry but some people are so stuck on the concept that all they ever see is racism.
Especially in the difficult times we face economically as a nation I think that the calls for helping this community or that to the exclusion of others is detrimental, a sideshow, a distraction for diversionary purposes – divide and conquer and since this issue is so painful it is useful to those who profit from poverty. This is kind of like the private prison issue being co-opted by those who support civil rights for illegal aliens. The corporations who benefit from the cheap/free labor provided through the prison system really could care less where the free labor was born. Likewise some profit most when we are fighting amongst ourselves over these things rather than realize the suffering they perpetrate does not know racial boundaries.
I believe the argument often made is that Newt isn’t a racist because all people who are poor aren’t black; there are plenty of poor white people too. Of course, this means that the argument these posters are making is that Newt isn’t racist because he trashes the white poor just as completely as he does for the poor of color. This actually has a kernel of truth in it, but it doesn’t change the fact that Gingrich simultaneously has a disdain for those without means AND pushes forth policy that will keep them from any opportunity to gain those means. Newsflash: Perhaps cutting taxes on the super rich COULD create jobs. The problem is that they’ve had a decade of ridiculous tax breaks, and they haven’t created jobs. He’s arguing theory (and potentially correct theory) and I’m arguing results.
“Perhaps cutting taxes on the super rich COULD create jobs. The problem is that they’ve had a decade of ridiculous tax breaks, and they haven’t created jobs. He’s arguing theory (and potentially correct theory) and I’m arguing results.”
Agreed. And most of us working fools are too tired and time deprived to sort through the opinion and commentary to be informed voters and the slimy one, the master of glib chameleon, is masterfully creating soundbites that will appeal to uninformed voters, which, sad to say, is most of us, me included.
ROCK ON SIR ! May your truth serve as a warning to all the elitist bigots out there that we will not be silent anymore !
From a low income gay white female
Nice article. Well written. Out with Newt who’s never said or done anything even remotely productive.
You definitely do not speak for me…
dear Lisa,
It would be more interesting and enlightening if you would have stated how or why the author does not represent your own concerns or problems. First of all, do you consider yourself part of the demographic from which the author came, and about which Mr. Gingrich is so derisive ?
It’s one thing if you disgaree with the author, but then I want to know what your defense of Newt is (specifically, the speech he gave to which the author is “responding”). By merely stating “you do not speak for me”, it does automatically imply that you are on the other side….which I know well that assumpstions are dangerous and often wrong, so hence why I am asking you – nicely.
thank you, or email me at s j o e k o o l 9 6 @ m s n . c o m (no spaces).
~ Scott T. Shier
when democrats speak of “the urban poor” they don’t mean black or brown people, apparently.
you see, it’s not that gingrich wasn’t discussing the “permanent black underclass” (a term coined not by racisty republicans but by the carter-era left), it’s that he’s not allowed to discuss “the urban poor” because he’s from the no-good party we’re not supposed to cut any slack for.
this post is typical of the type of canned outrage that has been manufactured for this suggestion of his. what gingrich is proposing is work-study. work-study programs don’t typically inspire genuine shrieks of moral shock, so we are redirected to observe the apparent moral crime committed when gingrich’s proposal leverages the “tragedy of the commons” against some of the social factors which perpetuate a “permanent black underclass”.
at that point we are alerted that THERE IS NO CRISIS OF URBAN POVERTY, YOU RACIST JERK!
or at least none that anyone to the right of bernie sanders is allowed to address. when a tree falls in the woods and progressives are unwilling to hear it, neither the tree nor the whole goddamn forest even exist. concomitantly, when progressives want to talk about “the permanent crisis of the urban black underclass”, THERE ABSOLUTELY IS A CRISIS OF URBAN POVERTY, YOU RACIST JERK! and there’s only one way to interpret it – progressives’. your solutions had better consist of providing employment opportunities for white girls recently graduated from state universities to use grant money to either:
a) …establish a cooperative satellite program where “urban” youths recite poetry and perform short theater pieces they’ve written about their experience, or…
b) …establish a cooperative satellite program which teaches “urban” youths the global significance of micro-farming in abandoned lots.
…or else you can shut up about it.
the rule has a significant caveat in that it applies to even notions which lie in the domain of conservative ideology; that is, discussion of cultural and behavioral factors in the perpetuation of stagnant poverty is permissible for progressives, regardless of their “social situatedness”, while such topics simultaneously lie beyond the pale where things-no-decent-person-thinks lurk when discussed by a conservative; even if that conservative happens to be black and/or grew up in the paradigm of urban poverty.
in considering whether you should base your preordained anti-gingrich hysterics on the notion that gingrich is speaking union-busting garbage made of racist stereotypes with no correspondence to reality, consider these:
a) …a public school janitor enjoys a higher starting pay than a public school teacher.
b) …though of course most people in poor, urban areas seek and hold employment, there is a stable population of 4% of black americans who are permanently unemployed ….
c) … before, after and throughout the last forty years; recession in, recession out,…
d) …who comprise the 37% of black americans receiving welfare benefits, making blacks six times as likely as whites and more than twice as likely as latinos to receive welfare benefits.
there was a time when the it wasn’t racist to acknowledge those figures; when the “rightwing” arguments against welfare dependency were black arguments. unfortunately what we see is that progressives place the interests of public sector employees above their own because party power politics demand it.
btw, whose goose did you think you were cooking by pointing out that paris hilton is a disgraceful hog who is utterly undeserving of the wealth she enjoys? what was that supposed to be corollary to? some imaginary conservative conceit that casts blowjob-distributing debutantes as social role models? or was it supposed to suggest something to the effect that “you can’t judge we, the 99%, because paris hilton is a skank”?
I’m sorry, I just HAVE to respond to this! First of all, your reply is so dis-jointed as to be almost non-sensical. Second, please PLEASE base some of your rhetoric on FACT and not crap you “heard” from some “expert” like Limbaugh! I’m guessing, (I said guessing, I could be wrong), that you are basing the whole janitors starting salary being more than a teacher comment on the MSNBC story about the bronx school. Well, give me a break. If you really believe that a janitor, with the job qualifications being a G.E.D. , passing a piss test and no felony convictions, can start at $80,000 a year……I got a bridge for sale that you will LOVE!!!! To put that in perspective, here is just one example of what the salaries of a school district look like. Even the HEAD custodians don’t make $40,000 a year.
http://www.wral.com/news/public_records/page/1281122/
Next let’s go to your “37% of Blacks are on welfare” comment. The fact is that 37% of welfare recipients are African American. 48.2% of welfare recipients are white. Does that mean that 48.2% of whites are on welfare? NO!!!! The fact is that about 25% of African American families are on some form of assistance, they are also at 56% of the poverty line meaning the make about $9300 a year. Public assistance is helping to keep their children from starving in a country where that just shouldn’t happen. Here’s another link for you.
http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=193
I’m NOT saying that all your ideas are completely off base. What I am saying is that you should check your facts before publishing them and you should also realize that too much right wing talk radio, much like meth, will rot your mind!
chris,
thank you for pointing out that error. we are certainly looking at the same stats, but i misstated them when i said “37% of black americans receiving welfare benefits”. it would have been correct to say “37% of welfare recipients who are black”. however, the comparisons i made are derived from those same tables.
one of popular forms responses to gingrich’s proposal have taken has been for people to launch their own personal and anecdotal protests: “well, i’m black and i grew up poor in the inner city and my mom worked two jobs!” nobody doubts this is the case for most people who have decided to feel as if they were specifically targeted by gingrich’s comments for whatever reason. such responses, however, obfuscate the fact that the paradigm gingrich described is real.
the other dimension to this canned outrage (which i could say originates from watching too much maddow, durr hurr) is based on hysterical exaggeration. gingrich proposed high school work-study programs. this becomes translated to “gingrich wants to fire all the janitors and force black children to quit their studies to scrub feces from toilets because that’s all he thinks black people are good for!” it’s hard to take seriously, frankly.
jummy, you have so nailed it. Thanks for your attempt to enlighten Mr Free and the lemmings on the Left. Still, I doubt that they see their hypocricy or demagoguery on this issue. I guess, in their world, it is better to try to tear down people like Newt who are trying to help since they know that their guy is devoid of intellect, character, or even concern about black America. Obama’s got his as he flies around the world playing on golf courses (that would generally never allow an “urban poor” person anywhere close to their clubhouse, much less out on the course), to worry about poor people.
Oh my God Jummy verbose nonsense. I so sick of reading abstract stats pulled out of rear ends that only work to complicate something so simple. Newt made a horrible generalization that the poor are poor because they have no work ethic and went further by suggesting that and the SOLUTION!!! is not education based but a rather poorly conceived janitorial program what would do little to solve anything.
What makes his statement racist… is that the generalization suggest that only certain children, in a certain class need to learn about work ethic. I heard nothing about private school kids staying behind to clean toilets… probably because they are at home working on their college educations or lets be honest…smoking weed.
Jummy keep it simple……
actually, the stats i cited were pulled from the house joint economic committee, chaired by congresswoman malloney of new york (d), and i thought they shed some clarity where there has so far been only a human fog of pantomimed hysterics. did it hurt your eyes?
the paradigm of offering, in some cases requiring students to take up maintenance and administrative duties as part of their character development is not uncommon in private institutions. the ironic thing is that it is another eeeevil rightwing scheme to open private institutions to poor families with vouchers and tax credits which progressives oppose vociferously; again, because they care less about the social needs of poor people than they do about keeping public employee muscle flexing for them.
Didn’t hurt my eyes – loved it – but I still can’t stand Newt. You make me laugh and your points are good and you illuminate the great divide in case anybody still hadn’t caught on. However, after decades of work, having everything my family worked for stolen from us legally in the courts by some real creeps aided by Bachman in her former job types I often think back to grade school history where we were taught that Communism is so disincentivizing – why be a doctor when you will only make the same as the janitor logic as we were taught then. But honestly, several lifetimes of work and now nothing to show for it is also de-incentivizing. The result of both systems has been the same. When you are poor & black there are times when your cumulative life experience tells you that there just is no use in bothering. It has the same dis-incentivizing result. Personally I am ruined. I really do not know what to tell my children. The things that I was taught were lies. I worked hard and got nothing for it. I am old, sick and PISSED OFF!
Racism is not interchangeable term with class warfare (for other poster) but they are both demoralizing and de-incentivizing. Failure to recognize this does make one racist through ignorance?
sarum,
i think you’re right, and i didn’t want to let your comment pass with no one responding to it.
one of the most galling things i’ve witnessed over the past year has been the utter hypocrisy shown by mainstream journalists and politicos in how they interpreted and portrayed the tea party movement versus their interpretation and portrayal of the #occupy movement. when the former was in the streets, populist demonstrations were a worrying manifestation of a nascent terrorist plague whose agenda could not be rationalized because there was no rational basis for political or social discontent in the obama era. dissent suddenly became the highest form of patriotism again, and protests the manifestation of an organic assembly of authentic people with beautiful souls and genuine concerns.
the fact of the matter is that they are each in equal measure phony and authentic. in one dimension, the TPM is only the conservative base of the gop and #OWS is only the progressive base of the dnc and so are in a mutual handshake with the hierarchies they ostensibly oppose. on the other dimension, however, they are speaking to ideologically bounded halves of a single fact. everybody’s seen the venn diagram which reconciles the two movements as sharing a concern about the confluence of government and private power. our entire society has developed into a machine which reduces by increment the quality of life and the range of expectations for the average citizen and collects the reducing fruits as high among the hierarchy as possible to sustain cooperation in the scheme.
the solutions which are being withheld from us lie between what a red flag-waving occupier would deride as “reformist” and a gadsden flag-waving tea partier would
deride it as “socialist”. simple, obvious stuff like very high tariffs on the importation of manufactured goods; and commiserate cultural attitude toward prosperity which regards a toaster as a forty dollar item which gets the kitchen table toolbox treatment when it breaks rather than a ten dollar item which gets thrown out.
the policies which would create the balance between the quality of life we expect from society and equity individuals’ contributions to the same elude us because of the misdirection of passions exemplified by the “gingrich wants black children to scrub his toilet” meme exercised in this blog. this phony outrage serves the electoral priorities of the dnc, not economic justice.
Interpret & portray – key words. How I would dearly love an old fashioned news station that just wham bam gave me the facts ma’am! Their helpfulness is what is keeping us dumb and malleable.
Where can I read more of you? Do you have a blog?
i appreciate the appreciation. i have a blog at wristaction.blogspot.com, but it’s pretty boring stuff unless you share my interest in charles johnson’s dishonesty.
Jummy this is the problem with our “democracy”. The whole system is too wrapped up in nonsense stats and polls and congressional committees,… recommendations that don’t fix anything and when anything actually gets drafted or proposed that actually might start to help people that need help, it gets squashed by who ever has enough money to squash it, With the use of meaningless, MEANINGLESS stats, that do nothing but cloud important issues.
What insight did your stats provide? how did they clarify anything? Lets go through them one by one shall we…?
a) …a public school janitor enjoys a higher starting pay than a public school teacher.
does that justify Newts Statements? Does that mean we should just streamline “inner city” kids into janitorial jobs and call it “character building” instead of focusing on a higher standard of education, by I dunno, paying teachers more than Janitors!?
Does the fact that a janitor starts out earning more than a teacher somehow make it ok to make such gross generalizations about american children and their diligence, their sense of self worth and that of their parents?
Because you can wrap that stat into a nice presentable unit of information does that mean, you’ve accurately presented the truth about an entire class of Americans?
Ofcourse not because its a useless piece of information that has nothing to do with the issue….. which is that the potential next president of the United States has no good ideas on how to help poor people nor does he know much about them!
THREE WORDS: APARTHEID, BANTU EDUCATION…look it up.
Stat 2
b)” …though of course most people in poor, urban areas seek and hold employment, there is a stable population of 4% of black americans who are permanently unemployed ”
Again…. how does this stat relate to the social impact of what Newt said? How does that stat engage a young person who’s view is that well id rather not work if my presidents suggestion for improving my life doesn’t involve improving my school and my chances of succeeding in college but rather getting me to do the same dead end type job that has my parents and myself in the same desperate situation as my grand parents and my great grand parents and their parents before them?
Even if I decided to play ball and try this program How does Newts suggestion help me run a janitorial business should I see the gap and want to take it!? I cant because my literacy levels are still shocking because the public school I am now cleaning is still not teaching me anything.
How does Newts statement work toward solving the problem of 4% of black Americans being permanently unemployed? It doesn’t.
d) “…who comprise the 37% of black Americans receiving welfare benefits, making blacks six times as likely as whites and more than twice as likely as latinos to receive welfare benefits.”
Again how does Newt’s suggested program of how did you phrase it…?, “maintenance and administrative duties as part of their character development” help in anyway with that problem?
You are so busy quoting stats that you dont even break down the context of your own statements for example ..”paradigm of offering, in some cases requiring students to take up maintenance and administrative duties as part of their character development is not uncommon in private institutions.”
Of course their not uncommon in private institutions because such programs are used in a manner that is actually productive to the development of the students..vis-a-vis in the context of “character development”…. they are not offered as possible solutions for long term employment or as a solution to help aid the devastating socio-economic setbacks that plague their life at home and their community…
The private school child scrubs the toilet and goes home to fill out a college application having learnt a valuable lesson for their future EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES!
Uncle Newt is “preparing” young inner city kids to have a solid work ethic for what jobs exactly…….? right the exact same jobs that are being used to “build their character”… a life time of charater building with no achievement or tangible opportunity…. its a fake solution…. to a massive problem.
Lastly, your statement that “another eeeevil rightwing scheme to open private institutions to poor families with vouchers and tax credits which progressives oppose vociferously;”
wow thats that nonsense “trickle down mentality” that is again part of the problem not the solution. You are quick to type up meaningless stats about welfare recipients, but instead of offering solutions that fix inner city schools and communities…your solution is even more welfare in the form of educational vouchers…only available to a limited amount of inner city students lucky enough to get them…..you are far too kind.
Hide behind stats all you want, but one day you must answer to the people, because they unlike your stats they are real.
Hate to burst your bubble, Jimmy, but inner city school kids are not going to pay for the tuition at the school you linked with vouchers and tax credits. Here is what the website says:
“Tuition at Midland for the 2011-12 school year is $38,600, payable in three installments. The tuition costs are due fully by July 1 or, at a cost of 2.5% of tuition charged, in halves by July 1 and November 1. To cover extra costs associated with school life, parents/guardians are required to provide the school with a $700 deposit and an active credit card number for students to use in the school store. This will cover the costs of everything from books to personal items to sporting equipment, and the families will be billed directly. Additionally, families are responsible for providing their children with spending money. An account will be set up in the Student Bank.”
And yes I know that they provide financial aid – and of course a poor kid in Baltimore is going to be able to figure out how to get that aid to attend this private boarding prep school in rural California.
i think you’re avoiding the point.
without getting into a debate about school choice (many progressives, including the president, have actually warmed to the idea in recent years), there are very expensive, very elite private schools out in the countryside, and there are very affordable private schools which have served working and middle class families for generations in the cities. vouchers are proposed to facilitate access to the latter. progressives oppose that because the unions tell them to and because the idea that a student might pass a crucifix on the way to PE is unacceptable to them, regardless of whether the student or the parent cares about it.
the context in which i pointed to one of the very expensive, very elite schools in the countryside was in response to the unqualified assertion, voiced repeatedly throughout this thread and elsewhere, that it is an unspoken corollary to the idea that children in environments marked by multi-generational welfare dependency aught to be exposed to work habits as part of their schooling, that the wealthy and white would never impose similar indignities upon their own progeny.
an example of a very expensive, very elite private school in the countryside which requires its students to scrub toilets and push lawnmowers around campus as a method of character development was not hard to come by.
I think you’re avoiding the point or maybe just refusing to acknowledge it.
Its not an exercise in finding “wealthy” “white” schools who have similar character building activities as part of their curriculum to serve as conclusive proof that Newt’s statements are not grossly insensitive !
The point is determining whether it is a valid or even reasonable solution to the problem of unemployment facing inner city communities ? so bravo for being able to argue that “white” schools do the same thing so it must be ok and it is therefore clearly not racist… however it is clear that the suggestion is nothing more than a band aid over a deep axe wound and to even suggest it as a remedy shows that it is Gingrich’s opinion that the people injured by this problem are not important enough to warrant a solution that doesn’t lump them all into 1 category..people who are ” lazy and lacking work ethic” whos only other career choices are and I quote ” pimps , prostitutes and drug dealers” ( an actual Gingrich quote). a generalization that makes him …. racist / or just an asshole either, way he’s you candidate so enjoy!!!
that’s the thing. he’s not even my candidate, yet this horseshit meme is so cheap, absurd and transparently phony, that i’m compelled to dispute it. i don’t think you realize that it’s that bad.
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Ladies and Gents we are at the crossroads, the same crossroads of 1960 only this time its more dangerious. In 1960 we were mostly blind to the world events and what politicans said. that cannot be the excuss today with the internet and instant news. In 1960 there was racial strife today its class strife and Class strife can tear this country apart just asked a older mainland Chinese resident. Or anybody from the former Eastern Block Countries. the Class War has come home and many do not know how to handle it. What the Pillsbury doughboy stated was inexcusable. He is truly out of touch with the majority of Americans just as the GOP is out of touch with Americans.
Lets be real hear it does not matter if its President Obama or President Peter Rabbit we the American people have to demand more from our leaders. they have been skating the last 30 -40 years DOING NOTHING and we let them do it. That is what the occupy movement was about to bring power to the people again just like the sixties… if we dont cut off big coorperations soon it will not matter they (Exxon,Moble, Bank of America, morgage companies) they will be our masters and we ALL will be their slaves. so right wing white people get off of it and smell the coffee because it means you too. Thank you so much for this insightful letter .. it truly made my day
A BLACK DISABLED WRITER, AUTHOR
To the BLACK DISABLED WRITER, AUTHOR ‘ET AL’
When you wake, when you understand and when you rise and smell the coffee, make sure it’s CAPULIN… then your analogy will be perfect as this is one of the first steps which needs to be taken by an awakened community…. select the top 10 products that are good for the consumer, good for the environment and good for the men and women who toil to produce them… AND support them to the best of your ability…. then, select the 10 worst representatives of products being produced at the expense of the consumers, the environment and the men and women who toil to produce them… AND do everything in your power to avoid them.
If everyone stayed home and did nothing else, the 1% reaping the benefit of your consumerism wouldn’t, and that will change the world. Drink better coffee, go about your life and avoid pepper spray, rubber bullets and clubs.
For all our relations!
bravo. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Sing to the tune of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”:
“You’re a mean one, Newt Gingrich. . .”
That was a nice letter to Newt. I hope he reads it. I, for one, am tired of hearing from the so called job creaters trying to justify their pillaging of America, ney the World. How do we stop this madness???
Start your own business.
Not a solution because starting your own business means you need capital to start the business. It also means that you need people to buy your goods or services. And, considering that the economy is currently shit and that means there are relatively few people to buy your goods and services, you will need enough capital to sustain you while people aren’t buying your goods and services.
And if you had enough capital to sustain you while you put money into your business, while simultaneously making zero income, then you probably wouldn’t need to start the business in the first place.
And if everyone is starting their own business, then most of their capital will go into the business, and not into spending money at other people’s businesses.
Unless, of course, you provide a good or service that everyone must have, no one can live without, and there isn’t a larger company, with better resources and more capital that’s already doing it.
JUST DROP THE BOMB……………………HA
WOW! Well said! As a single parent, I, too, juggled three jobs to raise my children. Today, they are products of a hard working environment from the many terrific role models who surrounded their lives while their father – Richard Giddens – still lived. Our three children have college degrees, and have great jobs. Kudos to you Trevon Free for your salient words…well said!!
Perfect response! Thank you for calling out this American Traitor.
Former republican, current independent here.
While I did not read into Newt’s comments as being directed towards any one ethnicity, I am not in your shoes nor do I share your experiences. When we hear a politician take such a blatantly one dimensional view in order to satisfy his or her platform, it is easy to internalize that and take it as an affront to your own. While I do not picture those he describes as black or brown, I do not believe you are wrong to have that view. Newt’s comments generalize all who live in poverty as lazy and unmotivated because he is ignorant. I do not mean that as an insult, but use the word for its true meaning. Newt has not grown up in a family who has lived under generational poverty. He has not lived in an area where the jobs are not available, and he has not had to balance late payments so no more that one utility is turned off at a time.
I have taught elementary school for twenty years. I have watched the change over the past several years from my students’ point of view as employment has gotten harder and harder to find. I know good families who do nothing but work, who still watch their sons and daughters head down the wrong path. I wonder if Newt has a plan for these parents working two and three jobs to keep their children out of trouble, and head them in the right direction when they can’t be home to spend the time with them. I have worked from the time I was 15, as have many of the parents of the children I teach. I had parents who allowed me a place to live while I worked to pay for my education. Many of the parents I work with did not. I had a step up they did not, and look up to many of them for the strength they show for not giving up.
I believe we have several problems that are causing most of the hurt feelings on both sides. We need social programs that provide that stepping stool for a mother raising her children as she tries to receive a better education. On the other hand, those social programs can and are being abused. When parents teach their children (of all races) how to use their EBT card to pay for what it allows while never once sitting with them to do their homework, it is easy to want to cut back those programs. I myself have met my students’ families at the store in the past, and seen them use food stamps to pay for cheese and milk, while paying for the second cart full of beer, etc… with cash.
I do not have a solution. I believe it lies somewhere in the realm of responsible social programs, education that is not underfunded and segregated (and yes, it still is), and bringing industry back to our cities. Yes, we do have some selfish one per centers, as well as some living in poverty who believe they are entitled to the American Dream without working for it. If we focus all our attention on them we will accomplish nothing. The rest of the population wants to work, raise families in safety, and not be treated like trash by their government.
Obama will not get my vote due to what I believe to be extreme fiscal irresponsibility, Newt will not get it because he is a self serving pile of dung who would step over a dying man to get a pat on the back from the GOP voters. Can someone please genetically create a candidate in a lab somewhere that I can support????
Watch a lot of Fox “news”, do ya?
WHAT A LOAD!
Where does this guy get off assuming Newt is reffering to black children? And the author of this editorial/ blog acts as though all poor children are success stories like him. They are not, you are the 1 in a 1000 acception. Newt is right with these facts and you are all trying to put words in his mouth that are not there. Look no one wants to oppress the poor, we just don’t want to chop our own leg off to help a crack addict walk. Look up statistics about impoverished families and crime rate, drug use, inability to hold a job etc. and I gurantee you will find the two tend to go hand in hand. You are not the only one in the world who has experience with poverty and the dynamics of a low income family. Many of us have at least seen it if not experienced it first hand. You have no place to pull the race card here or call the republican party ‘unqualified’. Obviously the media is going to do everything in their power to make the repub. candidates seem awful. They could make ghandi look bad if they wanted to. Just try not to act as if everything is so black and white when it’s really grey.
The media didn’t have to make him look awful, he did that all by himself.
“You are not the only one in the world who has experience with poverty and the dynamics of a low income family. Many of us have at least seen it”
Well if you’ve seen I guess that makes you an expert. Did your parents take a wrong turn and drive through the bad neighborhood once, you poor thing? Of course you want to help, as long as you don’t have to see or acnowledge the problem and it doesn’t affect your life in any way.
Ummm….We ALL have the “place” to call the Republican field unqualified. They are LUNATICS!!! Second, did you READ this post? The author does NOT assume that Newt was talking about black children. He said he is speaking from that as that is HIS experience. He talks about black brown AND white people. If you had bothered to read it you would have known that. Unfortunately, you probably do about as much due diligence when deciding for whom to vote. If you stopped letting other people TELL you who to vote for and did some research, you might know that Gingrich is a complete snake. The first Speaker of the House in HISTORY to be sanctioned for ethics violations, had to pay $300,000 to Congress for lying under oath, was RUN OUT OF OFFICE BY HIS OWN PARTY!!!!!! He spent $millions prosecuting Clinton for adultery while DOING THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME!!!! C’mon! You people are all about “values” and the “moral fiber” of this Christian Nation right?, Oh, I guess that’s only when it’s someone from the OTHER side!
I’ve seen some bad grammar but please learn how to use the English language. “You are the 1 in a 1000 acception”. The red line under “acception” didn’t alert you to the problem. It’s hard to take someone serious when they can’t correctly use a word, meaning you aren’t any type of EXCEPTION.
Why would acception be underlined in red? It’s a word. Now who’s the dumbass? I guess I’m now deemed unintelligent because I used the wrong word in a blog comment? Reasonable. And to the people above you i’m not a republican and im not voting for gingrich(as I can’t vote in primaries anyway) I’m a registered independent. This should be the last time I ever entangle myself with the blog community. Basically what we have here is a bunch of shit talking, mudslinging, immature liberals who think that because they own an opinion it’s right. Nothing stated in this blog is factual. I agree newt is not the best candidate, but this blog doesn’t touch on the correct reasons for why that is the case.
I’ve seen some bad grammar but please learn how to use the English language. “You are the 1 in a 1000 acception”. The red line under “acception” didn’t alert you to the problem. It’s hard to take someone serious when they can’t correctly use a word , meaning you aren’t any type of EXCEPTION.
Just saying. I mean I don’t really care. It’s a blog. But if you’re going to call yourself Grammar Owl and make fun of other people’s grammar, maybe you should have someone proof your writing first.
I’ve seen some bad grammar (insert comma for independent close that follows “but”) but please learn how to use the English language. “You are the 1 in a 1000 acception”. (punctuation belongs inside the quotes.) The red line under “acception” didn’t alert you to the problem. (insert question mark, remove period.) It’s hard to take someone serious when they can’t correctly use a word (use a word correctly), meaning you aren’t any type of EXCEPTION. (clarity—meaning you aren’t any type of exception? do you mean you aren’t exceptional? reword)
onlyspartanwomen said:
“I’ve seen some bad grammar but please learn how to use the English language. “You are the 1 in a 1000 acception”. The red line under “acception” didn’t alert you to the problem. It’s hard to take someone serious when they can’t correctly use a word , meaning you aren’t any type of EXCEPTION. Just saying. I mean I don’t really care. It’s a blog. But if you’re going to call yourself Grammar Owl and make fun of other people’s grammar, maybe you should have someone proof your writing first.”
Unfortunately for you, ‘Miss Spartan-Her Newtness’, there isn’t a “red-line” on your screen that tells you when to use an adverb nor one to warn you when you don’t have a complete sentence.
You realize I’m not the one claiming you need to use proper grammar on a blog, right? You do understand that Grammar Owl is the one who made the comment about the red line, and that I’m pointing out the five grammar mistakes that Grammar Owl made while actually critiquing Anon’s grammar, don’t you? Cause if you don’t, I realize it’s probably because the first time I posted it, the corrections didn’t show up, and I can see you overlooking the corrections beneath the post and being confused. But if you do realize that, then why, exactly, do you think I give a shit if I used an incomplete sentence IN A FUCKING BLOG COMMENT?
For the sake of clarity, just to give you the benefit of the doubt, Grammar Owl Said this:
“I’ve seen some bad grammar but please learn how to use the English language. “You are the 1 in a 1000 acception”. The red line under “acception” didn’t alert you to the problem. It’s hard to take someone serious when they can’t correctly use a word , meaning you aren’t any type of EXCEPTION.”
My commentary on that was this:
“I’ve seen some bad grammar (insert comma for independent close that follows “but”) but please learn how to use the English language. “You are the 1 in a 1000 acception”. (punctuation belongs inside the quotes.) The red line under “acception” didn’t alert you to the problem. (insert question mark, remove period.) It’s hard to take someone serious when they can’t correctly use a word (use a word correctly), meaning you aren’t any type of EXCEPTION. (clarity—meaning you aren’t any type of exception? do you mean you aren’t exceptional? reword)”
Just saying. I mean I don’t really care. It’s a blog. But if you’re going to call yourself Grammar Owl and make fun of other people’s grammar, maybe you should have someone proof your writing first.
…
(I agree. It’s pretty atrocious for someone who calls himself Grammar Owl. But I’m guessing you’re not going to tell him that now that you know he’s on YOUR team).
No where in any of these comments would a red line have appeared. Acception is a fucking word. Admitted not the right word for the sentence but it is a correct fucking word. You know the argument is over when people start arguing abstract irrelevant details. All Spartan was trying to do was point out the hippocracy displayed by GrammarOwl. Get YOUR shit straight before you criticize. It’s amazing that spartan had to post about 6 comments and I still get the feeling that none of you know what she’s talking about.
Anon you’re back! I was afraid the mudslingers scared you away! The blog community definitely needs more people who actually want to exchange points of view and not just insult people who don’t agree with them and get a pat on the back from those who already do. There are folks on both sides of the isle who are here for a sincere dialogue. You just have to get past everybody else to find them. Please don’t let the bullshit run you off!
Damn it! Aisle! Where’s that red line when you need it? lol.
I’m not sure how Newt plans on paying those poor kids cleaning toilets in school since he claims he will cut education funding if elected. Anyway…well stated blog…THANKS!!
In fact, Newt made a point of saying that one advantage of his plan was that kids wouldn’t have to be paid much, not like those high-roller janitors we have nowadays.
Some of their parents, surely.
Travon,
Broad generalizations such as Newt’s are always dangerous. However, I have a couple questions for you. Would you consider yourself an exception? Looking back on your friends and neighbors growing up, how many of them went to college or simply made a better life for themselves?
More importantly, how did you do it? How did you break the cycle? How can we (the USA) use your experience to change that of others?
There are very, very poor areas in the USA, as we are all aware. I don’t know the exact numbers but I’m assuming the majority is non-white. If it makes me a racist to say that we need to help create change in these areas so be it.
At the risk of being lambasted for “defending” Newt, if it isn’t a lack of work ethic, what is it? Let’s define the problem and move on from there.
Mathematically speaking, there are more poor white people and white people on welfare than there are minorities in the same boat. And if it isn’t a lack of work ethic, maybe you should look into the possibility that it’s a lack of work. I lived for 8 years in a very poor neighborhood in Detroit and it wasn’t just a lack of work, but a lack of means to get to work. No public transportation because hey, that’s socialist, right? Before I fell out of the middle class myself, I worked one year on our company’s charity and at least 50% of the families we dealt with lost jobs due to broken down cars. Don’t sweep the issue back under the $5,000 rug just because you think one brother is “an exception to the rule.” Let’s all of us get off our asses and CHANGE THE RULES.
ps: I’m white, btw.
To the author of the letter Mr. Free, YOU ARE A RACIST!!
And Jason, You are an ignorant twerp who know nothin’ from nothin’.
Wow, that one was good. Want to try something better next time.
Look up the word Racist, then in the future use it properly. Racism requires social / political / economic power. By the very nature of Racism Black and Brown people have are not able to be Racist. They might be prejudice against those who have undertaken to enact racist policies / programs against them. They might have a general bias towards their own kind; they cannot however, by Racist.
valentine, you might want to check an actual dictionary, and not not just what you decide to be true. That has to be the most ignorant statement made. Any person of any ethnicity can be racist.
Man what have you got against pototos, that was veggie racist!
I too hope he wins it 44 will win the biggest marority ever. Hell even if every one of the 1% vote and the racist, Barrack wins BIG!
Thank you.
I said it myself on my own blog in another open letter a while ago
Link: http://credulantmusings.blogspot.com/2011/11/open-letter-to-greatest-thinker-in.html
But it is good to hear it again. And again.
I am kinda shocked at the way that so many people who’ve left comments here allow themselves to have opinions on things with which they’ve had no direct experience.
Or maybe I’m not shocked… I think I just wish I was shocked.
And again, there’s the reliable disappointment that comes with the avalanche of competitive misery that tumbles down whenever anybody attempts to explain these things — how dare you leave us out! We suffered, too!
Yes. Yes you did. A lot of people have. A lot of people continue to suffer and as long as those who understand what suffering means spend their time competing for who suffered the most, nobody is working to make things better.
Travon well done! Sounds like to me that you have more smarts in your little finger than Newt has in his whole body. I am familiar with the Compton area and how very tough it must have been for you and your family. You have every right to be proud of you and your sister’s accomplishments. Newt isn’t even worthy of breathing in the same air space as you. He is a despicable man. God help this country if he gets into the highest office.
Thank you for sharing your story.
Sincerely,
Connie Lauridsen
I am so honored that you took the time to write this. I am passing it to everyone I know.
Oh and by name calling you just kill your whole message.
This letter has some realness to it, but its misdirected. Republicans aren’t all evil doers. Democrats aren’t saints. The country is run by tools, whether republican or democrat. Obama hasn’t done much good for this country, has maintained the unneccessary wars he said he would end, and is about to allow the passage of the Defense Authorization Act, which strips us of our basic rights. Ron Paul is a candidate who, with a consistent and honest voting record for all 12 terms he’s served in congress, promises to bring every single troop back home immediately against the “General’s” suggestions, end the federal reserve system which is the reason for debt itself, limit the incredible power of the federal government’s all reaching-hand, and give us our personal freedoms and liberties back that were taken away with the Patriot Act and continue to be taken away with things such as the Defense Authorization Act, section 1031. Please people, watch some debates/interviews with Ron Paul and see for yourself, hes the only politician today that has that honest, consistent look to him and has a true goal for how this country should be and has worked in the past. Do some independent research on him, and decide for yourself. Ron Paul 2012.
Well said! Ron Paul is exactly who we need!
Ron Paul thinks the civil rights act is unconstitutional. Nuff said.
I hope this young man realizes that newt was making a generalzation-something that is required.
Lastly, Paris Hilton’s parents didn’t give her millions. Notwithstanding an excellent launch pad, Paris is actually an entrepreneur and a self made millionaire.
But not through genuine toil. She marketed a sex tape which then led to a reality TV show in which she bartered her dignity for a buck. Now, she makes money being invited and showing up to parties and posing for the occasional accidental crotch shot. She isn’t evil, but let’s not act like any of these things are generally good avenues for our underprivileged to follow.
not to mention “notwithstanding an excellent launch pad” pretty much says it all. if everybody had her “launch pad”, we all could become millionaires. maybe without having to show our crotches or put on a dumb act.
I hope B. Hines realizes when people make generalizations about an entire race, they are being racist.
I have worked as a teacher in South Central and downtown Los Angeles for over 20 years, so when I tell you that poor people work very hard, I’m not making generalizations about communities that I know nothing about. They work too hard and get too little of the wealth they help create. Look around your home, Newt. Who harvested the vegetables, slaughtered the beef, put the clothes on your back, the roof over your head, made your dinner, made your bed, mowed your lawn, and cleaned your toilet….? Rich people are lazy, poor people have to do everything for them.
Seriously. My mom packed shrimp. Never made more than $8 an hour. Worked hard at that job. Gingrich looks like the kind of guy who probably ate that shrimp. It was sold to midrange restaurants.
Well done and beautifully expressed. The man’s face looks like the wrong end of a dog, with apologies to dogs everywhere.
you said nothing insightful. there is obviously some emotional root weighing your poor article. and it’s even more sad to think that with all your education you don’t look at facts of our country past 4 years with #44 as president but still allow emotion to cloud your judgement
“you said nothing insightful. there is obviously some emotional root weighing your poor article. and it’s even more sad to think that with all your education you don’t look at facts of our country past 4 years with #44 as president but still allow emotion to cloud your judgement ”
Hey! So we’re using the “you’re just overly emotional” bullshit response when black people speak up now too? I thought we only used that when women dared question the GOP. Welcome to the “overly emotional; can’t be trusted to mean what they think they mean” crowd, Travon! You should be receiving your introductory material in the mail within the week, and I’ll get that free toaster out to you as well!
And there’s no emotion clouding your judgement, pal. Funny stuff.
He DOES look like mashed potatoes in a suit, idiots.
Pingback: An Open Letter to Newt Gingrich from a Black Kid Who Grew Up in a Poor Neighborhood | robwerks.com
JACKWAGON. they should have listed this on http://www.assholereprt.com
http://www.assholereport.com
JACKWAGON! http://www.assholereport.com is where they should of listed this report.
As a teacher, Newt’s comments show that he and other Republicans don’t care about education…at all (PS, I’m a teacher in Wisconsin under Scott Walker’s regime right now, so don’t anyone try to tell me that I don’t know what I’m talking about). Instead of keeping kids after school to clean toilets and sweep floors, we should be keeping them after school to participate in programs that promote teamwork, work ethic, and positive choices. But instead, Newt thinks instead of surrounding these kids with positive role models that they may not have at home (teachers, principals, coaches, etc.) we should have them scrubbing the rich kids’ shit off the toilets…
I am a Career and Technical educator (business ed., specifically) so I’m all for teaching kids about work ethic and doing an honest days’ work, but Newt is off base. Should wealthy suburban schools require their students to do this as well? I doubt he’d say yes….
Did he propose that anything be “required”? The problem is that they are not allowed to take jobs they might otherwise want. What would be wrong with giving kids the freedom to choose?
Newt was not talking about giving kids the freedom to choose. If he had, this blog post would not exist. Newt was, intentionally or not, proposing breaking up unions as well as ignoring about forty years worth of child labor laws.
yes wealthy rich suburban schools should require their students to do exactly that. And teachers should be paid what they are worth based on the quality of the education they provide their students. If you don’t perform you don’t deserve a job. Works that way in other businesses. Unions should be banished from schools and all government agencies. They waste tax payer money. Unions are more worried about paying their own salaries rather than educating their students. If they did they wouldn’t cut educational activities to punish parents who don’t support school levies. Union salaries would drop or maybe unions would give their union dues to the school rather than paying for liberal candidates.
@theuglytruth, you obviously have never worked or known someone who works for a school system…teachers pay the union dues so that we have someone representing us on our side of the table. There is this false idea that unions protect bad teachers. They don’t. If an administrator has proof and evidence that a teacher is not performing, there is nothing that the union can do about it. The unions simply make sure that school boards and administrators follow labor laws in place.
Personally, I get quite angry when I consider the fact that I went to college for four and a half years, graduated with a pretty high GPA, I work 50 hours a week, and I have built great relationships with my students, yet I am still living paycheck to paycheck. I was always told that teaching was a professional career and I didn’t go into this profession to become a millionaire, but I at least figured I’d be able to live comfortably.
Now that’s a rational thought!
The kid is internalizing for one. Secondly Newt is speaking on the VERY SAME WORK HABITS that we ourselves in the Black community often complain about when we aspire to hire our own.,..
If it wasnt true then we wouldnt joke about CPT.
Assumed racism is so stupid.
Guess what? There are more poor white people in the US than as you put it poor “brown” people. Keep your idiotic and uniformed agenda to yourself. The fact that you brought up Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton as part of your “intellectual” argument brings this down to a very dumb rant at best. Newt in no way said anything racist. It is stupid comments like that hide real racism and bring serious political discussion to a halt. Your blog is vile and full of hatred for others that seems a lot like racism to me.
You are a classic race baiter who mocks his real racism in an attempt to falsely accuse those he does not agree with.
Bill Clinton ran his whole administration on CPT. Just sayin’…
Travon,
Wow. What a great letter. Succinct, thoughtful, just really well written. Good on you mate. The line about mashed potatoes in a suit – I am still laughing… You are good.
Curtis
So beautifully written. I want more! I am disappointed that we finally have a Republican who can construct a coherent sentence ( unlike the Bushes), but oy vey the things he says! And what does Calista see in him? You’re right on about the mashed potatoes; another friend points out that Newt (is his brother named Toad?) looks like the Lego Man.
Imagine this analagous scenario. I’m a white guy. I read one of the thousand newspaper critiques of Black Friday consumerism. I get offended, and I write an open letter to the author of the story telling the whole world about how “consumerism” is code for “cracker.” I hold myself out as an example of a middle-class white person who doesn’t over-spend during the holiday season…. sounds stupid right? yeah, kinda like this asinine letter.
wow, yes, a perfect analogy in every way.
Point is, this has nothing to do with race, and the author knows it. Look at how he accuses Newt’s party of protecting their wealth and don’t pay their taxes. What does his party have to do with the accuracy of his comments on youth unemployment? I’d be perfectly fine with this guy stating his disagreement with Newt’s policy positions, call him out of touch, rich, ugly, whatever. But to disingenuously take offense, and to label someone a racist for comments which clearly had nothing to do with race, is the kind of defamatory claptrap which has no place in our political discourse.
sorry *not paying* their taxes
The author is making the point that Newt’s party affiliation (which in fact does protect their wealth and enjoy historically low tax rates) makes it no surprise that Newt himself would have little to no gut-level understanding of what it means to be poor in this country– as Newt’s comments clearly indicated. Yet another misreading of the blog post.
Oh I see. Republican’s don’t know what it’s like to be poor. Brilliant observation.
Dear Jared, i hope your subway diet is treating you well, but yu seriously need to stop watching so much fox news, i hope yu don’t consider those sources to be reliable, american mass media claims another victim, so unfortunate.
sorry, i don’t get your analogy. unlike this well written letter
Your analogy makes no sense Jared. Its quite stupid actually, because while you telling the whole world that consumerism is “code for cracker” is nothing but made up bullshit.
The racial insensitivity in Newt’s statements and his “suggestions” at solving the problem are based on fact. He actually said these things and defended them aftwerwards
the racism is there for everyone to see. And we can all make political arguments about why Newt is not racist and he is a stand up American….. but we know that telling children that the solution to their problems is scrubbing they’re classmates feces after school instead of focusing on education and going to college, is not only dumb it is RACIST! and here’s why… Newt would never suggest that “solution” for his own children….. when he asked the people he was talking to what they did to develop a work ethic he said “paper routes” no but its fine for the “inner city” youths that are so clueless and without direction that they might as well start cleaning toilets early.
Pathetic. and if you don’t think it is, why don’t you let your children scrub toilets after school … oh wait thats right you dont have to, because you prob went to college how smart of you.
The only silver lining to the Gingrich cloud is that he and his rising popularity among Republicans so clearly reveal the insanity that has taken over the GOP. They’re on the path to self-destruction and the sooner the better. Thank you for so beautifully making your case. And I agree about the mashed potatoes, although I usually refer to him as the Pillsbury dough boy.
Newt is one offense swine, isn’t he?
How on earth is this racist? It is true. If you do not have an example in the home of how to behave or function you will not learn it as a kid. You idiots that think this is racist are racist yourselves. Poor people come in all shades, not just black or brown.
You are just as ignorant as Newt! Unbelievable how you can say “it’s true” to what this absolute disgrace of a politician says! Maybe not racist, but for sure classist and WRONG!!!!
The offensive part of Newt’s speech is his generalization of the poor as people who don’t work hard. Oh, and his solution of child labor — that’s pretty offensive, too.
You libs only hear what you want to hear. Newt proposes promoting programs and opportunities to help promote discipline and work ethic, and you scream racism. You brag about how many people in the hood already have plenty of work ethic – the same hoods where the local high schools have 50-60% graduation rates and graduates that are barely literate. You brag about how hard your moms worked to support and take care of you – in the same hoods where illegitimacy is approaching 80%. I dare you go into any really poor neighborhood and you will find grown men loiter about on porches and yards in the middle of the week instead of holding down a regular job and taking care of their illegitimate children and baby-mamas. Yet you expect to be able to compete against those that worked hard to get an education and develop work-skills, or the [really poor] Mexicans that travel here from thousands of miles to work their asses off and get all the manual jobs. People seriously contending that doing hard work is “degrading,” as you put it, deserve to be poor. Yo keep on keepin it real! There’s nothing to learn here from Whitey . . . or the Mexicans.
You’re just a dumb ass! Didn’t you see that this “brotha” is saying not only did his family do well but they surpassed all expectations. That’s keepin it real! I’m sure you’re one of those people that think that poor people are just lazy and in reference to the Mexicans who are working hard on manual jobs…..read about how they are dying in factors or getting injured with no workman’s comp. Really I always said that the purpose of college was to enlighten you and make you a more open minded individual. Apparently all college educations are not created equally….
I agree with you Karastepkick. I mean 100% waht a dumb as to put it exact….
you just proved his point, racist!
Yeah, Memphis Dweller…
I am a college educated, former Navy Electronics Technician. I hold a bachelors degree from the University of Mississippi in Sociology and an associates degree in Electronics Engineering from Old Dominion University. I come from a humble background. Yes, my parents both worked while I was growing up; however I can not find a job now. I have been unemployed for almost two years now. Are you supposing to say that my children will grow up not knowing the value of work? You elitist, egotistical, and yes – racist people in this country are the true problem. If the 1%ers had not decided years ago that they could increase their year-end bonuses by out-sourcing jobs to India, China, Thailand, etc. then Americans could be at work today. Get off your high horse for one day and really go out to meet Americans – these are the people that really make America great! Shame on you and your friends who assume that people who are not
working simply do not want to work.
Well said..out of work too. I have cleaned toilets..been cussed at..there comes a time you reallize that there are some jobs and positions that you are not suited for. Thanks to the internet many jobs are being screened or just over looked..because of the new “virtual human resources” offices.
You are misreading the blog post. The author takes issue with Newt’s statement that all poor people “have no habits of working and nobody around them who works.” As demonstrated by the writer (as well as common sense) this statement is logically fallacious on many levels. Try again.
Don’t forget Asians. My mom also worked multiple jobs to support us and my dad was an abusive father who was in and out of jobs. To suggest only whites and blacks would dishonor the lives of immigrant Hard working Asians.
Most Asian immigrants that come to America escape poverty inside of one generation as a result of their strong work-ethic.
I second Kt!
I didn’t say they were “lazy and entitled” I said their parent didn’t care what they did, meaning they (the parents) didn’t care if their kids were selling or doing dope, how they were doing in school or even if they went to school. As far as your claim that my comment made no sense, there was about 400 in my class, of that I would say that about 75% of them were from a poor background. Of that 75% only about 20% graduated. If you do the math, that’s about 60 students out of 300. Those 20%, are “the exception.”
I don’t even know where to start, except to say that your post is the very definition of entitlement. As my grandmother used to say, ” I would say more…but I’m a lady”.
I must say however that your education seems to have done you no good whatsoever!
Did you even read my comment? I’m not sure how that makes me entitled because I went to school and earned my diploma? Because I came from a poor family and have made something of myself today, that makes me entitled?! You’re an idiot! That is all.
you crazy lady
uh, I would guess a lot of them dropped out and didn’t graduate because they were trying to hold down jobs to help their families. Laziness is not usually the primary reason kids drop out of school Usually there are many other factors involved.
Lawrence also provides a whole bunch of numbers with no clue as to where he came up with them. My guess is “in his head because they sounded good.”
lol
Really? Did you go to school with me? I didn’t say they dropped out I said they didn’t graduate. There’s a big difference. You need to read and think before you speak. Those numbers are facts because I PAID attention in high school, unlike you, you fucking dolt!
Oooo… somebody woke up with his crabby pants on. I merely pointed out that you posted with specific numbers of percentages with no source as to where you came up with them. Your reply shows that you are speaking of your experience in your high school. While I don’t doubt that your numbers from your singular experience in your one high school may be close or even accurate, you can hardly take your observations and convey them as universal fact. As for not paying attention in high school….. um….. I’m a university professor, so I must have picked up a thing or two along the way. One of the things I picked up on and battle every day with my students is the idea that their experience is somehow writ large on society. The rule of intelligent research (or what should be the rule) is that one person’s experience is not automatically translatable to the entire population. Your error is, I believe, Gingrich’s error. Are there lazy poor people? Sure. But that hardly means that all lazy people are poor. The exception cannot be used to prove a rule. Long term studies are the only way to establish meaningful data, and you don’t have that.
What university do you teach at? I’m just wondering, because I don’t want to send my kids there. If you’re so smart, why don’t you tell me what percentage of students that didn’t GRADUATE (not dropouts because it’s obvious they are lazy [sidenote: I have a friend that worked a full time job to help support his family and he still managed to graduate on time])
Came from a poor background? Please tell me you teach at Penn State or Syracuse! At least then you have a excuse for being so stupid and close minded! I have to go now, I have to work for a living. Remember this: those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach!
I grew up so poor and the only thing I had to look forward to was free lunches,I did not ask to be born.How dare Newt blame the children .I would sometimes go by a bin behind the grocery store and pick out the half moldy oranges ,and eat the good parts.There were a lot of us in my family ,my father worked .There were many times we had only government commodities to eat.later in life I faced the same issues ,I lived in a housing project ,a smaller one,but still government housing and there were that year, three of us who got into a local college and became nurses.Without government help I could never have stood on my own two feet, and would have had to rely on low paying jobs and welfare my entire life.Instead I gave 35 years of nursing back to the community.When will Republicans learn that you get out of people what you put into them .You can’t make good wine out of sour grapes. It is education that is the salvation of our youth ,not forced labor.That does not mean however that work ethic will not be required .
I have a hard time with all of the grammatical errors and atrociously structured sentances. Please proof read or have someone who actually did attend a college English course check your writing before posting.
You spelled sentences incorrectly.
Bahahah!! Nice catch, Kristine.
LMAO
LOVE this. Thom, when one writes in a conversational style, one takes liberties with grammar. It’s called literary license.
I noticed that also! Superiority reigns supreme with some of these people! LMAO
You spelled sentences wrong and you talk about having someone checked your grammatical errors. you should too. lol
lol… you misspelled “sentences”
Take your own advice. ‘Sentences’
sentances?
Practice what you preach much?
I am a foreigner, English is not my mother tongue (well, I do speak 4 languages) ; I never finished college nor do I hold an English degree, but I do know how to spell “sentences”! Do you know how to spell “arrogant”??
per say
S-E-N-T-E-N-C-E-S. Also PROOFREAD is a closed compound word. Thanks for playing.
Thom please do get over yourself.
I hope neither President Obama or Newt become president for the next term. My vote is for Ron Paul and only Ron Paul. There shouldn’t be any other thought otherwise. We need change and President Obama didn’t bring any, as promised.
Oh…Please do more research on Ron Paul and all the programs that he would eliminate. He is very scary. There are no good choices. STARTLED DEER 2012!!
When you can’t pay for all the entitlement programs, you can’t keep them!! It’s simple, there is NOTHING scary about Ron Paul, but the other possibilities except him are VERY SCARY!
In ’82 when the bobble head doll was raiding SS survival benefits, stealing our college educations, we were singing “Flipper” to Ron Paul.
We could only figure his popularity was due to people confusing him with the flautist.
He might be useful somewhere, but NOT in the Oval Office!
Travon, mashed potatoes indeed. I think you’re way off the mark here. In the picture used, Newt looks like he forgot his dentures and realized THAT was why he was turned down for a job at Waffle House.
If he looks like he needs his dentures, then mashed potatoes are the perfect meal for him.
I do not believe Mr. G should be in a presidential race for our country. That being said, I’m having a heck of a time with ONE thing you said: “To have the audacity to say that poor kids, and let’s be clear that’s republican speak for black and brown kids, “have no habits of working and nobody around them who works” is not only an insult to me as black man who grew up in one of those “really poor” neighborhoods you spoke of, but it’s an insult to my mother.”
In fact, isn’t THAT comment kind of “racist” itself? I find this really unfortunate. I guess I’m just tired of the race issue. Let’s move on and stop dwelling in the past. I’m not a political person and I cannot really decide which “party” is right for me, but I don’t think what you wrote is fair at all to Republicans. Just saying. Excellent article though!
…..While I love your article and I agree with most points, I have a problem with the fact that you labeled “Republicans” the way you did. I know MANY Republicans and they do not have “Republican speak” for black and brown kids.
I’m a lot like you, Travon. I was born in a Puerto Rican ghetto, and my parents busted their asses providing for us kids, so that we would eventually graduate from top-notch colleges and complete graduate degrees. And I agree that Newt is an out-of-touch elitist who doesn’t deserve to be President. But he does make a point on a touchy subject, why is it that MORE minorities do NOT find their way out of the ghetto and into a better life? You and I and people like us are more the exception than the rule. There has to be that initiative and strength that your mother demonstrated for things to get better, and not everyone who is poor has that initiative.
Postcolonial studies will help explain things. Ppl like us had to decolonize our minds…
Because a Ghetto is a place that is designed to be an exponentially gravity force to prevent access to pathways out, from less funded schools, to pooling all of societies bad habits so that a different “norm” takes hold. How hard is it for a child to focus in their class if they haven’t been fed properly, or other classmates are cutting up and wasting the teachers’ time? By eliminating ghettos, better education, peer pressure can work to prosperous ends. I lived near Cabrini Green in Chicago during 3peat, and saw a lot of dedication to sports as the way out. If that dedication had been spent on education and better role models… The media is also to blame as M. Jordan was hailed on the front pages, while a U of Chicago professor received a Nobel Award was only a tiny paragraph on page 7!
I am a white guy, and I found his comments to be equally offensive. I grew up in the south, in a family with a modicum income that put us just on the + side of poverty. My Father worked 14 hr days, sometimes at two jobs, to make that + side happen.
I have a work ethic because of coming form a poor background, because I saw my parents go through that, and cause I know what it takes to keep your head above water is sometimes unpleasant and not so fun.
I mean, seriously, how can you even attempt in this political climate to say these kinds of things and expect to win. The 99% hears you, and the 99% was poorer, growing up, we have work ethic, but cause of the death of the American Dream, we can’t get past the door with our good work ethic. Sheesh man, you just politely threw your middle finger to 3/4 of America!
PS He’s right, your look like mashed potatoes in a suit…
How did you get on athletic scholarship offer from any Ivy League school, since no Ivy league school offers athletic scholarships?
Great point.
“A son who received academic and athletic scholarship offers from three Ivy League schools and countless other universities,”. Please read thoroughly before posting.
He said academic and athletic..meaning that he could have receivd academic offers from the ivy league DUH! Stop with the nitpicking.
EXACTLY Mike. Sheesh do they even teach reading comprehension anymore?
Read the qualifiers, my friend. He said: “A son who received academic and athletic scholarship offers from three Ivy League schools and countless other universities,” This is the same out-of-context crap that FOX News and other GOP hacks use to “prove” their world views.
Michael, Ivy League schools do indeed offer athletic scholarships. My nephew who graduated from Greenhill School in Addison TX was awarded an academic and athletic scholarship from Lehigh which is located in Bethlehem Pennsylvania. I even attended his graduation from there. Some of the schools they played (football & basketball) were Princeton, Yale, Harvard. I use to joke with him that if he allowed a team from Harvard or Yale to beat them, he should hang his head in shame.
I am astounded by the idiocy of those who side with Newt. Unbelievable. Same mentality that put Dubya in the White House for eight years. You folks are dangerous.
You could take Newt’s brain, magnify it in size a million times, shove it up an ant’s ass and it would still rattle like a BB in a boxcar.
LOL! You don’t mind if I steal this, do you?
I laugh about the “white experiance” in america. I grew up poor, got harrassed for “being the white kid in the neighborhood” see when your white in a poor neighborhood your the minority and i was treated like it. Apperently you cant be white and not have money. Also got racial slurrs @ me and always got starred at funny when i went to block parties, not from everyone but from enough people. I always thought it was interesting how a group of people could scream so loud for equality and tolorance but when the table is turned they do the same thing that they claim to hate. I have a friend whose mixed who wasnt accepted by his black family cause he was part white, and he hates black people because of them. Funny thing is, whenever he fills out a job application or FAFSA form he checks African american. Know why? affirmitave action and he gets more college grants for it. I Went to college and had to pay all of my tuition, just because i was a white guy, parents made enough money not to qualify for unsubsidized loans and grants but not enough to pay for me to go.
Jason, I can agree with much of what you say. I do believe that the poor Caucasian population in this nation have a unique experience. I would say that the difference is that once you are no longer poor in America, if you are white, you do enjoy the white experience. I’m just saying.
Also, I think in some places that is correct that filling out an application as African American gives you more opportunities. I am African American and I went to college on a full academic scholarship. It wasn’t on “Affirmative Action”, it was merit based. I went to an HBCU, where I was competing against other Blacks and Minorities and they were giving “Minority Presence Grants” to any Caucasian that applied to go there. We did have quite a few who went and enjoyed their experience while going to school for free. Just something to think about. Sometimes thinking outside of the box changes things for you.
You went to college? ” Apperently”, “slurrs “, “starred “… I love it. You’re white dude, spell like it.
…and most definitely skip the block parties and crack a book.
Jason, first of all have you thought of why you were one of the VERY few white kids in your POOR neighborhood, that just there alone, explains why people of color in this country deserve to have a little push in the right direction when it comes to aids like affirmative actions. Black people in this country has been oppressed for so long, it’s nothing wrong to give them an extra helping hand. Also, if you have experienced prejudice and racism, I hope you understand how a person whose people suffered that type of treatment for decades would feel.
I do see your point, and they were wrong in treating you that way, but it doesn’t justify your sarcastic point about affirmative action. And your mixed friend…needs to grow up and work on his self-esteem..he is a foul!
See… This is where the repugnicans get you. Instead of fixing issues of poverty and justice, they simply pit the poor against the poor in a racial race to who suffered the most. Questions should be raised on how to fix it. Which policies are making life better for us and thus our country’s future. Are the Repugnicans fixing education in poor white areas too? Are they even discussing poor white people (the largest demographic recipients of Welfare)? Do they code everything to make code crackers seem paranoid and a bit kooky? Why not make completion of High School MANDATORY? Why not vote for the person with solutions? Why not explicitly ask these politicians about their solutions? Why not demand affordable College? Why not demand honest education and mandatory warnings on pseudo institutions like DeVry and Phoenix…? (they dont have transferrable credits as they are not in the same accreditation sector as real universities and colleges.)
BRAVO young man!!! I share your sentiment as do a number of us. Nevermind the naysayers. You just gave us a glimmer of hope in the generation to come. *STANDING OVATION*
I am no an advocate for Newt, but this minute clip was clearly taken out of context. He was talking about developing a work ethic. Those who make it out of the “poor neighborhoods,” (no race, color or ANY other description included) developed a work ethic young though chores or a job. AND in reference to the fictional letter, you are NOT the person assuming you are black that he was referring to because if you got a scholarship then you MUST have had a good work ethic.
Thank you for speaking your truth. This is an important contribution to the conversation.
God bless you for bringing the truth forward! I’m white come from a fairly affluent background. I do have a degree in political science, which has maybe helped me see the injustices in America and around the world. I was saddened and disgusted by both Bushes. Chenney and all others were so freighting that I could not understand why people didn’t stand up. I still don’t understand why people want to go back to those who put us in the problems we are in now.
President O did not lie to us when he said that it would take time with everyone working for the same goal. I’m not quoting, but that’s the gist of the message.
To follow up, look at Newt’s history, his agreement for torched as well as all the other abuses he proclaimed when he held office.
We are starting to find our way out of this Bush, Chaney mess. Don’t turn back now.
My apologies as an American to all those in the world we have hurt for a few’s GREED!
COWards don’t stand up for anything and they fall for everything that sounds good to them for them about them which in itself you just exposed better than I could Thanks Ginger ! This is about a scheme behind awful acts of cowardice whom are connected..in more ways than one!
Basically, anyone in the Republican Field is better than Obama. He is steering this country into a socialist abyss where we might never recover. Class warfare is not the answer, & this is all I hear coming out of Barack’s mouth. Enough blaming of Bush for this country’s problems right now. Obama was complicit in the bailout mistake, & now we are all paying a terrible price for it.
Amen!!
How about we leave the Fox talking points at home pal? I think the conversation might be a bit better off if you read the article and responded to what it said instead of assuming anyone who’s for social equality is a “socialist” and that raising taxes on rich people instead of cutting benefits for the elderly is “class warfare” Read a book and get back to me champ.
And where did you come up with this opinion about “socialist abyss”? And exactly what is wrong with socialism?
Thanks, Michaelantonio, I needed a laugh…
Please look up the word Socialist. You are not understanding the process. Tell me 5 things the Repulican Party Has done for You personally. God won’t bless America until we stand together. The President of this Country, stated it will take time. And it will. 4 years is not enough time. Most Repulicans are poor whites, The Repulican party have not givin them anything in return. They would rather stay poor, than to vote and research what President O is trying to do for them and their family.
After selling my 18K college ring to make it through the winter, Obama came through for me. The VA stopped shredding my paperwork and I’m finally living like a human being and getting help I never thought i would ever need! Though my family has served this country in every conflict since the Civil War, and they have been very successful and paid into this country for generations, I have to struggle not to feel horrible about needing help when I worked my butt off til it broke. At 46 years old, they are trying hard to make me take my first vacation!
My job was sold off about ’04, a job that required a 4-yr degree. Then they passed around 45$ million checks around the boardroom. They have laid off over 50,000 employees since ’01, which is the current population of my home town! That’s a LOT of student loans and mortgages in default. Recovery is difficult when you’re overqualified and folks are trying to protect their own jobs.
All I ever wanted was to support my daughter and teach her everything I know. But after they canned us in waves, they looted the pensions and rolled them back into executive pension plans, took out life insurance policies and exploited every loophole they could squirm through, and the CEO, after being fired, had the nerve to run for SENATE in California!
Recently, Faux ‘news’, ran a story about a kid who decided to work for a union when he grew up for the job security and this was reported as a result of leftist teachings in schools.
They don’t want Obama to fix ANYTHING! He did so much, but as soon as he needed Congress, they let him down. They let us ALL down and the WHOLE WORLD is watching!
Why in the world would we not blame Bush it was his fault ,,denial is what your party does best .He is the one who ran a huge surplus into the ground then started what three four wars ,then he gave big no bid contracts to Halliburton who robbed us blind then on top of that he gave his wealthy buds a tax cut , How could you not have created a huge deficit.HOw did he or anyone elsee think he was going to pay the bills,he was running up he is the one who lied about weapons of mass destruction in order to start these wars.There is nothing that this man did that was good ,and to continue to stand up for this man is not only ignorance ,but you are in total denial.You have a short memory.It was not the bail out of the banks it was the deregulations of the banking industry that caused only part of the problems in this country.It is ignorants like yourself who continue to vote against your own best interests as well as that of the remainder of the countries best interest because to admit George w Bush was an idiot you would have to admit that you were wrong ,in supporting him.
So Bush didn’t start a war (Iraq), didn’t give bailouts to the wealthiest, didn’t use up the surplus, we were supposed to have a trickle -down, and he said the out-sourced jobs were supposed to boost our economy? Yet, Obama is blamed for the blizzard, storm, etc. The republicans are politicians, only interested in getting the top jobs. When Obama asked all the elected officials to work together, that wasn’t important. Instead we will be getting politicians with free health care even when they leave office, retirement for the career politicians. Yet when the real people leave office they lose retirement (if early), no health care. Even their children don’t have to repay student loans. What is left for the people? This is why the European’s ancestors fled England and other countries for what is now the US. Class warfare is created by certain politicians, because they are paid off. Some people will not accept the President of the United States because of his race, remember, he is part white. His mother was from Kansas and was white. Instead of embracing this uniqueness, we have to witness the endless criticism of Obama. Who captured Bin Laden? Was he given credit? No. Bush and Cheney never did but there are many who idolize the two. I remember the speech Bush made about outsourcing jobs to India so we would see our economy grow. What did he and the rich guys invest in India?
What is class warfare? I mean, in your own words, what is class warfare, and where is your evidence?
Republicans believe that they’re temporarily inconvenienced millionaires. Don’t waste your time.
i find it funny he said republicans when every strong black leader (including martin luther king) was a republican. Republicans freed the slaves btw, (abraham Lincoln). I grew up in a poor neighborhood and im a white guy…. my parents worked, but for every 1 family in the ghetto that works hard, tries hard, and struggles through theres another family that sits around and sells drugs milks the goverment and wants the easy handout. Has the single mom living in goverment housing that has the drug dealer baby daddy living there with her. I had the pleasure of having a friend get shot by a dealer who mistook him for another person because he drove the same color and make car but no one saw or heard anything in the neighborhood. Dont blame the people who look down on the neighborhoods for being crime ridden, blame the people who make the neighborhoods that way. Everytime you see a drug deal, call the cops, start a neighborhood watch. If the prostitutes, drug dealers, and criminals are behind bars. The people in the neighborhood wouldnt be looked down apon. Everyone groups people together by the majority its not right but everyone is guilty of it. Hell blame rappers, they litterally sold their souls for money and influence your children to do drugs, treat women badly, live the thug life. They make it seem glamorous and do more “grouping of people” than any other genre i know of. If you looked through the past, democrats really just want to keep you in the poor house give you a couple of free handouts so you keep voting they play you on the ill give you things while on the flip side are making it harder for you to successed and get out of the ghetto and move on to a better life. i do not like newt btw and wont vote for him and i am a republican but its not because the comments he made about poor neighborhoods its because hes an asshat.
Jason-Abraham Lincoln didn’t “free the slaves.” The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 was issued a)during the Civil War when laws passed in the US were not observed by the Confederate States of America anymore than a law passed in Canada would be observed by the USA today and b)was a political strategy by Lincoln’s team for the upcoming election of 1864. So, if anything, the only slaves that were freed were in the four slave-owning states that didn’t secede from the union.
Just a little facts for your posting so you can use that in the future.
Jason, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation into law which language effectively freed slaves in the United States, all of the United States. Just because a group of illegal people in the south did not want to honor it did not make it less than the law of the land.
You say Abraham Lincoln didn’t “free the slaves” the Emancipation Proclamation did? Well, my friend, guess who wrote it. Another problem with the American people now a days, they don’t know American history. During the Civil War, African Americans tried to join the Union army of the north. They were told, “Keep out of this; this is a white man’s war.” At first President Lincoln said that the war was to save the Union, not to end slavery. But after a year he changed his mind. That is when he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation.
The Republican party of 1863 is not the same Republican party as the one we have now. There was what amounted to a role reversal in the 1960′s where the Republicans and Democrats basically switched places. If you actually look at the ideology of Abraham Lincoln and other Republicans before the 1960′s, rather than just looking at the name of the party, it is pretty clearly in line with what we’d define as Democratic ideology today. So, for example, Lincoln waged a war in favor of a strong centralized government against an opponent in favor of states’ rights (to have slaves). Hence why so many Republicans dislike Lincoln but are still willing to somehow take credit for belonging to the party that “ended slavery.”
Great, Mr. Blithe! I was hoping someone would point the role reversal out (so I didn’t have to, lazy me). Well put and bravo.
Also, the Republicans of Lincoln’s day were a completely different party than the Republicans of today. Shoot, the Republicans of the 1970′s were different than today’s.
I agree with a lot of what you said but your statement with 2 exceptions. I don’t know of a black leader who was a Republican and I try to stay up on my Black History and current affairs. Lincoln yes, Martin Luther King, Jr. NO! I have seen other comments stating the same about MLK, Jr. and I don’t know where they are getting their info. The other exception is “democrats want to keep people poor”. What!!! I have not seen this borne out. A better statement would be “republicans don’t want to give you anything, democrats will give you a little”. I have seen republicans initiate and pass laws that even they wouldn’t live under because they have loopholes so they don’t have to live under.
Kate, MLK actually was a Republican.
How long are you repugnicans going to play that tired old song?
Freeing the slaves was going to happen anyway…they were only interested in increasing the tax base. They borked up ERA for the same reason….women lost the choice of raising their kids and see where THAT got us. They have the nerve to call themselves conservative when they’re so liberal with OUR money?! Republicans caused NAFTA, the bailouts, and the sale of our livelihoods. They “protect” us against imaginary foes with stealing our civil liberties, and now they’re trying to pull this NDAA and SOPA crap.
I’m an independent voter, but honestly, until I saw the list of who approved NDAA, it seems pretty clear that the republican party is off their collective NUT! If we let them have their way, the legal working age will be from 11 to 84 years old and garbage trucks will be equipped with body bag dispensers.
But running off with the fruits of OUR labor is beyond unconscionable!
Big Pharm has become worse than ANY drug dealer you’ll ever see.
S-N-I-T-C-H
I don’t know you but I love your for this well written response to Newt’s ignorance. I have lived and worked in poor neighborhoods riddled with drugs and violence. Despite those being prevelant, there were also families that worked hard and busted their asses to provide for their families and make a better life for themselves and their children. They didn’t want their kids to have the limited options that they landed in. It doesn’t matter what color we are, we need to start getting our voices heard. This is a great start!
If you read what you just wrote, you actually agreed with newt. Newt was referring to all those drugs and violence makers that need to stop trying to make a quick buck and get a work ethic like those poor families that worked hard to open up the oppertunities for their children. ill quote tupac on this. ” i made a G today, yeah but you made it in a sleasy way, selling crack to our kids. Hey i got to get paid, well thats the way it is”
This is your typical left-winged propaganda written by another clueless liberal who’s only thought is “I don’t care how bad Obama is doing, he’s black and I want him back”. You can write whatever you want about Newt and I’ll always resond with one word…”Obama” Nuff said… Nothing you can say about Newt rises to the level of incompetence brought about by the travesty of the last four years. If Obama was white, he would have been impeached the very first year. He continues to destroy our economy at every chance. Rather than doing the right thing for the people, he puts his misguided and warped ideologies first and foremost.
Thank God for Newt. I hope each and every one of you watch Newt destroy Obama in their debates. As the smartest man in the room goes up against Obama with unmitigated fact after fact, it’ll take more than 3 3-hour debates just to list each and every item detailing his pathetic execution of his presidential duties. It’ll be the longest summation of defeat ever.
Only one more year before we can turn back the clock on this Obamanation and begin rebuilding what hath been destroyed. Hang in there America, the worst is about to be over.
The worst will never be over as long as people like you think the way you do. Either you’re a member of their club, or your part of that misguided 99% that actually believes they’ll ever let you in. Refreshingly though, your post was free of grammatical and spelling errors, which is much more than I can say for most of the posts of your ilk. And as for it all being President Obama’s (and yes, I even used to type President Bush, because I was taught to respect the office, something you and yours never have learned apparently) fault that we’re in this mess, I find that absolutely incredible, given the fact that at almost every turn, the RNC members have blocked whatever they could, bringing the act of restoring America to a grinding halt.
And one more little item. I’ve watched this payroll tax cut thing being used like a pawn by the RNC, as they hold it hostage so they can get another project in. Now, I’m not against a pipeline, but what I can’t figure is why they attached it to this particular bill, and why oh why are they crying about having to offset the cost of it by cutting somewhere else. When it was proposed that the Bush era tax cuts should expire, they Republicans howled about it being a tax increase on the wealthy, and charged class warfare. I can’t recall them ever having said one thing about how we’ll pay for it. Perhaps they’re relying on that totally discredited economic principle called supply side economics.
You sir, are an idiot.
Christopher, I agree completely with you.
Newt had his Contract on America, we don’t need a continuation of it.
You actually sound like the propagandist here. All I see is a guy who is telling his personal story and explaining how Mr. Gingrich’s comments offended him and how said comments were over generalized. Here is the problem with conservatives, while alot of what they say is true, they tend to overgeneralize and isolate themselves from the average person. I believe Mr. Gingrich had SOME valid points, but his big picture was way off. That is what the author is illustrating here. In fact, the only reference that he makes to President Obama is at the end. You seem like you have some strong opinions on the current administration. Perhaps if you find a more diplomatic and intelligent way to express yourself more people might be open to your rhetoric.
Quick question bro? For what offense could Obama be impeached? A little civics knowledge would be nice before you start spouting nonsense
I’m surprised that I can still be surprised by people’s total ignorance and bigotry!
Hateful, stupid people are a scary combination.
“impeached the very first year”… c’mon. You can’t seriously believe that.
Of course Newt can debate well since he can take both sides of any issue, as largely has. I mean, the number of flip-flops he’s done makes Mitt & John Kerry look like the model of certitude. Whether its balancing the budget, or climate change, or defense cuts, or Congressional ethics, or Palestine, Newt has changed positions more than an Olympic gymnast. Ultimately what will sink him is that independant voters see him for the craven, self-serving, hypocritical, know-it-all that he is. Or as Lincoln said “you can fool some of the people all of the time….”
You and Michaelantonio ought to hook up. Really, you’re both as deluded and astonishingly funny and would make a thoroughly entertaining comedy duo. Hey folks, what would their stage name be? Ideas?
Are you some kind of psychic or do you believe in the power of wishful-thinking?
Or more importantly: are you trolling?
Buddy, the establishment republicans are tearing Newt down because they know Obama would destroy him in a debate and would cause them to lose in a landslide, again. Seriously, democrats are dying for Newt to win the nomination.
Wow, you truly think that Newt is better than Obama. There is no use arguing with you here for any reason.
I found many of Newt Gingrich’s comments toward poor people to be extremely arrogant and offensive. His whole attitude is elitist and I can’t see how anyone who is not a millionaire would ever vote for him. Many millionaires are offended by his arrogance too. I do agree that those who take advantage and look for handouts, certainly need a better option, so that they can be as successful as you and your sister. I grew up with a similar situation and my parents’ last two children earned college degrees and now work hard to help make this world a better place. I think the Native American Ethic of making this world better for the next generation and the 7 generations that follow, is something that could help us all work toward something positive. Newt Gingrich is looking down his nose at everyone who was not as lucky as him to have money. Does he work any harder than the mother who works three jobs to provide for her children. Why does he get to be a millionaire and the mother never gets to rest?
can you prove you’re black? Because if you’re not, you see, you’re pretty much unqualified to make these comments. The reason I doubt it is because if you were really, I mean really, black, I would think you would think Mr. Newt has poured sweet potatoes, not mashed potatoes, into his suit. You see, even though I’m white (Irish is the ‘other’ white), I think I’ve heard somewhere (maybe Fox News or Newsmax) that a person’s skin color (they call it “melanin”) determines their potato preference. Don’t get me wrong – I love sweet potatoes, too. But, I definitely like Russets with butter, salt and pepper more. It’s not like I’m racist or anything. But if you’re running around thinking about Idaho spuds and not yams, well I think that might be a “tell” that you’re acting black and not actually black. And that hurts your credibility a lot. Sorry to be the truthteller here. But like Mr. Newt says, somebody has to have the courage to say the truth even if it’s unpopular with poor, lazy black folk who don’t know any better and won’t vote for him anyway because they’re too busy cashing their welfare checks for the kids they had with men who don’t work and left and they don’t even know their names anyway but aren’t necessarily crack whores but most of them are. God bless and God bless America!
It does not matter what color you are! You nailed Newt (is it short for Newt-wit) dead on.
And BTW no race has a monopoly on growing up in a poor neighborhood. I did take offense at the mashed potato quip—-I would think something darker and malodorous would be more apprapo.:) Only because it would be a lap to compare something that nourishes to the Newt-case
It does too matter what color I is. if not, why do they force me to state it on forms from the government and schools and whatnot? Wake up and smell the sweet potato pie, my friend while I smell the pumpkin pie and try to guess which is which.
Lame because potatoes are from South America, they are not Irish. Also, yams, not sweet potatoes are from Africa. If you’re going to make stupid argument at least get the facts straight.
That’s stupid because Irish people aren’t from South America and they’re the ones who eat potatoes. duh. And yams, they must be from Mississippi for the same reason. I don’t know where marshmallows are from, though, but I hear they have horse hoofs in them so they could be from Indian reservations (horses are native to North America as Cortes proved by being Mexican) but not India – like Asia India but ‘trail of tears/casino” Indians. did I confuse you? I do know that horses love yams and watermelon rinds so what’s THAT tell ya? Go ahead – we can be honest with one another. I’m not here to judge.
your crazy~why do you think sweet potato’s are associated with being black~your stupid~anyone who thinks Newt is a solution for anything is out of thier minds~oh wait a white person wrote an article saying that :white people had going crazy ” over a black man being elected President~
Wow. What a sweeping, racist, generalization. Must be very painful to go through life this narrow minded.
Wow, I can’t even begin to say how embarrassed I am to have red hair after reading the comment from the racist Irish poster, Murphy O’Toole-Goldman. I truly hope it is a bad joke and not an example of the worst kind of ignorance.
I can’t believe how embarrassed you are to have red hair, either, Mr. Ginger. My guess is, you like those fancy small white potatoes. Am I right? With yogurt instead of sour cream. I can tell from your name that’s the kind of potatoes you like. That’s not “racists” – that’s “namist.” And that’s the worst kind of ignorance. Racism is second worst.
You sure are a stupid, racist cracker, aren’t ya?
Cracker isn’t a nice word, its as racist as any other word that degrades someone based on the color of their skin. Race is a retarded division that we impose upon each other, especially since we are all one race, you know the human race?
And “retarded” isn’t degrading anyone?
He deserves the title. I’m not gonna lie.
But seriously, why would you use the word “retarded” to mean something negative? I can understand that you don’t really appreciate or understand race issues, but it’s horribly incorrect. I haven’t the time or the energy to inform you how wrong your alleged ‘color blindness’ is, but I would suggest you check out Tim Wise on this issue.
Thanks for sticking up for me, Not quite Vegan. I knew I’d find others who understood that Mr. Free (who may or may not be actually “black) is all about the “freedom of the speech” as defined by the 13th Amendment. We all agree – Irish people (the ‘other white’) would think Mr. Newt has mashed Russets in his shirt, black people would think Mr. Newt has sweet potatoes in his shirt, whereas fancy-pants Gingers like “Chris Ruth” would think Mr. Newt has those little expensive white potatoes down his shirt. They are delicious. And don’t even get me started with Chinese people. What do they have in common with the Italians? Noodles down his shirt, that’s what! Hey – for all those folks out there that are quick to call me a racists – then I suppose this webpage is racist, too? http://sweet-potatopie.blogspot.com/ And I can prove I’m not a racist. I drink micro brews – not Pabst Blue Ribbon like this so-called Mr. Tim Wise says the ‘white right’ drinks. That really sounds racist. But I do drink “fancy ass Scotch” so maybe I’m a lot more like Obama than we would all like to admit – I’m 1/2 and 1/2. So, sue me.
If I was stupid, how would I know it? That’s such a dumb question. I’m smart enough to know that. So what if I’m a saltine. You got something against saltines? You a “saltinist.” That’s the third worst thing. First is namist, second is racist, third is saltinist. You classify people because of the crackers they like. Terrible.
All I can say is wow. Your comment is nothing less than deplorable. How any American can go about ranting such disgusting generalizations is beyond me. I am not African American but I have a lot of African American friends and frankly, your idea of what they are like is completely ignorant. I would like to point out that although there are some people that get by doing some non-respectable things, not all of them are African American. I would think an American would conduct hisself with more dignity but I suppose I was wrong. Seriously, learn some manners and GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS.
Uh guys, he was being brilliantly sarcastic. Re-read it a few times, To spell it out, it’s a big piss take on Newt’s original comments.
shut the “f” up ericaJ. It’s funnier if they take it seriously. Seriously. White guilt is hilarious. “some of my best friends are black…” classic!
I don’t even know what the word “deplorable” means so you lost me on the first sentence until I got to the word “hisself” and then I knew you weren’t a white racist. Well played. And insofar as getting my “head” out of my “ass” – let’s get it on like donkey kong. Seriously. I love that sayen’, know what I’m sayen’, biaaatch? (I’m using that word metaphorically, not literally).
Murphy Otoole-Goldman, shame on you. My daughter works in the food stamps office and she sees way more white women coming in for assistance than black. That is a convenient lie whites like to tell themselves that blacks are the only ones on the dole so they can feel better about themselves. As for the potato reference in the writers “joke” he just said “mashed potatoes”. Both sweet potatoes and irish potatoes can be mashed. You apparently are the one with the issue. Maybe you thought it was irish potatoes because they match his skin color. BTW, I like both. Butter goes well on both, yum!
“My daughter works in the food stamps office ” holy crap, “Kate” you bring in the food stamps office argument? I’ve never even seen a food stamps office, that’s how not hungry I am. Question: would a Newt Administration allow food stamps to be used to buy Russets as well as Yams? I think that’s really the crux of the argument here. Here’s the difference – yes, butter is equally as good on both but, and this is a big butt (here comes the “racist” remarks again!), cinnamon only goes on sweet potatoes, not any of the caucasian potatoes whereas onions only go with the “cracker” potatoes. But, I digress. I honestly think we categorize potatoes wayyy too much. Can’t we just get past the color and focus on how they taste, just like with people? Let’s just say, Mr. Newt could have mashed Russets, sweet, tiny white… any number of mashed potatoes in his shirt. That doesn’t prove Mr. Free here is an actual “black.” Maybe a hybrid? I’m open-minded enough to consider that as a real option. I just want him to be honest with his audience and not prancy dance around the issue like a politician. Does he think we can’t handle the truth?
You wrote:”The reason I doubt it is because if you were really, I mean really, black, I would think you would think Mr. Newt has poured sweet potatoes, not mashed potatoes, into his suit.” And later :”Sorry to be the truthteller here”
As it is the dumbest comment I read on the net, I’m going to assume you are not for real. Because it’s too dumb to be real. Or maybe I can admit that you are seriously mentally challenged.
And you can see pictures of the guy who wrote the letter everywhere on this site.
You believe everything you see on the Internets, boobhead? Pictures can be faked. Word can’t. Boom goes the dynamite!
That was amazing. you win 1 internet.
Yes.
Unbelievable ignorance wrapped in prose. Truthteller? Really, this is what you think you are? Try again. In fact rather than waste space writing your small minded diatribes return to your real job, ironing the white sheets of your betters.
The truth, Ms. “Valentinelogar”? This would have read better if you had written “ironing the white sheets of you bed wetters.” #FAIL.
Amazing.
There are far fewer jobs in poor neighborhoods than there was 4 years ago and even more homelessness but still, Obama will get this fools support no matter what. What has O done for the poor? You can build a house from hope and eat a bag of change….words are just words. These prople need jobs!!!!
Jobs? Like scrubbing toilets and cleaning halls? While assholes like this sit on their ass and enjoy undeserved amounts of cash? Like buying 85,000 dollar watches, while preaching about how people should work their asses off for substandard living conditions? haha… Ahh, the elite… definitely not mentally elite.
I must disagree with you. I applaud what you and your sister have accomplished but, you have to admit, that is more the exception rather than the rule. I grew up poor as well and I have a good work ethic because that is how I was raised. However, in most poor families, the parents just don’t care what their kids do. It’s sad but true.
How does your comment make sense? This guy is the exception. His sister is the exception. You are the exception. Your siblings are the exception. But all the other “poors” are lazy and entitled? You say you have a good work ethic despite being poor but seem unable to process that anyone else had parents who instilled in them a work ethic. You are the problem. You are the ignorance of which he speaks.
I never said they were lazy and entitled. I said their parents didn’t care what they did. Meaning they didn’t care if their kids were selling or doing dope, how their grades were in school or if they even went to school. I had a class size of about 400, of that I’d say about 75% of those came from poor families. Of that 75% only about 60 of us graduated high school. If you do the math, that 60 students out of 300, that’s 20%. That 20%, is “The exception.” Perhaps if that other 80% had parents that cared (which I knew quite a few of them and their parents couldn’t care less) maybe they would have at least graduated high school and made something of themselves, instead some of them are sitting in prison and who knows what happened to the rest. I don’t really understand how that makes me the problem. Because if I’m the problem then every other poor kid that made something of themselves is also the problem including the author of this letter. Maybe you should read my original comment. I just respectfully disagreed with the author on the matter that Newt was saying ALL people of a poor background had no work ethic.
How do you KNOW what “most” poor families do? I grew up in the hood as well, and many of the guys who grew up with me are fine, upstanding citizens of the community. Of course, we have our share of crackheads, prostitutes and ne’er-do-well’s also, but they are feeling the results of CHOICES that they made. I myself have run afoul of the law, but once I decided to straighten up, I noticed I stopped going to jail. I would NEVER say that ALL poor people are doomed. That’s just not the case…PEACE.
I didn’t say all poor people were “doomed”. I was one of the poor families and I said that in my original comment. By the way I have run afoul of the law as well and did hard time although I don’t know what that has to do with my comment. Did you even read my original comment? Just curious?
By the way only a total douche would call himself “BigBlackRod”. I think someone may have “issues”.
Well said… If I had written it myself, from my perspective in the working low to middle class white neighborhood i grew up in, this approximates what i would have said… i might have added something along the lines of ‘after working hard all of his life, putting in 80 hour weeks as a union man in the mills to support his family, my father died of mesothelioma… the mills knew that abestos was a carcinogen & the manufacturers knew it too, but they did not care about the health and well-being of their workers who had gotten in the habit of showing up everyday… the mill he worked for went into bankruptcy protection & it turned out that the pension funds had been looted for years by the corporate officers who’d already looted everything else & stopped paying their vendors… so they left nothing with which to even pay for the healthcare or pensions of all those union workers who were sick with illnesses caused by their work ethic. in the end, my father died a broken man, the product of a life lived in vain, supported now in his sickness and old age by medicaid & medicare & social security, his pension bailed out by the federal government, a ward of the state & therefore, without even his pride. Newt Gingrich & his ilk have done this to the WORKERS of America! It is our consciences that must guide us to and from work! Therefore, we are not in the “habit of showing up” on Monday is because we no longer care to be PIMPED out by the WHORES who seek to tyranize us. Newt is a great example of the worst possible example of all he espouses, using such big words like MORALITY, which mean next to nothing when coming out of newt’s dickspeaking pie-hole which smells like kochbreath…”
Yes… this is something along the lines of what I might have added from the WHITE, working class GIRL perspective!
love this & glad I am to have seen it. lysa
Speak sister! Put this letter and your comments together, we get the real picture of the supreme injustice of this system and one of its laziest greediest pimps, Gringrich.
I love your comments.
I have to agree with you Travon. I grew up in one of those neighborhoods…14th st NW DC in the 80s. My mom worked two jobs most of my life to take care of me and my sister. To tell me basically that I will be nothing because of where I grew up is just bullshit…Mr. Gingrich…I now have 4 degrees thanks to the hard work of my mother.
What a horrible, assumptive article. The author initiated a discussion about race relations, when race was NEVER brought up. Assuming that this is a racially based idea, and pontificating that it is, is exactly what propogates racial tensions, divides, and steroetypes. Poverty doesn’t have a color, really, I just looked it up. No mention of demographics, simply a lack finacial gain. Further,giving the opportunity to earn money, be it from cleaning the toilets, (which Newt Gingrich never specifically alluded to), or working in the cafeteria, (which he did reference), or working in the library, (also referenced) and accepting responsibility, and paying a minimum wage to do this can only help the blight that the less fortunate face;again, the less fortunate……(no race reference needed). And this too, is not breaking the child labor laws.
As a rule, I know there is bigotry and racism in this country. I am a white male, and I know that there is a small percentage of whites that hold a bias against any person that is different, black, asian, russian, whatever. I believe I can also state that there is a certain bias umongst african americans towards whites as well. But I also know that it is not all. Maybe 10%, either side. As human beings, are we really going to let such small groups of people who hate, needlessly represent us, or allow their views to reflect ours?
Please stop classifying people, actions and scenarios based around the color of a persons skin. It’s not all about race, it about ignoring those that have the bias, the hate, the racism.
“Saying that reverse racism is worse than racism is the new racism” — Bill Maher. Saying that reverse racism is worse than racism is also completely wrong. Poverty isn’t a single color as poverty exists across racial lines, but statistics show poverty affects people of color in significantly greater numbers than it does white people.
Significantly greater percentages. There are more poor white people than any other color but there are still a lot more white people in general. And people of color’s poverty is lopsidedly greater as a percentage.
I stand corrected. Your explanation was more accurate than the way I worded it. Our sentiments were always the same, but you said it better.
First of all this article is not assumptive. Just because there is a link that you cannot see because you are not part of the population that was alienated does not mean there isn’t a connection. I am both white and one who grew up very poor – and from that experience I understand where Travon is coming from. Gingrich didn’t reference the “poor” in general but children from “very poor neighborhoods,” which is a distinct collective that has a high minority population.
I know a ton of poor white people who, through extreme debt and leeching of others, manage to live in more respectable neighborhoods. They are not who Gingrich is referring to (but should! In my experience those are some of the laziest, immoral people, more so than children from low income areas).
He is not only attacking children who are raised below the poverty line but entire communities that are forced to coexist in such situations. There is nothing assumptive or wrong with Travon feeling that not only his class but his community was being disgraced. I would feel the same way if I shared all of his perspective.
And you no what? There’s nothing wrong with you failing to see a racial connection in this candidate’s comments. That’s totally fine. What’s offensive is how you blatantly condescend and scold others for having perceptions that are different than yours. You’re just turning one man’s reaction based on his upbringing (which does involve race!) into a boiled down, generic theme that applies to everyone including you. How selfish and patriarchal.
Don just today there was an article in US News about a Landlord who posted a “whites only” sign on the apartment swimming pool. An entire Buffalo New York High School basketball team was suspended recently because of their use of a racial slur in their pre-game cheer. A church in Tennessee recently voted to bar racially mixed couples from membership (it was thankfully overturned and the pastor removed).
Only 10%? These are just a few examples in the last 3 weeks. It is far more than 10% and racism, by the way, requires ‘power’ thus those without power cannot practice racism. They might be prejudice or biased against those who have harmed them or who have repressed them, but they cannot be ‘racist’. Just saying.
Sheesh…I’m so sick of doing your homework for you.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-december-13-2011/newt-gingrich-s-poverty-code
Racism is a big lie people act upon. Blacks were the test, they saw it worked and keep on pimping the ugly agenda meant to divide. You STILL can’t see the plantation growing up around you? PFFT
Crack a book….Black History is YOUR history now.
I’m a Hyphenated-American!
If there’s anything positive to be said about this, it’s that these comments have scuttled any chance Mr. Gingrich had at being the GOP’s candidate in 2012. With them, he’s alienated every black person in the country, plus every other single person with enough between the ears to recognize his comments as the total bullsh*t they are. In addition, Mr. Gingrich has clearly demonstrated he believes that he’s committed to continuing to the sort of divisive, vitriolic politics that has pretty much “quick-sanded” the American political process.
If the next election is between Obama and Newt I may not vote at all for the first time since I came of age
Same here.
I never have voted and I never will, because they are all crooks only our for themselves.
FACT!
If you don’t vote, even if it is for the lesser of two evils than you sign your rights away.
I’m Aussie – this is fascinating, all of it. We have compulsory voting here thank god but i just have to comment.
Please if you can vote, vote. If you vote for the lesser of two evils, still vote. It might be the only voice you have that anybody actually registers. if you don’t vote, you’ve already lost. You’re already saying “I opt out”, and i think the biggest thing that’s coming through this whole blog is that you need to opt in. You need to care about other Americans regardless of the colour of their skin or the wealth in their pockets or where they live, you need to care about their children and their welfare even if you think they don’t seem to, you need to assist in providing social safety nets for people who can’t or won’t because people are as valuable as they believe themselves to be, and right now it seems to me that a lot of people in America feel like crap. A democratic society is not one where everyone agrees, it’s one where everyone gets a chance to be heard and treated equally which is clearly not happening in your country to an even greater degree than it’s not happening in ours.
Please care for each other. there’s no point in playing the ‘who’s worse off white or black stuff’, you’re just playing into it all. Care for each other first and then you can present a united front. Because there’s an enormous anger coming through this blog, despite all the snipe-y posts and percentage quotes and what-have-you , there’s an enormous anger and sadness and you might notice that you’re not alone. This is worldwide.
But vote. Vote because you have the freedom to walk into a polling booth without being shot or harassed, and register your belief that democracy can be made to work. You have to work at it, we all do, and I think we’re all trying, all over the world, to feel our way through this bloody mess that a belief in money has led us to.
Namaaste
Spot on.
Mr. Free, thank you for your observation. I am white and grew up poor also, BTW, but I had much the same thoughts as you when I heard Gingrich’s remarks. Putting poor kids to work in restrooms?! !Unbelievable. And yes, I realized the race he was likely talking about, although I doubt he has respect for anyone who is poor and struggling.
He hasn’t a clue…and is unlikely to get one, I’m afraid. Right on about Kim and Paris! Wonderful models for young girlhood! No need to look at anyone from a poor background or the middle class as an example, as the person who is our current President.
I am now calling Newt “GinGRINCH”, in the spirit of the season.
I had a friend with her Masters in Education from USC in L.A. and instead of going to work at a private school or teach at a college she decided to work in a high school that was very poor with mostly single parents. I was there quite a bit hanging out with her after school when she graded papers and I would help her clean her classroom up for the next day and I have to tell you that she was so disrespected by her students that it nearly broke her. Kids wouldn’t turn in their homework, she had 75-80 fails on quizzez and tests. She worked so hard to teach but they were rude to her in class. However, she stayed for six years before getting married. The teens at this school didn’t care about their homework, most never brought their books to class and at least 75 percent of them ditched 2-3 days of a school week. She reached out to the kids and their families but was always pushed away. Anyone of those teens could have gotten a babysitting job, cut grass or gotten a job at the mall working fast food. That doesn’t mean it’s child labor. These teens had no adult role models around them telling them that they cared and modeled hard work. At least most of them didn’t. My friend was probably many of these teen’s only caring adult. AND she was a Republican. She loved these teens and was treated horribly by them. Many of the teen boys AND girls were in gangs as well with fights on campus often. So Newt may come off harsh but if it was Martin Lawrence or Will Smith or George Lopez saying the same words there wouldn’t be as much of a backlash. Thanks, Mexically Valley-Dude.
I too worked in a high school very similar to the one you describe however, my students did all get jobs upon turning 16, the age that it was legal for them to do so. I believe that it is culture of the specific area but to put all “poor” children under the same blanket and infer they are lazy is upsetting. You cannot give up on children so easily for they are our future! I grew up in a rural white poor area… we struggled to make ends meet but I got a job at the age of 15. I believe what Gingrich said was completely out of line and out of tune. Rather than offering a solution that makes sense he is degrading a large portion of our population.
Mexically Valley-Dude, it sounds like you are just as RED NECKED AND RACIST as Newt. You don’t paint a whole race or community of people the same because of a situation that exist. I am sure you took offense to all whites being called BLUE EYED DEVILS, which personally I never believed. I had sense to know there were too many people in your race for all of them to be the same. And what the hell does being Republican have to do with how well she reached out to the kids?? While Newt is shinning light on the poor blacks, he should know that statistically, (post George Bush,) there were more whites on welfare than blacks. But during George Bush he evened the playing field now everybody is out of work, on foodstamps and welfare. I want Newt to remember one thing, we maybe out of work, on foodstamps and welfare but we still VOTE!!! and guess who won’t be getting any!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND WHAT THE HELL IS A NEWT?? Was his mama a witch?
P.S. MEXICALLY DUDE, if you’re not white and Mexican you got to be the DUMBIST idiot in the world. I hope you keep your papers in order!
I think the point was that people would find it hard to believe that a Republican would actually try to help the poor. That’s the purview of Democrats, right? More whites on welfare than blacks? What’s that percentage? You’re saying that 20% of whites are on welfare and 15% of blacks or absolute numbers? Spin doesn’t help. You blame it on Bush but the Democrats controlled the Congress during the beginning of the crash. As you can see from the current situation, it’s the Congress that can make are break the economy, not the President.
I don’t think Gingrich was referring to your mom. He was most likely referring to those who take advantage of the system, who don’t work, and expect things to be given to them. I grew up poor and my mom worked her butt off also. It is not only Republicans that are quick to stereotype and give generalizations. The best thing we can do is to encourage one another to do our best, work hard, and help one another out. It is not the job of the government to do those things for us. It is easy for poor people to say ” well the rich have an obligation to the poor” but the poor people don’t pay taxes either. We get money we don’t really even earn most of the time. Why do I get the earned income credit ? I work hard but because I make less than “rich people” I get money back. Honestly the rich people I know who are Republicans love helping people out, but they don’t want to be told they have to do it through the government. Lets not raise taxes on the rich, give the “rich” business owners a tax break so they can hire more people, grow their companies and make America financially strong again. I choose to not be rich because I don’t want all the extra responsibility, I choose to work so I can pay my bills and take care of my family. I also know though, that I wont get a raise at work unless the business I work for is profitable.
The “rich” business owners have been getting a tax break for 10 years and they are still not creating jobs in America. They are creating them overseas. Hello?!
EXACLTY!!! I am not a fan of big government but…….it is an unfortunate cicumstance we find ourselves in when we need to hope the government will step up and pass laws MADATING human decency and a far and level playing field for All Americans
Any company that outsources 1 single job to another country should be fined, a very very large fine. That will get jobs back in America faster than anything else. Stop arguing and do something!! But Obama doesn’t want to do that, because he is more concerned w/ sucking up and kissing ass to other countries than actually creating jobs that he speaks of. He is all talk, whines more than my 3 year old, let’s blame Bush for Everything!!!, and while speaking of our PC president, maybe you should think about how many jobs will be destroyed by stupid ObamaCare, mine included. I work my ass off, as does my husband, we have 3 kids and are barely making it, yet Obama wants to give my hard earned money to the welfare nation that is overtaking America.
As much as I hate to say it. But whose fault is it that they are sending those jobs overseas? And ask yourself, why are they sending them there?
There are people in each of the economic brackets that take advantage of the system. Gingrich is focusing on the poorest class that always gets pooped on. I agree that NOTHING should be free. But on that same tocken, that means no free tax breaks for the rich. And YES I believe that people on welfare should WORK for their money. “it is not the job of the government”… to help wealthy, well-off people ‘easily’ become more powerful and wealthier. How can you contradict yourself in the same little paragraph, that it is wrong for the government to help; give tax breaks and free money, then you end with saying these things should be given to the rich?!?! It is our obligation as HUMANS and as AMERICANS to contribute to OUR COMMUNITIES and the less fortunate. I dont/wont believe/accept that the 1% are giving back their fair share to the American public. If you look at America as a corporation and the wealthy 1% of this country as VP’s and the poor (there is NO middle class so I wont mention that) the average cubical worker or even laborer, why are the VP’s getting raises and bonuses and all these incentives while the average worker gets pay cuts/freezes or even worse their job shipped off to India/Mexico/China because they can pay someone there to do that job for a fraction of the pay here and the VP’s get even MORE incentives/bonuses when all along THE COUNTRY/CORPORATION IS BANKRUPT?!?!?!?!? The current situation in this country is NOT picture perfect AND greedy I mean rich people DONT do their part! I hope that you soon will open your biased eyes to reality. Peace and God Bless America!!
Yes, help people that are less fortunate, but why are we enabling them?? Why do we keep giving them money, money taken from hard working families such as mine, and allow them to sit and do nothing?? HELP is the key word, but giving handouts, well, that is hurting the people who are barely making it. As for the job issue, all Obama has to do is fine the companies that outsource, but he won’t do that, because he cares more about what the leaders of the other nations think of him than the wellbeing of our citizens, not to mention he needs to keep all the illegals,,,, How about instead of complaining about Newt you do something. Obama isn’t doing anyting, wait, I forgot, he blames Bush for everything under the sun, but other than that…..
You are aware, I hope, that some people are not able to work. Period. Either for physical or mental reasons. Only those are the ones who receive money over any length of time for “doing nothing”. Every other person, of sound body and mind, is given relief for a limited period of time only. You might try to live for one month on the same amount of “relief” they get before you go yapping about how good they have it. You should make yourself aware of the welfare reform that was enacted just a few short years ago that severely limits what is received and the time duration of the benefits. This is one of the most over-blown arguments there is out there. Frankly, I’m a little sick of hearing it. Welfare for the wealthy, however, is rarely discussed and costs us a helluva lot more.
So, you mean give them (the rich) yet another tax break and they’ll keep right on hiring like they’ve done for the last 10 years? Oh, wait, they didn’t hire. They moved our jobs overseas.
I’d be willing to guess that the “rich Republicans” you “know”, who love to help people, are not in the top 1%, but somewhere near the top of the 99% that the rest of us are in. Take away their tax deduction for donations, and watch how fast the donations dry up. And you sure won’t see them getting their hands dirty by helping in a soup kitchen or the like. We all work to have the ability to care for our families, most of us do not care about being “rich”, but we all want a job and a fair wage. That is NOT too much to ask for. WE wouldn’t have to be asking for this if those nice rich people were actually hiring instead of sitting on their money. And it would have been nice if those wonderful rich people did not choose to gamble away my life savings by bringing down Wall Street at a time when I most needed my savings.
I’m a fairly well-to-do white guy and I similarly felt slapped across the face by these same remarks. Thanks, Travon, for your rapid response to hatred.
I was appalled by Newt’s racist-elitist comments. He’s completely out of touch with the reality of most Americans today regardless of color. Not only does he scare the shit out of me, I’m beyond baffled as to how this inane hedonist is leading in the polls.
How about a National Service where every single American does community service outside of their own immediate community for a year between the ages of 16 and 19 in exchange for room, board and/or funds for higher education – no matter their color, socioeconomic status or whatever?
I think it’s a good idea, as long as it’s not a requirement. However, some jackass somewhere is going to start screaming socialism and that will be the end of that…
Genious!
Plenty of other countries do that. It’s a great idea. But I think it should be mandatory, because we all benefit from the country we live in. Perhaps some rich kids could learn a little humility while “poor kids” are learning a work ethic. (Sarcasm)
Yes, humility and EMPATHY.
Bust only mandatory if one wants to utilize the benefits derived from the collective efforts of all — which just so happens to be unavoidable once we’ve taken our first breath.
CODB: Cost of Doing Business is a term used in the business world. CODSB: Cost of Doing SOCIAL Business.
How can Newt say anything about Good Ethics?
The last I remember Ivy League schools don’t give scholarships based on academic or athletic performance. Financial aid is strictly given on a family need basis and is considered after you’re accepted to school-far different from scholarships. If you got in wonderful, but was any other part of your story embellished?
You really think they don’t offer merit based academic scholarships? How do middle class smart kids go to school then? They sure aren’t granted need based financial aid because their families make too much. I cant speak to Harvard or Yale, but as an alum of a “public ivy”, the University of Virginia, I know that many hard working students busted their asses to earn merit based scholarships to afford school. One such scholarship, the Jefferson scholarship, offers a full ride. Just because you didn’t receive a scholarship for sports or athletics doesn’t mean the school doesn’t offer them…or did you not go to an ivy?
Totally incorrect. I have two friends who went to Harvard on academic scholarships, a friend whose daughter is attending Cornell on an athletic scholarship and one of my husband’s former student was offered an athletic scholarship to Yale. I believe these are Ivy League schools.
My sis had an athletic scholarship to Yale. Your memory is faulty, Teve.
I vote to put dumb a** Newt on MUTE!
I agree with the spirit of everything in this article. Unfortunately, Ivy League schools are not allowed to athletic scholarships (http://www.ncsasports.org/blog/2009/10/20/ask-coach-taylor-do-ivy-league-schools-offer-athletic-scholarships/), so that part of the article is fake, which is sad, because it weakens an otherwise perfect argument (and doesn’t make Newt any less of an ass).
He said, …from three Ivy League and “countless others.” Not the specifically accurate but close enough, for me.
countless other non Ivy League schools. I was a McDonalds All American nominated basketball player with a 3.99 gpa which is a college coach’s wet dream. I have boxes of both athletic and academic recruitment letters. Not that any of that matters anymore.
Read this– however, maybe these offers are “under the table” so to speak (ohh, maybe there are some good violations!!). There was no financial need in any of the families– and I was present at awards ceremony for 3 of these scholarships (2 were MANY years ago).
Go ahead Brotha, you preach!
nice post. thanks for the good work . keep it up. if this is the best the gop can do the dems have a good chance of moving onward and upward despite all the stonewalling they are doing. any moderatly reasonable person will disassociate with the radical right and all they have become. nordquist ho.
what an evil bastard. I GREW UP IN A POOR NEIGHBORHOOD in Memphis. Yes I yelled that. My mom worked EVERYDAY to put food on the table. She never took a dime from the government. I was raised with a great work ethic. How DARE you say that about poor people. How DARE you. You left your wife who had cancer for a younger woman. You whore-monger! Adulterer! Bigot! I can think of many more but I AM a decent person, so I won’t go there. Did I mention ADULTERER???
No, you have to delete the mashed potato comment immediately. It taints all the rest of it. Newt’s bodyfat distribution does not disqualify him from political office nor does it have any causal connection to his racial and class insensitivity. In your encomium to your hard-working mother, you don’t make any mention of whether she was svelte or not. Any why not? Because it’s completely irrelevant. Even to raise the issue would be insulting, right? (“How did your mama look in a suit?”) Take out the body-based slur against Newt and you’ll have a good essay.
Yeah, but it is funny!
I’m sure there are plenty of people for whom the mashed-potato remark counts as high wit. There were lots of guys in my high school who were endlessly entertained by publicly disparaging other people’s bodies. It has no place in the political discourse though. And it will make it all too easy to dismiss the essayist’s legitimate commentary.
Thank you for writing this! Being a white kid who grew up in the D street projects in South Boston who got accepted to 3 Ivy league schools, who has two bachelors degrees and began working as a babysitter at age 12 i know that he is completely wrong. So thank you for writing this letter. My response to continue on my application process and hope that i am accepted into the Teach For America program so that i can show children in poverty stricken schools and neighborhoods that they have a chance, that this man is wrong and that hey can succeed.
Gingrich was talking about the working poor and it would seem he is not the only one with that view. Maybe a job after school isn’t such a bad idea.
What’s most overwhelming about urban poverty is that it’s so difficult to escape – it’s isolating and it’s everywhere. If you are an African-American child unlucky enough to be born into one of these neighborhoods, you are most likely to start life hungry or malnourished. You are less likely to start with a father in your household, and if he is there, there’s a fifty-fifty chance that he never finished high school and the same chance he doesn’t have a job. Your school isn’t likely to have the right books or the best teachers. You’re more likely to encounter gang-activities than after-school activities. And if you can’t find a job because the most successful businessman in your neighborhood is a drug dealer, you’re more likely to join that gang yourself. Opportunity is scarce, role models are few, and there is little contact with the normalcy of life outside those streets. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Remarks_of_Senator_Barack_Obama:_Changing_the_Odds_for_Urban_America
Regardless of what you have mentioned here, I doubt that the solution to the problem is to fire the adult janitors who are supporting their families, to replace them with children at minimum wage. Making an entire family poor by killing the job of the breadwinner is not going to lift anyone out of poverty. And giving that job to a child it tantamount to telling that child that this is the job he is suited for, at the same time sending the message to the adult that his job can and should be done by a child. Yeah, that’s really gonna do a lot for the psyche of the poor. How about we spend a little money on education and lift the quality of the schools that “poor” kids attend?
You are awesome my brother. As a divorced sister who raised two bright, loving and productive sons. This letter you wrote must be posted on Facebook and every kind of media used – particularly in our voting communities. Unfortunately this ignorant jerk and racist Gingrich’s debating performance alongside a dull bunch of losers overshadows the truth about him that your letter tells. Please sensible folks of all shades and culture….spread the word by simply passing along this letter. Thank you my brother for inspiring my heart with your words.
probably the nicest words ever put mate to simply say “F*CK YOU!!!” to Newt Gingrich. Many props!!!
Travon Free for president!
Newt’s words reflect his, and to a large degree our society’s ARROGANCE and IGNORANCE.
Someone should remind Newt and the bible belt he’s trying to unbuckle that Jesus was “poor”, at least in terms of material riches, the measure by which Newt determines a person’s value. If Newt were alive in Bethlehem at the moment of Jesus’ birth, and assuming he could be bothered to leave the chamber of his mistress to look upon his own savior, he would have dismissed Jesus as an untouchable wretch of no real wealth, born in a barn and beyond approach. That is the observation of a fool.
Fortunately for all of us, there were truly wise men at that time who traveled great distances to adore the baby Jesus. And because these were truly wise men, they saw past the humble surroundings and swaddling rags and with penetrating insight saw not just who Jesus was, but who Jesus was to become. Being wise men, they did not horde their riches, or flaunt them, or suggest that Jesus should aspire to be as rich as themselves. Instead they opened their treasure chests, and gave Jesus the gifts that would unlock his own giving – the greatest gift man has ever received.
These wise men gave Jesus gold to remind him that there are shiny, rare and precious gifts buried deep within his unique Soul. Like gold, these gifts are highly malleable, lustrous, and conductive.
They also gave the sweet perfume of frankincense, used to carry prayers to God. This gift was given to remind the child to invite the Holy Spirit to come near and abide in him so that God, The Creator and The Source of Love and Light can mold your gifts, polish them to reflect God’s light, and connect them to The Source so they can transmit God’s love into the world.
Finally they gave the gift of myrrh, equal in value to gold and frankincense, which was used in traditional Asian medicine to heal problems related to circulation, and also used by Egyptians in the embalming process. This gift was given to remind the child to GIVE the unique gifts of his Soul, to allow these gifts to CIRCULATE. The body that houses your Soul/gifts, and the Holy Spirit of Love, is also the vehicle which you share these divine gifts with the world. The body is a temple, and thus is temporal in nature. When we understand that we are only here in this body for a certain time, each day, every moment becomes a gift in itself if we allow ourselves to be truly present.
Thus, these wise men first re-spected (to look again, look deeper), re-cognized (to know again, know deeper), the triunal nature, (Soul, Spirit, Body) of the Child of God. Then they gave of themselves to re-mind (think again, think deeper) Jesus that even as a baby, God had already given him everything he needed to re-deem (buy again, buy back) all of God’s creation.
As if this wasn’t already the best news we’ve ever heard, there’s actually more.
You see, we are ALL children of God, and we are all created in his image – the triunal nature of Soul, Spirit and Body. Each of us has been given a Soul containing unique gifts which only we can GIVE to the world. Each of us has been given a heart to fill with the Holy Spirit of God who LIVES in and through us and transforms us. We each have a body, which when transformed by Spirit becomes the embodiment of God’s Love through which we transform the world by giving the unique divine gifts of our Soul. Because of this we all have the potential to be a Christ, an anointed healer in this world. God is so generous, giving and loving he made us both creation, and co-creators along with him. The moment we understand this, we not only witness the second coming of Christ, we ARE the second coming of Christ.
We don’t have to wait for a savior. When you know the truth about our true (triunal) nature you can “save your” self, “save your” family, “save your” community and “save your” world from the only thing it really needs saving from — our own arrogance and ignorance.
I am not a “religious” person but that was beautiful and very well said.
Grateful for your response, Trevor. Most White Americans tend to view Black Americans from a distance and don’t bother to go beyond the stereotypes to develop actual relationships with people that don’t look like them or that aren’t in their socioeconomic situation. So I know it can get beyond frustrating trying to disseminate truth to those that don’t even have a starting point.
I had a few thoughts I tried to focus on through this, *ahem* learning experience.
http://leftcheek.blogspot.com/2011/12/lessons-to-learn-from-bubba-trump.html
Thank you for your letter and introspection. I came from a white working poor family. My parents almost worked themselves to death. I started doing the house cleaning and cooking for my family at the age of 8, to try to alieve some of the stress and workload on my mother who wasn’t getting home until 9 PM. My brother did our yard work and odd jobs to help out. We all worked the family business in attemps to keep it out of the red. We failed when it failed. It is pretty obvious that Newt and the Republicans don’t have a clue. How can they say Obama has failed? Rebublicans have stood in his way and fought everything he has tried to improve and then blame him when his policies don’t get a chance to even get started. What I cannot understand is why Republicans support their party. Why Republicans fight to keep the 1% wealthy beyound all imagination when they themselves do not benifit from their parties policies.
Republicans are not fighting to keep the 1% wealthy, we fight so that my paycheck that I work my ass off for goes to my kids and not to some welfare junkie. I understand that not everyone on welfare is lazy, I actually personally know some success stories, but I earn my money, I take a drug test 2-6 times a year, I have 3 kids, and I am not okay with enabling people to do nothing. Obama hasn’t done anything other than spend money, talk a whole lot, blame Bush for every single thing wrong in our country, suck up to other nations, desrespect the military, disrespect God and the beliefs our country was built on, and he is slowly turning our beautiful nation to a laughing stock. I am all for helping people, but when I am paying $600 a month for my families health insurance, between my husband and I $1,100 a month in state/ federal taxes, why the hell should I be okay with the millions in this nation sitting on their fat asses spending my hard earned money?? Explain it to me, please.
idiot
It is always good to see people identify their own level of competence and intelligence. Knowing ones self is the first step forward.
It’s a shame this is without a signature! I’d like to know who this stand up comedian is because we need more of you to be vocal for all of to understand what goes on in the hoods most never see. I do have a question, how do we make these “dangerous” areas a better and safer place? Should we take from the rich and simply give it to those less fortunate? Should we require all Americans to volunteer their time to go to these areas and help them improve their lives? Or should we simply tax all of us and give what is needed to help improve the lives of those there? Your mom is a smart woman and raise your family regardless of where you lived and hernhardmwork gave u and your sister a better life than what she had. I hope you and your sister are helping her now so she can ease into her “retiring” years! What a wonderful,payback that would be!
There is no one answer as to how we can fix the broken system of America. We the citizens need to hold ourselves accountable for our laziness. We have allowed the government too much power. Why is it because we are no longer getting the bare minimum, we want change? The Robin Hood motto would be great if Robin wasn’t forced to draw sides. See Mark, the question is not “How do we take from some and give to some… rather WHY is it ingrained that we must take from one another just to get a little piece of nothing. What the story should have taught is that I am an equal contributor of this village and I demand nothing less than what is owed to me, period-is that not a democracy? Citizens in this nation freely gave up democracy, their voice, to the puppets in Washington. We are blinded by the media to choose one of the two sides (who are both owned by Wall Street) believing that they are fighting for our ideas.(Nope just Money). Yet, WE like THEM continuing to embed in this unstable society hatred and division of those who think differently. No elected officer, public march, or whatever else will move this Nation forward until, we change our approach. The answer lies vast within each citizen taking accountability for their actions and contributions to society. Improving lives must be done on all levels personal, private, state, commercial, national and so forth. And in each level things need to be changed, uprooted, and established-like education, poverty, health care, jobs, government regulation, and much more. I’m pretty sure you know the answer to the questions you posed. But are we serious about buckling down and demanding democracy over capitalism? Or are we just fighting for a piece of cheese and day old bread? #FightingForDemocracy
Ps: I think the author of the letter is Travon Free.
We can start by adequately funding education from pre-school thru college for every citizen of this country instead of using our resources for war and lower and lower taxes on the wealthiest among us….
If you want to get this country back on track, vote Ron Paul.
or elmer fudd
You’re funnier than Newt is stupid.
I take issue with you saying (in the update) that the mashed-potatoes-in-a-suit remark was a joke.
That is no joke, Sir–just look at him.
Thanks for a forceful (in the best way) and very necessary commentary on this man’s outrageous ignorance. Nicely done.
The 2 faced (JOKE) is not funny if this NEWT was Black and the comedian had said you look like something black poured in a suit we’d all hear RACIST
Sick of the tag racist
There are too many comments to read them all. I’ve scrolled and looked specifically for pro-Newt comments. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I’m not sure which is worse, it is amazing, shocking, funny, unbelievable how the vast majority of pro-Newt commentators prove Travon’s point exactly: bad spelling, no punctuation, reading material that feels to the reader like a load of vomit being thrown at you, like a stubborn piece of stool that finally passes, completely void of any ambition to make an intelligent point in order to convince their audience.
I have to give them this though: they are not uncapable of bringing across any point at all …
Here, here, Travon!
And you have?
You know the world is crap when you have these “high and mightys” holding little power but want to be ruler of the greatest nation to not only make it worse, but in their right mind make it work only for them. They are not for the people and joke behind our backs as to what they really see our country being. There should be rules about how these people that decide our future, make their money. How can they make a correct decision that helps our country be all it can be, when they only have them selves in mind. This country is different from when I was a kid and mom and dad could go work a decent job and my brother and I could just go to school. Medical negligence took away my father two years ago (which both of my parents are teachers) after Dad passed away he had a 960,000 dollar medical bill. If my parents Teacher Union or School Board had their way, Mom and Dad would of had to pay 20% instead of just the co-pay that Mom had to pay. 20% of 960K. Come on! How long would a teacher take to pay that off?
Another is student loans, how by owing more than your worth when you get out of school can you afford the American dream. I hate to use the world slave when talking to anyone, but FREEdom cost so much doesn’t it?
On a side note, I thought this article was great reading. I am going to repost.
lets all keep up the hope!
DANK ONE!
I am white. I did not grow up poor.
But I was a single mother for 7 years.
I am an American…and you Sir make me so PROUD!!!!
Your mother will be a hero to many single mothers who struggle to make ends meet…but teach their children hard work, morals and character. God bless your mother…she did an excellent job at the most important job she ever had…being a “Mom”. She raised a great man!
I’m not black or brown but neither did I grow up in a wealthy family. My brothers and I all went to college on the GI Bill because there were no college funds or trust funds. All I can say is good for you..very well put. How is it that Americans continually allow this trash to represent our country? It’s time to quit sitting back and letting the other guy take care of it. Americans need to get up and get involved. You’re right he does look like someone filled his suit with mashed potatoes…
What is most bothersome to me is that he refers to his delusions as “facts.” I had to replay the video to make sure that I heard him correctly.
Thank you for writing, sharing, and inviting others to comment.
I am a product of a “working” poor household. My dad worked while my mother stayed home to raise the five of us children. In addition to a 9-5, my father was superintendent of the tenement we resided in, in the South Bronx, which meant he had to work weekends, nights, holidays, etc. Furthermore, he never took off from worked and worked until he retired. He instilled a strong work ethic in all five of us by his actions. We were never on public assistance. Fast forward: four of five of us have college degrees. Two of us have post graduate degrees. One is an attorney in D.C.; one a special education teacher in New York City; one a Vietnam veteran and worked for the New York City court system; one worked in retail and one is a physician assistant. The grand children of this family also have degrees: one attended Yale and has a PhD. in Clinical Psychology; one has a degree in Journalism; one is in the navy. Did I mention we are African-American and knew more families like ours that what you’ve described?
why doesnt this surprise me???
So, Newt what do you plan to do about the environment in which our children are being reared if it is so distasteful to it? Why doesn’t the U.S. get their act together and realize that if our children are failing then we as a country is also failing. The childcare situation is abysmal unless you’re wealthy. Every day I see kids with no motivation to excel, or even know how. It’s easy to blame parents, neighborhoods everyone but the politicians who fail to promote programs or pass bills which support our kids. We test them to death, but do nothing to improve their self-esteem or interpersonal relations.
Get a clue…you and all the other out of touch politicians whose children never had to miss a meal, attend a school where the greatest percentage of the population are free and reduced lunch, or have peers who had to babysit their siblings after school because their parents were working 2-3 jobs. Talk about a foreign concept to people on the hill.
Talk to school counselors who deal with this everyday….
Newt would nuke the poor neighborhoods if he could. He is a shameless, horny, womanizer. Any bets on who his first lady would be?
I agree totally with what you have said. I come from a family farm that we had to shut down. On the farm not only did we work all day and everyday but sometimes way into the night. We are the middle class. As a teenager I worked on the farm and at a local grocery store. We need a president and a congress that will help this country back where it should be. As an adult I work 8 to 12 hours a day just to make ends meet (paycheck to paycheck). I was raised to know that nobody would be giving me anything and if I wanted something I’m life I would have to work for it. Honestly I think that our elected officials should have to use the same insurance we Americans have to use and they should also have to use social security.
Nice article and so eloquently stated. Thanks for taking the time and effort to share this with us. Looks likes its getting a lot of attention!
PS I read a comment somewhere where the author referred to the Republican candidates as the Republican Clown Car. What a great visual! You never know who will get out next and how many of them are in that thing!
Republican Clown Car. I’ve been saying that for months. There are entirely too many of them in the thing. But they all look and sound the same. The Republicans don’t have an electable candidate for President. The wingnuts may scream and roar (it’s what they do best) about “taking back America,” but their leadership is a bad joke. My hope is that Obama takes on a more aggressive approach in his second term and starts kicking some ass, rather than trying so hard to “compromise.” I’m tired of compromising with people whose first proposal is so incredibly wrong, that we accede to something that doesn’t seem so bad because it’s not the original idea. It’s typical wingnutty bait-and-switch tactics and we can’t let them sacrifice the middle class bit by bit.
Brother I hope people are listing to what you said! and make shore to get out and vote.
If they change the Voting law’s then get the papers you need so people like Newt. don’t run this country that we Love and trust me we all love this country but not all of us love the people in it.
Honestly, I wish I had time to read all these responses, but I don’t. What a 100% on-point reply to Gingrich’s incompetence and warped view of the world.
On Morning Joe, last week, they were discussion him, and the venom he inspires. One of those on the panel knew Tip O’Neill when he was Speaker of the House way back when.
O’Neill was one of the most gentlemanly, highly-respected, kindly man in politics, and this person on the show said the only person about whom O’Neill ever used the word “hate” was about Newt Gingrich. He said he hated Newt and his politics. Speaks volumes, I believe.
Oops – typo – “discussion” should read “discussing…”
And what gives you the right to insult mashed potatoes
Indeed, Dennie. Hear, Hear!
smile
I looked it up on Snoops — Newt Gingrich is a hoax.
That speech was a hoax. This letter is a hoax.
I’m a h
Opinions do not render one unqualified – resumes do. What we have here is a fundamental misunderstanding of the definition of “unqualified.” If you want to say that he’s “unfit” or some other such term, that’s an opinion that, while I disagree, would at least make sense. It would be difficult to conceive of a candidate less “qualified” than Barack Obama in 2008.
Anyway, this is a tried and true liberal tactic of a.) putting words in one’s mouth in order to b.) play the race card, and then c.) using emotional, anecdotal appeals in response, which draw more emotional nods of approval while actually proving nothing.
You know, I know, and Obama knows that he cannot run on his record, which is filled with staggering incompetence. So, you have to resort to the classic, “He’s a racist!” approach. Anything to distract from the embarrassment that has been the Obama Era, I guess.
you must be the same dumbass that voted for bush not once….. but TWICE. So if your going to try and disrespect Obamas attempt as Janitor (get it? because he is STILL cleaning up Bush’s disaster of a Presidency) you should start at the root… and if you think Newt is the answer then you might want to take a step back and evaluate where you would like to see this country in the next 4-8yrs. I can admit Obama isnt doing the BEST…. but you are only fooling your damn self if you think anyone and i mean ANYONE fom the GOP could do better.
“It would be difficult to conceive of a candidate less “qualified” than Barack Obama in 2008.” ….. how could anyone take you serious when you post upserd comments like this?
…It would be =impossible= to conceive of a candidate less qualified than Sarah Palin. Seriously.
Thanks for proving her point.
Clearly your definition of “qualification” is different from millions of Americans. Resumés and elitist privilege do not qualify a person to be fit for leadership.
When Gingrich is talking about the “poorest people in the poorest neighborhoods” he is addressing the minority population of this country. That’s not my calling him a racist, that’s just fact. The poorest people are not white, and the poorest neighborhoods are made up of minorities.
I understand where you’re coming from, but I am a liberal from rural Iowa and there are hundreds of thousands of poor white folks in dying towns all across America who don’t have access to decent resources, education, or medical care. They’re not mentioned or referred to because the names of those towns aren’t recognizable, but many are in as troubling a situation as those in the inner city. I grew up in a lucky town that still thrives, but that doesn’t mean that the majority of my neighbors lived far below the poverty line. The only reason my family didn’t is because my dad worked two fulltime jobs, both over an hour’s drive away, and he was lucky to have them, and we were still struggling to make ends meet. When I got pneumonia when I was three, it was diagnosed as a cold for three weeks by local doctors, and when I finally ended up going to the ER the nearest one with pediatric care was an hour and a half away.
Yes, in the city, the poor neighborhoods are full of minorities, but there are a lot of places in the United States that aren’t cities. This isn’t just a race issue (though Newt seems to think it is–but he’s not the only one, as your comment demonstrates); it’s a much, much bigger problem than that.
“Underqualified” also pertains to a certain quality of character. Being overtly racist and closed minded is bad for problem solving… In a nation with a whole lot of problems especially for the middle and lower classes that makes his closed-mindedness or inability to sympathize and empathize a significant draw back in his qualifications; ergo, making him unqualified. A president must listen to his people, if he cannot even listen to those who he makes wild generalizations about because he does not know, it is because he never took the time to find out. In a world of inequality, indeed a nation of it with a long history of it, a leader with a closed mind to issues surrounding privilege — be it male privilege, white privilege, non-disabled privilege, socio-economic privilege, heterosexual privilege, religious privilege or any other privilege stemming from undeserved advantage from being part of a majority or group in power in this country — will be a leader that furthers those problems even if it is done unintentionally. A skewed perception of the American working class is a skewed perception of how to go about solving problems within that group. There is a lot of reading material on this topic. Taking down barriers to inequality is essential to cooperation and a government that truly runs for the benefit of all of its people. I suggest you read thoroughly before claiming that something like quality of character and open-mindedness or lack thereof cannot make a person underqualified. Jesus opened his heart to a lot of people. I assume you are Christian because you seem Republican from your claims and your username and they tend to be Christians. Food for thought: Jesus, who I was educated about for 13 years of schooling every day, was a person who said that we should treat others as we would want to be treated. In order to do that one must empathize, one must open one’s mind to situations, styles of life, and cultures that are not our own. This was a demonstration of Newt’s lack of empathy and open-mindedness. Even according to Jesus, this blatant act of ignorance would underqualify someone.
– Sincerely, A White, Non-disabled, Middle-class, Male, Atheist, Heterosexual.
Whether or not Obama is not competent to do his job is not the point here, the point here is that Mr. Gingrich knows ZERO about the poor or even the working class. It bothers me deeply to know that people like you (SarahPalinIsSmarterThanYou) think that he is somehow the answer to our countries problems. I am not 100% sure that Obama getting another term is the answer but I sure as hell know Newt is not the salvation we need. I am curious to know why you think what he said was o.k. Are you so well off that you actually think there is truth to the statement he made about poor kids having no role models and no habit of showing up on Monday and staying all day? Or do you just think he didn’t say that exactly? What is your problem with the above? That the man who wrote has an opinion about what those words translate to for a boy who grew up in the environment Mr. Gingrich speaks of? Unless you grew up in those neighborhoods what would you know about the difficulties involved in it? Yeah he slung out the “R” word (racist for those who needed an explanation) but frankly I thought the exact same thing and I am white, “middle class”, and have a habit of working since I was 15 yrs old. Why is it that when you call a white man racist it gets peoples panties in a twist? If he isn’t being racist he is at the very least just being an ass and speaking on a subject he knows NOTHING about…unless he has some hardship years the rest of us have missed out on, unless you call a $500,000.00 debt to Tiffany’s and Company a hardship that gives him the personal knowledge to speak of the hardships of being poor or working class. Seriously, if you want to be offended be offended that Newt is even daring to speak of family values or fidelity to his current wife, which in case you forgot came at the cost of INFIDELITY to the wife before her…and she was the other woman, and it wasn’t his first time cheating on a wife to get to the next one…someone with his background has NO business speaking about family values or morals because he has none! Even many of his fellow conservatives agree on that point and are openly saying so.
You must have eaten Gingrich’s mash potatoes! lol
@SarahPalinIsDumberthanAnyone: Are you insinuating that Gingsnatch was talking about poor kids who were white? That is what you were saying by accusing Free of playing the race card, right? He (Mashed Potatoes in a Suit) didn’t come out and say “black” or “brown”–he didn’t have to–the inference was there and shining like a torch in his white hooded hand. He didn’t say it because he wanted to allow the ignorant people out there (this is where you come in) step up and accuse anyone condemning his absurd, racist and highly insulting claptrap of playing a race card. Well, guess what? I’m white. He’s a prejudice fuck. Deal with it.
Newt Gingrich was “allowed” to resign as speaker of the house after misappropriating funds and illegally using non-profit organizations to funnel cash into political campaigning. He was PERSONALLY fined $300,000 for his transgressions. SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE TO ME.
What a joke. The republicans can’t find somebody who could be elected president of the PTA, let alone president of the U.S.
i am white. this has nothing to do with race, but the fact that newt [like his name] is a slimy, cold blooded creature. i am not saying that obama has the answers and has done everything right. however, i do agree, that this country with be doing itself a disservice if it even contemplates electing a foul, ignorant person such as newt to office. i agree with the previous post that ron paul is the answer.
not “with be” but “will be”
…It would be =impossible= to conceive of a candidate less qualified than Sarah Palin. Seriously.
(In reference to a prior remark–misplaced. My apologies)
If a man is making judgements against a large section of the United States population and clearly is not going to make an effort to represent their interests then he is UNQUALIFIED. You can preach all the semantics you want, go vote for Newt, I hope he wins the primary.
Obama has done far more good than the last Republican in the white house in half the time… look here http://whatthefuckhasobamadonesofar.com/
Travon,
You are right about several things, but without realizing it, you made your points in a racisist fashion. Sure white people are still in the majority 72.4% ;12. 6% black ; 6.2 % hispanic; 4.8% asian; 2.9 mixed (2 races or more); 0.9% Alaskian Eskimo/Native American Indian; and 0.2% Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (2010 statistics). So it is reasonable to think that all white people have it made and don’t know what real poverty is. I grew up poor, but because my Dad worked in a factory as a skilled laborer (milwright mechanic), he made too much to qualifty for any assistance. We lived in a very poor neighborhood and believe me, the “P0orest kids” got more advantages than kids who families worked hard. The welfare kids all got free breakfast and lunch; most of their school fees waived and were offered government sponsored jobs during the summer. They were considered disadvantaged because their folks chose to sit on the porch all day downing beer and smoking cigarettes, while their kids went hungry and un-supervised. The thing that this ole gal has realized is that there is ALOT of truth in people choosing their circumstances. MANY poor people have the $$$ for entertainment (insert big screen TV’s and the latest DVD’s) cell phones; alcohol; cigs; pot; drugs; things that make them temporarily happy. But because their income is below the poverty level, they get to live in public housing; get subsidies for food; free health care and are eligible for GRANTS (not loans) for their poor children. IMHO, it is the Middle class, the people who DON’T game the system who get reemed. The Rich reem us and so do the poor. It is time to stand up againt ALL the hypocrisy and vote out the rich political hacks who write the laws to fleece the working class!
thank you for your comments and for reading. But I acknowledged in the piece and in other comments that white people probably make up the largest number of poor in america and that its an illusion that all white people are well off or dont struggle. Im well aware of that, please believe me. The reason I focused on black and brown is because myself and my mother are black people and the essence of this letter which most people seem to skip over is that this was a defense of what i deemed an insult to my mother and all the other parents who work hard to take care of their families in poor neighborhoods.
Everyone agrees with your comments. Lazy, ignorant people who game the system suck.
Does that mean the system sucks? Not completely.
One thing to consider when talking about race and welfare…there are vastly more whites on welfare who are draining the system than all other races combined. I know (hope) the point you were trying to make was not racially motivated, but it is something that many people don’t consider.
Cheers to your hard-working family!! The world needs more of it.
HELL YEAH! I fuckin’ hate these ignorant shit heads.
Newt is right. A lot of poor children did not get into the habit of working because they didn’t have parents around who gave them a possible role model. He’s getting too soft in his old age to uphold the conservative agendas in this country with his new fandango ghetto awareness. Why are Hispanics who show up here with nothing accumulating more wealth than some Americans who have ancestors who have been in this country for many generations. Easy; They don’t expect a handout and often come here appreciative of any work they can get.
Hispanics have ancestors that they know about, (most of them) or there roots. Also they appreciate work, and so do I, but I THINK THEY LIKE A FAIR WAGE FOR THERE WORK. Greed and disrepect for our fellow man is a fault that turns a good worker into a ok worker, or worse. Hand out??? then also to make matters worse, (due to the family breakdown or ancestors many can not trace ancestors in slavery and etc.) Current laws support of the same family breakdown. 1. don’t spank your kids, 2. State assistance pays more to a woman filling head of household. (But they are married ……) Well that’s incentive to be single. I don’t need you. So who’s fault is it? Faith? Government? Indiviuals? Childrens? Parents? (remember slave masters breed stock) Your Free now…..but we will kill you if you read books, can’t drink at our water fountain? Who’s fault is that?
As a single (white, but who cares) mother who struggled economically for years, I applaud the achievements you and your sister accomplished and give a standing ovation to the credit you give your mother for the effort she put forth in providing for you. My son was the first university-degreed member of my family — and is now a very successful video editor/producer. My fiance (who was a single, poor white father) boasts a college grad and a college student. The “repugnents” who vie for the White House terrify us all with their disdain for the poor or disadvantaged. We must all, who struggle, work hard, and care for the future of this nation, educate our children not only to better themselves for their own future but encourage them on the importance of being civic-minded voters — for that is the only way the American middle class will survive and the American poor can have a hope to offer brighter futures for their children and themselves. We hold the power to keep idiots like Newt out — it’s called the ballot. And we must all get out to vote next November! (Hopefully, for President Obama and Vice President Biden!)
Mr. Free, Thank you. Hey, you are smarter than Newt and Rick Perry put together. Why don’t you run for president?
Because them together is not even 1% of the necessary brains it takes…
HAHAH! Damn that’s a good one. That was too easy.
It amazes me that so many cannot see the racism that is endemic in the GOP and the Tea Party. I can see it and I am a white male. I can see that the policies the GOP and Tea Party support are racist, sexist, homophobic and gross religious discrimination.
The blogger who wrote this letter is quite correct that the ignorance, bigotry and arrogance Newton Gingrich displays are disqualifiers for Presidential office. We cannot afford another divisive, ignorant, greedy President of similar stripe as George W. Bush.
The nations poorest members are predominantly black and brown Americans, with a growing number of white Americans joining those ranks every week, due to the obstructions, greed, hatred and idolatry of the GOP lead House of Representatives. That these policies are meant to enrich a microscopic minority at the top is blatantly obvious. Until the Congress works for the majority of the people the ranks of impoverished Americans will continue to grow, and at a steadily increasing rate. Jobs will continue to evaporate, and our debt to places like China and Saudi Arabia will grow.
The government needs to focus on making things better for the middle and lower classes or they will not get better for anyone. Even the richest need the majority, We are their customers. If we don’t have GOOD jobs that earn enough for us to have discretionary income, we won’t be buying as much of what they sell, and the economy will continue to shrink. Periodic increases, such as the holiday surge we are seeing this week will dwindle, and disappear. Don’t let this weeks improvements blind you to the depth of trouble this nation CONTINUES to be in.
The GOP bigotry and greed HAS to go, or we will continue a decline, to an eventual fall, and America will just be something read about in history books.
Affirmative Action is racist…. and it took a lot of (R) congressmen to support it to get it passed.
United Negro College Fund is racist. NAACP is racist. The list goes on and on.
What polices do you see the Tea Party supporting that are racist?
Ignorant people are ignorant. I wish there was a way to make you see the error in your thinking, but there is not.
If you grow up white in this country, you are automatically better off than 20% of the population. Programs that try to fix this problem are “racist?” Sure, because they qualify people based on ethnicity. Is that wrong? No.
I don’t know where Newt was raised or how… but it would seem that wherever it was, however it was, it did not instill a strong work ethic in him…. or most of Congress. What other job does one have that there is no need to show up, and winning the election lottery for one term ensures lifelong support and perks. He has a history of this though, as he was cheating on his wife (and divorced) while throwing stones at Clinton. When people say he is “educated”, I have to just laugh as I don’t think he’s learned a thing.
Amen, that’s the truth. I am white and grew up poor. But I put myself through college since Reagan got rid of the Basic Opportunity Grant. I worked full time and went to school full time. I am a professor of graphic design now. My father was in the union as was my uncle. My uncle has since passed away and he was a Republican. He must be rolling over in his grave if he saw these candidates now. When has any of these candidates really worked especially someone like that hypocrite Newt?!
Mr. Free:
Ditto from a (still) White (former) Kid Who Grew Up In A Poor Neighborhood called the South Bronx.
TRAVON!!!!! Clap, clap, clap!!!! Every time I see his remarks it felt like I was literally being punched, because it’s a slap in the face. I grew up in the worst living conditions – bathrooms in the hallway and had to be shared with others, no gas because the landlord didn’t pay the bill, drug addicts in the building, etc. Then, I moved into the projects! Believe it or not, the projects were a step up from where we came from. Anywho, I saw the hard work ethic in my neighbors. I was told to get my education, and the jobs/careers would follow. See, kids should be taught to first learn, then they can earn! I was a single mother for years, but my hard work ethic – the one I learned watching all the other poor folk work hard for a living, has brought me to a middle income standing in society. So, thank you Travon for speaking for me and those like me.
Snoozer… Usually after an inflammatory article like this (agree with the message or not) it’s amusing to read all the blind comments, underdeveloped arguments, quips, and heavy-digit trolls orchestrating convoluted arguments (usually numbered or bulleted) in the comment section. Where’s the trolls? Where’s the blatant (and hilarious) racist statements? Come on America! Make my lunch break interesting!
Bravo!
It’s not the same when a person from money is made to work when they’re young to learn work ethics as to those who have to work to survive! Thanks for describing Newt exactly like he is: A snotty rich thief who thinks he is better than working and poor people; especially if they’re a minority!
Dear Sir : Fucking brilliant. Absolutely on the money . Your Mother deserves a goddammit MEDAL and a pile of cash and now I come to think of it so do you . Your description of that creature as a pile of mashed potatoes is very funny but perhaps too…kind . Have you noticed that the more worked up this …this REVOLTING piece of white trash gets the more his face looks like an Angry Little Rectum ?
I am a 47 year old educated women of mixed background. My sister and I had our parents in the home until I was 22yrs old and they divorced. My sis and I are both colledge educated. I am finishing my Masters my 22yr old son is a college student with a 3.25 GPA. Now I am rasing my son and daughter who is 7 in a single household, but all of my close friends are college educated, their children are either in college or have graduated, while I believe in work study programs and they do exist, my son was in one in high school so he could know the value of work and he has done community service work since he was 13 as did my sister and I. It is clear that even though it is 2011 it might as well be 1950. People still judge others based soley on what they look like or live and not by the content of their character. I fear for my 7yr old.
“to say that poor kids, and let’s be clear that’s republican speak
for black and brown kids”- Typical liberal BS. Funny how you people play the race card… apparently its you who think only poor people consist of brown and black kids. That being said, you are a miracle. Your situation doesnt happen as much as the opposite does. I dont like Newt due to his amnesty loving… He’s trying to get even more brown people legal status and you are calling him racist, comical
Your combination of the term “you people” and your “get even more brown people legal status” comment is so amusing. Thanks for making Travon’s point for him.
Newsflash! – the US also has immigrants (legal and illegal) from European countries, too.
Agreed! Every time a comment is made it is twisted into a racist sword and returned by the Left -(whom I might add seem to me to becoming the new Elitists in this country with their bitching and whining and protesting) – into the heart of the few persons who are willing to stick their necks out there to try. Obama has failed. Period. Perry is a helium filled ball of worthless southern accent, Romney is the preppy leftover from 1985 who is still more concerned with his Izod shirts and sailboat than really making real change and the rest of the candidates are at best, humorous. If you get your information and education from anywhere other than the Internet, you would know that Gingrich has been quietly working behind the scenes for 2 decades to make a difference. Run out of town when having a gay sister and a divorce was enough to take down a politician, he never quit working to make our country better. It is unfortunate that he is named after an amphibian, but he is still the best man for the job. Still the smartest academic mind running. Maybe not in full control of his every thought, but who is? Even your precious Obama thought there were 58 states! Dan Quayle couldn’t spell POTATO! Gingrich doesn’t hate brown people. He is tired of the status quo. Welfare has killed countries in Europe. That is where we are headed if we do not get the economy moving quick. We can’t continue the way we are. We cannot. No one running has said that but Gingrich. Everyone is blaming but Gingrich is actually making real plans to fix things! He has my vote, not on party lines,but on the same hopes I attached my dreams to 3 years ago. Only this time I think he might be the guy to actually come prepared to play.
Those who out of ignorance merely latch onto the shadow of a thought without really looking into the full bodied depth of what is being said or proposed are easily misled into supporting dull normals who are at best opportunists seeking to feed upon said ignorance. One cannot in all honesty look at Newt’s statements nor his history as a “career politician” and not recognize that he is a man who preaches divisiveness while trying to portray himself as principled. I challenge you to take a few moments to do a search of any particular issue you think Newt stands by and compare it to statements or positions he has taken over the years. If one is truly principled, you do not see flip-fllops or drastic changes in his position without a detailed explanation of what brought about those changes. Can that be said of Newt? I think not. Your arguments are specious, but just for the record, Dan Quayle was never really a serious candidate for presidency, so his misspelling of potato means nothing. and is that really the position you want to accept — that Newt speaks out the side of his neck from time to time, and that’s to be understood? You are even more scary than Newt,, and fortunately there cannot be in this country in the 21st century that many people whoa re willing to bypass and overlook our declared principles and beliefs as a nation in order to support a man who thinks the answer to our problems is giving the rich more money and making poor kids clean toilets. Get a life or at least honestly look into what you profess to believe before you support something you seem to know little about.
Let me ask you…who are the poorest people in this country? Where do they live?
Amen, Kelly, & without racist remarks, dirty words or digs at anyone with whom you disagree. I own many rentals. (no I’m not rich & did not come from money) Ten years ago they were rented by working people, now they’re rented by people who receive money from the government. They do nothing all day while the kids are in school, the houses are filthy,everyone of them smoke & no one can seem to even mow a lawn without being told. Its a very sad road we’re heading down. Learn to work at a young age-it doesn’t hurt anyone and a good work ethic is learned at home. Mr. Free, you proved that point!
I am ashamed of your comment Mike. Who are YOU people that are playing the race card? This old white woman? The writer was clear and added all races. The speech was addressed to him, not to you so you shut up! I am a proud, poor, white woman that raised her kids working three jobs. You have no clue what you are talking about!
its truly amazing the depths these people go in their hatred for newt when his original pits truly amazing the depths these people go in their hatred for newt when his original point was missed completely. until people start looking into things like this further than a clip from the daily show or before a commercial break on msnbc, this misguided vitriol will always dominate political discourse.
go to a low income jr. high anywhere in the country (white, black, mexican, asian or any other predominant race) and tell me whether this success story is the rule or the exception. oint was missed completely. until people start looking into things like this further than a clip from the daily show or before a commercial break on msnbc, this misguided vitriol will always dominate political discourse.
go to a low income jr. high anywhere in the country (white, black, mexican, asian or any other predominant race) and tell me whether this success story is the rule or the exception.
sorry for the paste error
He runs on the same principles as any other republican, say or do anything to get in office and once they’re in, the bullshit back tracking starts. Sounds like Reagan to me; if you don’t like being called a racist, stop being one. This Country has been long fed up with the republican, out of touch, don’t care about anyone but themselves, (mainly white people) attitude. So take the sheet off your face, it’s a brand new day.
Such a great read. Thank you for writing this. You made my day Travon.
Thank you! That is the most eloquent, thoughtful, wise, educated and true reply I’ve ever read.
As a single mother I often had to choose between supporting my child emotionally, by staying home…or financially, by going to work. No mother should ever have to make this choice. I worked 2 and 3 jobs and went back to school to get 3 degrees and bought a home so my child could go to college. Your mother must be so very proud of you! I know i am.
I think you are brilliant, Mr. Free. Mashed potato comment and all.
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I am so completely embarrassed that in this day and age in the United States Of America that the Republican party can not seem to provide a viable candidate for the Presidency of the U.S. of A. that are so completely repulsive I can hardly believe ANYONE would vote for ANY of them if they have even an ounce of brains. As far as NEWT is concerned….He is the biggest ASSHOLE of them all and CERTAINLY has no business even presuming that he is Qualified in any manner to lead this country. I am so very proud of the way in which this gentleman presented his case and agree wholeheartedly ! This shall go down as one of the WORST group of Egotistical Bastards to have ever vied for the office of the Greatest country in the world…SHAME on the REPUBLICANS for what they have done(NOTHING) to help get America on its feet again. Mr. Obama, and his family represent America and I am truly proud to cast my vote for FOUR MORE YEARS OF HIS HEROIC LEADERSHIP and for being the perfect man for the job!!!NEWT IS A Complete IDIOT and I sincerely applaud the comments of this Gentleman who SAYS IT ALL….IN YOUR FAT FACE NEWT …there isn’t anyone that can be more of an ASSHOLE than this FU#*k FACE!!!
May I point out to you that there is a good Republican candidate by the name of Ron Paul. Newt is a complete idiot, this is true, but from every debate I have seen, Paul seems to actually want to fix our country and help the citizens, rather then try to take away our civil liberties, or ruin the economy even more. I’m a 25 yr old girl from the suburbs outside of New Orleans, la and I’m tired of seeing my state decay into further poverty. That’s why I’m actually coming forward and pushing people to pay more attention to Ron Paul because to me…he doesn’t seem like he’s trying to force feed U.S. citizens complete and utter BS
And It’s amazing that the ‘Tea Party’ is supporting someone who violates their basic rules and requirements! Go figure! Hypocrites!
Hello Travon Free,
My name is Ivory Smith, I applaud and agree 100% with your article. As I was reading it I wondered to myself that this article would go to waste if it only stayed on this page. So I sent it to New Gingrich and I am going to send it to some news station’s so that it could be dropped in their ear, thank you for your testament of his inaccurate thinking. I applaud the hard work of your mother for you and your sister. From what I gather she did an amazing job, give her a hug for me please.
Wow thank you very much. I really appreciate that and for you taking the time to read it as well. I’m glad that it was able to resonate with you and everyone else who has found it helpful in any way possible. Peace and Love to you Ivory!
Overall I agree with and enjoyed your essay, except for the part where you take issue with the idea about having kids clean the restrooms, suggesting that it is degrading to young children.
I worked as an English teacher in the Japanese public school system after finishing college here in the US, and in that system all children cleaned the school (including the bathrooms) daily alongside their teachers. There were no janitors. Students also were responsible for serving their fellow students lunch (no one brought lunches from home, and there were no lunchladies) every day.
In my view it provided a sense of ownership of and investment in their school that went beyond attending classes and afterschool clubs. The cleanliness, orderliness, and functioning of the school was something the students had a direct hand in maintaining. A student who made a mess, spray-painted graffiti, or otherwise defaced the school didn’t just make more work for a janitor: he made more work for himself and his classmates. It was far from degrading: I think it was empowering.
It is, of course, wrong to insist that only poor children take an active role in their school’s maintenance. Honestly, I think all children–rich or poor, white or black–would benefit from being made to bear responsibility for the upkeep and daily functioning of their school.
I could not agree more. More children need to learn about accountability and responsibility to their community.
Absolutely! It would be a much better world if everyone in it first of all, HAD a toilet, and second of all had to clean a toilet at some time in their lives.
Lovely reply to that part of this essay. Just lovely. And I wish I could say it was this sentiment behind Newt’s suggestions, but I just don’t believe it was.
Yes it was!!!!!!!
See Travon’s comment below. This is what bothered me about it coming from Newt Gingrich, as well.
Thank you for your comment and for reading this. I agree with what youre saying and I know kids often sometimes clean their schools. I participated in it when I was younger as well. But in the vein of that speech and in telling poor kids to become assistant janitors, it didnt sit well with me in that context. There are plenty of other things kids could do to learn responsibility and work ethic. I’m willing to bet at the rich schools they arent using janitorial work to teach kids work ethic so for that to be the first place you go when talking down to poor kids just doesnt seem right to me. Thank you again for reading!
I do not think Mr. Free would disagree with you if it was part of the school culture as a whole, that ALL students help out to keep the school clean. Its degrading when it would be singling out “poor students” and “giving them a job so they could learn work ethic”.
Wow. I would love to see our schools implement that.
Well its not shocking at all! Alex jones and everyone else said this guy is the most evil person in the white house! Bill 1031 called indefinite detention, states that cops and now troops foreign, united states troops. Can take you for no reason or question. Also even if you are found not guilt they can keep you there for no reason and if need be torcher or kill you if they want! martial law on usa people. Newt was heard saying, they dont diserve rites and should be killed! Watch alex jones for the true news and his site is infowars.com! If you havent listen to him you will be woke up very quick! check it out! peace mike
Everyone PLEASE stop bashing the Republiturds! The Demorhoids are equally to blame for the decades of Bullshit foisted upon us as Americans! 99% of candidates on both sides are bought and paid for. At this point, the ONLY truthful candidate (on either side) seems to be Dr. Ron Paul. I can show you clip upon clip of disgusting, repugnant shit Spewn from the mouth of BOTH parties! To claim one party’s superiority over the other is exactly what the 1% wants. They are two arms of the same horrible monster!! Put all your party affiliations aside, and READ THE CONSTITUTION, and research ALL candidates. I Love You All My Fellow Americans, and pray for our awakening!!
P.S. Anyone who voted to designate Pizza as a vegetable should be forced out of politics forever!!
I am past middle age, and I have NEVER heard a Democrat spew this kind of vitriol.
Do you remember Barbara Bush saying that blacks who were abandoned in the Super Dome in New Orleans were better off there than in their homes? We are dealing with detachment here. My Mother taught us that you don’t judge the many by the few–for that matter you don’t judge at all.
Well just came out that Jackie Kennedy said some not so nice things about Dr. King.
Chuck, Wake up! To paint the Democrats with the same brush as the corporate owned Republicorp is absurd. Obviously you are very young or you would know better. It’s OK though, when you come to your senses and realize that the Pied Piper isn’t going to save you, we will still be here looking out for the rights of even fools like you. Obama/Biden 2012.
If you don’t think the Democratic party is “corporate” owned, you are the biggest sheep of a commentor yet.
58 donors are responsible for 80% of SuperPac funding, on both sides of the aisle.
Wake up.
chuck thats the problem with this country, we are so divided. The article wasnt about all Republicans it was about one asshole who dosent have the right to paint poor kids with such a broad brush. I agree we need to revamp the whole government, but until we stand together its not gonna happen. Politicians are always throwing the Constitution up when it comes to any political debate, but what are the first words in the Constitution? “WE THE PEOPLE” arent the poor considered people? Seems like Dems and Repubs forget about us when they are trying to move their agenda along! Lets remember Martin Luther Kings fight for equality and goodwill towards each other because it seems like he gave his life in vain!
Sorry Chuck is correct. Obama is a pawn for the financial industry along with all the other congresspeoples who accept bribes daily. They are all worthless. You cannot change anything by voting these days. It will take a revolution. The Occupy movement is just part of a world movement to get rid of the oppressors under all names: Dictators, Republicans, Democrats, Free Market advocates, Ron Paulians, and so on. They all need to be bashed with non-violent means and that includes telling it like it is. By the way, the mashed potato comment is brilliant.
P.S. We ain’t gonna take their shit no more.
I love the P.S. Great simile regardless of the target. I happen to disagree with what some of the naysayers write here. Gingrich would not make a good President and most certainly not a great President. Obama continues to be stonewalled by a party that is only focused on see him out of office rather than actually attempt to help the majority of Americans who have seen their wages and benefits dwindle away to an increasingly smaller piece of the pie while the top 1% keeping getting larger and larger pieces. Even if Gingrich was remotely correct in his assessment of the poor, which he most definitely not, allowing the income gap to widen is simply immoral.
I am a white, moderately conservative woman. The night Mr. Obama won the election, I cried with relief. Finally, someone who didn’t seem to be swayed by the political bullshit. Unfortunately, he IS stonewalled by the “others.” It sickens me to think that fellow Americans, those people who claim they are ALL American, would rather hate-monger and do absolutely nothing, than allow those of us who struggle to be considered equal to them. Fie on them, and a pox on their future campaigns.
I may be black but we need a white man in office black people cant do it and people just voted for Obama because he was black
Ouch. I can’t speak for everyone else in the US but I’m white and I voted for Obama because he is a bright, thoughtful, kind person. Seems like good qualities in a leader. It may make me naiive but I’d vote for those qualities again regardless of race or sex.
I didn’t consider Obama’s color when I voted for him. :/ Come to think of it, I don’t know anyone that voted for him ever mention his color and I’m white. Further more, people of color run plenty of countries.
Maybe Obama can’t do it, but that is a matter of opinion. I’m sure race has nothing to do with it.
Maybe it would be nice to have an asian in office though, because he/she would be able to balance the budget and do the bills… You know since they have those great math skills.
Committees in the legislature does the money.
Absolutely untrue.
You are not black. You are an idiot.
I’m white and I voted for him because he was the only decent choice. I haven’t agreed with everything he’s done in office, but he’s still the best choice if you want somone to stand up for the 99%. White people don’t vote for people just because they’re black. Just like women don’t vote for women just because they’re women. You paint with a broad brush.
http://www.americanthinker.com/articles/../2011/12/the_ultimate_devastating_price_of_government_dependency.html
First of all, with 45,000 view in only 9 hours I cant possibly respond to all of the comments. But I will respond to a them that I’ve noticed. The people calling President Obama a failure. That is a lie. Most people who throw that statement around usually have little to no facts to back it up or they’re usually weak in substance and foundation. I will not blindly defend Obama and I dont agree with everything he’s done but I will say this, a failure he is not. And I will give you proof of that.
The link below is from Politifact.com who uses unbiased and impartial research to examine ALL political figures, not just left or right. You will find a clear representation of the 159 campaign promises that Obama has already fulfilled as well as the ones he failed on which clearly refute the people who continue to state the president has failed. Please stop repeating Fox News rhetoric and do your own research. You will also find a link to show everything Obama did in just his first two years alone. I know some people who lean right are factose intolerant but at least now you cant say no one ever showed you evidence to the contrary.
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/
http://travonfree.wordpress.com/2011/01/10/whats-obama-done-the-last-two-years-im-glad-you-asked/
Factose intolerant may very well be my new favorite word!
Good stuff man, I like seeing the truth in things rather then seeing the sugar coated BS that most of the news sites come up with. Good stuff on Newt, I don’t think mash potatoes fits the bill though, more like shit.
Thank you so much for posting this! I voted for Obama and quite frankly I am excited for another 4 years of him as President. I can say that I truly believe that Bill Clinton was one of the greatest presidents we have ever had but most people don’t remember that even he wasn’t able to clean things up till late into his second term. How could we have possibly expected President Obama to fix a problem within 4 years that had 8 years to develop?
Thank you, for defending your fellow Americans. Thank you for being unafraid to say what needs saying. And thank you for destroying my love of mashed potatoes. Too many carbs. Maybe I’ll fit into those old jeans, after all
Amy — Try mashed turnips instead.
CORRECTION: Mashed Parsnips. They are a sweet, healthy, less starchy substitution. Sorry about the mixup. Enjoy.
Thanks, Nick, I will definitely try it!
amen!
First off why are you so quick to judge the meaning of poor kids, :black and Brown: people are always so quick to play the victim and “republican talk for Black and brown kids” whatever thats bull. Thats the best thing that could happen to America is to get a republican in officw.
You are STUPID!
I agree whole heartedly!!!!!!!!
Yeah, because whenever republicans talk about poor people they specifically mean white………………
I’m sure when they say “welfare” they mean all the white people on welfare, too, right? Wrong! I agree with Brent.
I am white, and my husband is black. I was raised in a poor family. He has always been in the middle class. We are both professionals with Master’s degrees (actually, he has two). If he runs to the store in sweats and a baseball cap, employees follow him around like he’s going to steal something. If I leave the house in sweats and a baseball cap, I’m a suburban mom running errands. Don’t think for a minute that racist doesn’t still exist.
What about red or yellow? Clearly you only care about blacks and browns. Go get an education and a job WITHOUT affirmative action <3.
Wow. Yeah… So you can’t read AND you assume that every Black man has a job courtesy of affirmative action?
Enjoy Newt, Klanman…
Wow…you really think affirmative action is real?
ROFLMAO!
abc.com, Gingrich on dec 2nd
“Look,” Gingrich said, “at a time when you have up to 43% black teenage unemployment, you have entire communities that are devastated, you have neighborhoods where nobody has worked and nobody has any habit of work”
Normally I agree that we shouldn’t jump the gun to draw the line between “things that are offensive” and “things pertaining to race” but I think in this case Gingrich didn’t exactly do a good job of covering his tracks.
Here, here!!
I’m here via a link from another blog, and I want to say thank you for this. I am a child of the projects and if Newt is supposed to be believed I was never supposed to amount to anything. Yet I am a college graduate coming up on my 25 year reunion and have been steadily employed during the entire time.
But it’s all good because every Black, Brown and poor White kid that succeeds and becomes an asset to their community is a living, breathing “f*ck you” to Gingrich and his ilk.
This is my first visit to your blog but it certainly won’t be the last.
THankyou KITTY
From someone who grew up a lower middle class white girl, I say I “way to go”. I hate stereo-types. I hate when people make assumptions about a person based on their background/race/creed/color. I don’t think money gives anyone an edge on character. Just look at the examples above. Paris Hilton, pick any one of the stupid Kardashians, etc etc, we could go on all day.
Great post!
This is how Hitler and his ilk started. Any time you you make another person into “other,” you have an excuse for blaming them for the world’s woes. This man is a disgrace to our country. I came from a working class background, and my siblngs (7) and I were lumped into a stereotype (factory children). I began working at fifteen and now have two post-graduate degrees.
Here here from another lower class white girl who grew up right next door to Compton, in South Gate, to become a Lawyer. While I know Newt was referring mainly to people of color, as his kind thinks people of color are the only ones that are on welfare sitting around suckling off the public tit, it was insulting to all poor people everywhere as I know how hard my single Mom worked raising 6 kids on her own. Newt and all the other 1 percentets don’t have a clue what it is to really work hard. I went to law school with some of the “privileged” few and their sense of entitlement and snobbery made me sick. They are the lazy ones, not the poor.
Beth, I thought I was the only person who called my upbringing, “lower middle class”. I sooo wanted to be considered middle class, but I knew better. Glad to know I’m not the only one.
Also, to the people who have complained that someone can’t work ALL DAY: Trust me, there are many people who will work ALL DAY today and continue the process for all seven days in a week. They just do it at multiple jobs. As someone who has had a full time job and two part time jobs all at the same time, I did work ALL DAY, ALL WEEK. It’s exhausting, but people do what they have to do….a common theme among the working poor!
Finally, if Newt was so interested in helping kids get out of poverty, why wouldn’t he offer up jobs in the school library or filing for the principal? Why cleaning toilets??? I found his entire thought process offensive.
Newt hasn’t actually worked a day in his life, unless “talking out your ass” is now a job qualification! My dad died when I was 3, I was raised in the projects, my mom worked hard, and every job I ever had was minimum wage… If it’s not too much trouble, Newt, would you please kiss my ass?
I don’t have a comment about your piece, I have a question? Why is it that a lot of black men go around getting women pregnant, but aren’t man enough to stick around to help raise the child? Why is that son or daughter see DAD only once a month, when he comes back to collect the welfare check?
i know alot of white men who do the same damn thing.
Here! Here! I was married to one!
And so was I and your point? My ex see his daughter 3 weekends every month, on his birthday we split major holidays every other year, he comes to her pagents, I still talk to my ex inlaws and he pays his child support even when he was unemployeed he paid his child support & my son’s father pays his as well and my son is 22 yr old college student.
I’ve met people of multiple races that openly admit to doing this. I’ve also met multiple women who accept because they want the government payout for having X amount of children, so they can have more money. It’s sick, but it isn’t down to one man, woman, or race.
Thank you, Beth.
im not black and i haven’t seen my dad in half a year,
thank you.
This is not a black issue, this is a MALE issue. I should not be pleasantly surprised when i see a male actually be a MAN and support his children in all ways. My mother has a daycare center FULL of WONDERFUL fatherless children. Most of whom at this particular time are white. And FYI if you look at the actual government statistics, prior to this recession, there have ALWAYS been more white women on aid, than minority women. ALWAYS. People like you get confused by percentages, but the truth of the matter is that prior to the economy going downhill, in plain raw numbers, there are more white people on aid than black/brown people. Period.
Ok, first of all people use percentages when comparing because this “norms” the data. By this, I mean that the black population is about 11% of the total population. Because it’s such a small percentage, you would have to compare the total percent of black people who receive aid to the total percentage of white people. Of course more white people receive aid b/c THERE ARE MANY MORE WHITE PEOPLE. Having said that, I don’t care who receives more … Sad that you feel the need to detract attention away from one race and put focus on the other group. We are all humans. Plain and simple.
Yes, Annette, you made my point. People think that more black people are on welfare because the number may be,say, 20% but if you look at the RAW numbers. You would see (not using real numbers here) That 20% is only 20 black people. Whereas 10% would actually be 100 white people. Because of the difference in size of the populations. That is why I said one must look at the RAW numbers.
And I didn’t detract, I pointed out a glaring truth to counter the baseless stereotype that Brant posted in the first place. There was no way I was going to sit quietly and let him post that racist sludge.
What I found was to be sad is that YOU glossed over the more salient part of my comment – it’s not just black MALES who are deadbeat fathers. This crosses racial and economic lines. I worked in Revenue and Recovery for years and there were plenty of white men not taking care of their responsibility and not all of the men were poor. AND some of the men just decided to not work legally to avoid pay support and/or seeing their kids.
Anyway, keep it moving Annette. Have a good day.
Dear Bryant,
Find a dictionary and look up these words:
stereotype
racist
bigot
ignorant
intolerance
cruelty
uninformed
Brant you are stupid and your comments are uncalled for and you clearly haven’t educated yourself on that issue. Do you know many black women you have told you that? Or are you basing your opinion on what the Media has protrayed Black men to be for ratings. You need to go to the divison of Child Support Services or talk to a case worker to get the real facts before you open your mouth to speak.
STUPID REMARK>>NOT EVEN ON THE SUBJECT<<<OBVIOUSLY A REPUBLICAN!!
I was with you until you implied that Obama is doing anything worthwhile in this country. I guess if you think that increasing our debt more than any other president in history, or attempting to implement gun control “under the radar”, or trying to raise taxes instead of balance the budget, or trying to force socialist programs on the American people, then sure he’s doing a great job!
Personally, I loathed GWB with a Passion and I didn’t think anyone could ever fill his shitty shoes, much to my dismay after having voted for Obama simply because I didn’t want mccain to win, I fully 100% regret my vote. For me and nearly everyone I know, Obama has proven himself worse than even bush. In my eyes the only good call he had made was to kill osama.
Obama will not win a second term, not legally, i guarantee it.
P.s. Ron Paul 2012!!
Actually it was GW and the Rebubs who increased the debt more than anyone in history. The Democrats left them with a surplus which they then sunk into the middle east in order to avenge the attempt on GWs daddy.
Although I found this letter to be “right on” as far as – what Newt needs to be told, and how there are many many many Americans out there working there ass off just to provide a roof over there heads and food to eat. Let alone there children’s! I do have to agree with you ronald a. I don’t see that Obama has done any better and in fact much much worse when it comes to securing our civil liberties or stopping the take over of big business. “Money talks, bull shit walks!”
PS – Ron Paul 2012
We are in greater debt because then President Bush did not account from the war in his budget…so now you have a war that was already taking place having to be put on the books of the current president. All of this mess was taking place long before he was sworn into office. It amazes me how some forget this fact.
NRon Paul? The guy who defended his own racist newsletters? Who would destroy the EPA? Who would let corporations run amok and HOPE that they might develop a conscience? The guy who said he wouldn’t vote for the Civil Rights Act?
Yeah, I think you’re missing the point…
the EPA destroyed itself! Because you are to blind to see that it is bought and paid for, just another big gov’t program/agency that has “run amok”?? He will put this country into the best situation to get out of this DEEP, DEEP hole! Wake up and DO some research, unless you are happy with the entitlement society Obama has been steadily increasing. I hope not.
We’ll see!!!!!!
Loved your post, but not cool with this response “The people calling President Obama a failure. That is a lie. Most people who throw that statement around usually have little to no facts to back it up or they’re usually weak in substance and foundation” I think people have a right to their opinion, and just because some people feel Obama has failed doesn’t mean “they’re usually weak in substance and foundation”. I voted for Obama, and I know he is up against a lot, but I also feel he has failed us in some ways. Does that mean I am uniformed – I don’t think so. He has also signed into effect a lot of laws that mirror the Bush administration and favor corporations and not the american people. We could go back and forth, but just because I disagree or have a different opinion doesn’t mean I am misinformed or otherwise. I agree with most of what Ronald says here. (not sure about Ron paul though.) And for what it’s worth, I think you were spot on about Newt.
peace.
Newt is on to something. We could fire him from whatever it is he does and replace him with a little girl.
Yes! Best line of the day!
Thank you for this letter. I also grew up poor with a single mom and even though I’m white I thank you for expressing the outrage that I’ve been feeling… I actually cried when I read your letter. Partly from anger, partly from exhaustion of finals, partly from remember how horrible it was for both my mom and I, and partly because I know exactly how hard my mom worked and the sacrifices she made to put food in my mouth, clothes on my back and a roof over my head… with no help from anyone! Heres a tip of the hat to our moms, they more than deserve it.
Peace.
Seconded on big love for the moms. I was remiss in my post in mentioning how awesome my Mom was. She was barely in her 30′s when my Dad died and had to raise 3 kids on her own. I can’t begin to mention all the sacrifices she made for us so we could have a better life. It breaks my heart everyday knowing that she passed before we really had a chance to be in the position where we could really begin to repay her in full. She’s my hero to the end.
I am not from a single parent home,I am not black or brown.I am white.And as proud of it as any other race should be to be what they are.I do not have a Collage Degree,in fact I never attended a single day of High School.My father was wounded in WWII and only had one lung that worked after that.I only had a eighth grade education until I completed GED in the Army (just before I went to Viet-Nam) that is the extent of my education.But that is still more than my Father had.He only had a third grade education.He had to quit school after that to work and help support their family.Speaking of supporting a family,there are 10 thats TEN children in my family and Dad supported all of us on the money he could earn with the education he had.WE WERE POOR WHITE TRASH,at least I assume that would be what Mr.Gingrich would classify us to be.I NEVER remember going hungry,we ALWAYS had a home to live in,we may not have dressed in the finer clothes and big fancy cars.No we didn’t have Millions of dollars but we always had a roof over our heads and we were happy just to be a family.Now,with that being said,I will attempt to categorize (at least in my humble opinion) Mr.Gingrich.I believe he fits the mold of one that has had life handed to him and never worked for it.Surely he has been through school farther than I have and must have documentation to prove it.For I doubt that he could reach the offices he has and is holding without it.And at his current age I also doubt that anyone that had a hand in his education are still alive.And in my opinion for Newt,thats a good thing,because they would probably try to retract any documentation he has knowing anyone that can make such blatantly stupid remarks doesn’t deserve to tell people he has been educated enough to think he is qualified to be President of the United States.Mr. Gingrich,we had one President that ran and ran for that office and finely was elected.He turned out to an embarrassment to our great Country.He resigned before he got Impeached.And in my opinion you are just a Modern Day Richard Nixon.You sir need to just go away!!!!!We do not need another Watergate brake-in and cover up,or another Kent State U incident!!! And we are already pulling the troops out of a war,that we should not have been in the first place.So we don’t need your assistance.Thank You………
Funny how the elite like to talk about “Trickle Down Economics” when money is getting handed out.
Where are they with that mentality when responsibility, charity and social justice needs to start at the top and “trickle down”?
They laugh and drink their expensive champagne, and what trickles down onto you should make you grateful.
They’re pissing in your face in case you don’t get the picture I’m painting.
this is absolutely wonderful and completely on point. thank you so much
Travon- I’m surprised that you’ve even bothered to respond to the clearly anal-retentive grammar nazis. You’re much politer than I would be.
Clearly, like most of us who were not trained to touch-type, you compose in your head as you go along, saying the words to yourself, hearing them in your mind.
This is why so many typos are homophones. (i.e., their, they’re, there).
This usually does not mean that the author does not understand the difference, it means they were in a hurry (or so filled with rage they could apit) and made a typographical error.
BFD! It is the message, not the delivery that matters here.
btw-
Over the years, several studies have concluded the primary cause of poverty in the United States and other First World nations is lack of property ownership. More than education, race, ethnicity, presence of two parents, or geography, owning property is the single most important factor in what divides rich from poor.
I’ve shared you letter on FB and with my political mail group.
All the best,
Stan
One PS: That’s a mean thing to say about mashed potatoes.
an entire community “literally has no habit of showing up on Monday” or “they have no
habit of staying all day” … you just described Congress, didn’t you?
FREE SPEECH: I am a great admirer of free expression and have/would again fight for it. However, when I see the news media, all forms, and photographs ( selected as here ) used to convey thought, it immediately turns me off as being unbiased. So, I believe had this particular unflattering photo not have been used, I would have taken the article more seriously. More and more, I look for the agenda/s of the authors, contributors to any articles published.
Sooner or later, the cream will rise to the top…may not be the best cream…but, any will be better than the scum at the top now. If you are in my age bracket, have ever turned the handle on an ole cream separator…saw the junk in the bowl after separating the milk from the cream/butter…You will understand the former.
[I watched my mother work tirelessly, sometimes juggling multiple jobs to provide for myself and my sister. Day in and day out just like many other parents in poor neighborhoods she did what she had to do in order to provide for us. You k...now what that turned into Mr. Gingrich? A son who received academic and athletic scholarship offers from three Ivy League schools and countless other universities, a son with a college degree in Criminal Justice who graduated with honors from every school he attended, and a daughter who not only attended a Gifted and Talented Education high school but is one year away from completing a degree at UCLA.]
Just to make sure I understand … you are arguing that exposure to your mother’s strong work ethic/culture rubbed off on you and your sister and taught taught you to also work hard and apply themselves so that you went on to get a great education and better job opportunities to escape poverty?
By way of contrast, Newt is saying that we need more programs/opportunities to expose more young people to a strong work ethic/culture so that they will learn that through hard work hard and applying themselves, they can get a great education and better job opportunities to escape poverty.
Does anybody besides me appreciate the incredible richness of the irony that the two of you are in perfect agreement, advocating one and the same of the critical ingredients to success, exposure to a strong work ethic/culture?
OK, I am a white man 57 years old, raised in affluence, worked hard my entire life, but was not only taught to respect the hard working people that had less, but had to get a job as soon as I could, in my case at age 12, to help me, yes me, buy the extra things I wanted. need was never an issue. I was extremely offended by Newt’s speech and am glad some one said something. If you actually listen to the speech, he is suggesting that we start a new child labor gig, but this time we will call it “no child left in my behind”. What the republicans are doing to this country at the moment is total disgust and if they get their way, most of us will not even be abkle to afford being on line at all, and they will have solved any of us getting together in protest.
Maybe we could follow JONATHAN SWIFT’S advice in “A Modest Proposal” and eat black babies. He was writing about poor Irish. Nothing has changed since he was alive.
But Newt thinks poor kids should work hard at scrubbing toilets, when what they should really be doing is working hard as students.
There is nothing ironic here – - – Newt is racist and ignorant of the life of middle and lower class individual sin this country – and for someone running for president to vocalize what he did – - “poor black children….” etc is well beyond reason and degrading.
There are people that are lazy – - but they are also white too – not just black and poor.
Some of those “rich” folks are just as lazy – and have had everything they own now given to them.
Let’s teach Newt some work ethic – - how about work for the American people – - instead of running up a charge account at Tiffany’s!
Quote: “Does anybody besides me appreciate the incredible richness of the irony that the two of you are in perfect agreement, advocating one and the same of the critical ingredients to success, exposure to a strong work ethic/culture?”
But the difference is that Newt is saying no one in poor neighborhoods gets this exposure, and that it’s the fault of the people who live there. That, my friend, is elitist bullsh!t at its best.
Powerful piece! As an old white woman i want to say the depth of Newt’s ignorance of his own white skin privilege is beyond description.
Perfect!!
I love a comment I heard, “Newt Gingrich sounds smart to dumb people”. LOL, if it wasn’t so sadly true. I came from middle class family, 4 kids & a father who worked for the US Gubmint, and we all attended public schools in Silver Spring MD. We all went on to college, but would have never been able to with 1. good public schools and 2. parents who shepherded us, as best they could, to do well for our own sakes. Just wait until 2012, and note the ‘education policy’ of the GOP’s platform. I’ll be surprised if they have a plank that’s good for public education – they usually don’t. I’m not a single issue voter, but if I was that issue would be education. I am thankful we have a President so focused on education. Get involved, don’t take anything for granted. California is working to hold Nevada for the President, and y’all can get in it too. Obama 2012!
after i read this, i just wanted to stand up and cheer. my own single mom raised four kids on her own working multiple jobs. we lived well below the poverty line and finances were always a struggle, but we had love, each other, and the opportunity for a good public school education (of which she made sure we took full advantage). result: four successful adults with a solid work ethic who actively contribute to their communities. we need to make sure supports are in place to allow working parents in poverty to give their kids a chance, and that the public education system is as solid as possible. it’s so important. let’s hold each other up!
(mashed potatoes in a suit, that’s freakin’ funny!)
A heartless, out-of-touch asshole just like he’s always been. In a just society, he shouldn’t even be out of jail yet for the shit he tried to do in the 90′s. An embarrassment to white people everywhere.
Mr. Free – Thank you so very much for blogging your views on what Gingrich said. I agree with you. No one chooses to live in poverty, sometimes it just seems to be where some of us have landed. I was working up until almost 4 years ago. Then my eyesight went bad. I have spent those years fighting for disability. The officials can all agree that I am impaired but keep refusing to give me the benefits. I have been told by a disability judge to take a cab into the closest town and work fast food. From where I live to the closest town is a $50 round trip cab ride. How can I safely work fast food when I can’t even see the register without putting my nose on the keys in able to see what I’m doing? None of our “officials” seem to have the sense that God gave a goose. We, the people, should demand that our politicians should make only 5% over minimum wage and have no benefits so that they may stay within the limits of the people who have voted for them. This would not only help to pay our nation’s debt, but may work to teach humility to our politicians!.
Your blog post would be much more credible if you corrected its numerous, glaring grammatical and spelling mistakes.
Oh Debbie Downer entered the room..its , not an ARTICLE published in a newspaper, its a web blog, and you must be the worst speller in the world because there is not ONE misspelled word. Only a missing letter with “As a child grew up” is missing ‘who’.
That is a missing word, not letter….
It’s a blog…not a text book. Your comment post would be much more credible if it were relevant.
(Is that you in the right of your profile pic, by the way?)
Like I stated earlier, this is my personal blog, my home. NOT the New England Journal.
So truth is only credible if written grammatically correct???? Wow – - narrow minded indeed!!!!
What he is saying is not “truth,” it is his opinion. The entire problem in this country is not one of race, but of politics. The Democrat Party is buying votes with the hard working taxpayers’ money. They don’t care what color you are, just be at the booth with your vote, & you can get that welfare check on tap… If the Democrats were serious about improving this country, they would drastically reduce welfare spending & kickbacks to their labor union buddies, & would give tough love to their constituents. They never question the welfare moms(regardless of race) when these women have more children to increase their unearned income. They just keep feeding the beast. I could give a rat’s gluteus about the racial aspect of this issue, because that is irrelevant. If you or your family members are entrenched in generational welfare theft, you should be ashamed. This gentleman who is attacking Newt Gingrich is detracting from the real problems. We should be discussing ISSUES & solutions, instead of making disparaging remarks about the political figures. On a personal note to this author, you reveal your immaturity when you make a personal insult about Newt’s appearance. This only takes away from your credibility as a respected blogger. I would rather see an in depth look at why we have a poverty problem, with solid supporting evidence. Instead, we get useless insults. Barack Obama looks like a pencil necked geek, but how would that provide any impetus for positive change in America?
You reveal your inaneness when you refer to the rats gluteus, your lack of embarrassment with your claims about “welfare moms,” and your subpar intellectual curiosity with your understanding of economics. For the record the countries at the top of this list are the few that have maintained their AAA credit rating and are not suffering the way that we are. Pick up a book, brother. Also where’s Elizabeth when you need her. The grammar violations are pitiful. http://conversableeconomist.blogspot.com/2011/12/case-for-active-labor-market-policies.html
I think there’s been a positive change! American is finally revealing the party that closet True racist, The republican party! That’s the only issue that’s been a Cancer to our Country for far too long, and the Obama Presidency has truly brought it to a glowing light. He will win again. BTW, the Mash Potatoes comment is hilarious!!!!!! LOL!!!!!
Pthtttttttt! Did I spell that right?
….”had corrected.” When expressing events that did not happen one should use the past subjunctive tense. Your comment would have been more credible if you knew what the f*** you were talking about.
Did you read the piece…or just correct it?
I am totally voting for YOU for President!
But about your “update”… it sounds like an apology. Please, never apologize, and especially not for saying Newt looks like a suitful of mashed potatoes. It’s only the truth.
agreed.!
Travon,
This is one of the most well-thought out and well-said critiques of Newt Gingrich I have yet read. No, scratch that. It is THE best critique of Newt Gingrich I’ve read.
If I am at all surprised that I read it here on your personal blog it is not because you came from Compton, but instead because your eloquence has outspoken the well-established mainstream commentators who are ostensibly the best in the world at what you’ve done here.
You, sir, should be writing for the Washington Post or the New York Times rather than some of the writers who currently slash ink on their pages. It’s just that simple.
Bravo, Travon, bravo!
THANK YOU for this brilliant piece! I’m sharing with everybody I know!
I have been known to be the occassional grammar Nazi myself. However, I have come to realize that there is so much to be said and shared that it is simply not possible to double check everything, even though the English teacher in me wants to. (Oops, ended sentence in a preposition! or is it an alternate verb form?) I was surprised that so many people concentrated on the grammar and spelling aspects of your article. For heaven’s sake, the subject matter is so much more important. I appreciate you explaining from your own perspective why Newt is such an ass. His audacious depiction of poor people is just disgusting. Thanks for an excellent article.
P.S. I agree. He does look like a sack of mashed potatoes!!
J. Hector
Thank you J. Hector. I too am a educator and was itching to pull out my red ink pen. However, the subject matter superceded the errors.
I’m not quite catching the train of thought that led you to think of Newt’s statement as having any tinge of racism, as his remarks should be as revolting to a lower-class white family as they should be to a lower-class minority family.
I would like to ask where he gave this speech, however. I don’t condone arrogant, pejorative remarks by politicians under any circumstance, but I’d like to understand the full context of his statement, because 55 seconds isn’t enough to warrant a full analysis. Do you know where he gave this speech?
It was a fundraising event in Iowa.
Thanks for saying this, Travon. Newt, as always, is shooting his mouth off in hopes of whipping up the base — in other words, elitists and racists. This is more proof that when Republicans say they don’t want a class war, what they mean is that they don’t want rich people to be targets of a class war. Poor people as targets are just fine with them.
Poverty is not limited by color, but people of color are disproportionately affected. The code words Newt uses can’t hide the facts of who he is targeting. That said, I live and grew up in Appalachia, one of hte whitest parts of America and one of the poorest. I grew up thinking we were middle class because most everyone I knew was so crushingly poor. I realized as I got older that we were poor, too. My dad worked two jobs, my mother worked, and I worked to get through college. Even with a college degree, we are no better off today. I work one job plus do side jobs whenever possible and my wife works, but with three kids we still have trouble making ends meet. And everywhere, I hear the same refrain. Anyone who doesn’t drive an new SUV or have money to burn is a “hybrid” who is too lazy to work. I am tired of the crap. No one wants to be poor. No one wants to work two or three jobs just to subsist. No one wants to tell his or her kids “no” when they ask for something other kids take for granted. Newt and his ilk, who garner millions in lobbying fees for a few hours of schmoozing, have no right to call anyone lazy.
I just want to say, as a member of the middle class (but quickly falling out of that category), I really appreciate someone with a little passion and I could care less about grammatical errors! I am white and I think Newt is a disgrace, so you not only speak for the less fortunate, you speak for me. By the way, he does look like mashed potatoes poured into a suit! I laughed out load when I read that! Thank you!
Mr. Free,
I must say myself that I agree with you with some of the points you make. There are many poor working class families that just can never manage to get pass a certain glass ceiling. Sometimes it’s because they have a language barrier, others because they aren’t in a positive environment, and lastly someone just doesn’t know how to approach the situation.
I personally respect your case on how you managed to have the work hard for the opportunities you brought to yourself. It sounds to me that your mother really encourage you to pursue everything she wasn’t able to accomplish as a young adult and learn from her hard work ethic.
I myself am a first generation born American citizen and have seen my parents make great sacrifices in order to ensure the best possible life for me and my siblings. I truly believe that it’s within ourselves that seeing how much our parents have done for us that we want to better ourselves to be the best we can be. Below I’ve shared 7 mindsets that have helped me become the person I am today and I do encourage you to share them with the rest of your viewers.
1. Everything is Possible
Dream Big, Embrace Creativity & Expect Great Results
Through Everything is Possible we understand that we are all capable of extraordinary lives. We learn that everything that exists was once an idea, then someone believed it possible, and then it became a reality. Through the methodology you will learn to envision a wonderful life, expect greatness, and effectively execute the process of making your dreams come true.
2. Passion First
Pursue Your Authentic Talents and Deepest Interests
Passion First teaches us that we are a unique expression of human life, that our life should be focused on finding our unique genius and sharing it with the world to the maximum extent possible. You will learn to make your dreams authentic; of such critical importance that you will find the fuel to overcome the many obstacles you will face along the way.
3. We are Connected
Explore the synergies in all relationships and learn to empower one another
We Are Connected teaches us to understand that everyone who comes into our lives can assist us in living our dreams. Through this mindset, we learn to constantly explore synergies with others, embrace diversity, and relish competition that will allow us to maximize our potential with and through others.
4. 100% Accountable
Choose to be responsible for your own happiness and success
100% Accountable teaches us that we are not a victim of our past, that our future is not predetermined, and that our lives are what we choose them to be from this moment and each moment moving forward. With a focus on recognizing fears and excuses, this mindset allows us to break down barriers freeing our mind and focusing our energy to take the critical steps towards our goals.
5. Attitude of Gratitude
Seek the positives from every experience and be thankful for all you have
Through Attitude of Gratitude, we are taught that we can use the positives or negatives of our lives as the foundation on which to build. Choose the positives and we are on our way towards extraordinary success, choose the negatives, and we will likely start on a downward spiral towards suffering.
6. Live to Give
Inspire and serve others while maximizing your potential
Live to Give teaches us that abundance in one’s life is a cycle; that to get love, respect, and financial security they must first learn to give those things. This mindset also teaches us that the greatest gift we can ever give is to find and leverage our unique genius to maximize our positive impact on the world, knowing the good things will be returned to us in kind.
7. The Time is Now
Harness the power of this moment and take purposeful action today
The Time is Now mindset teaches us that all our power exists in the moment. We cannot change the past and the future has not happened; the only thing we can do is take purposeful action in the present to ultimately create the life of our dreams.
I personally feel that with promoting personal mindsets we can all go out and accomplish what we truly desire in life. I look forward to hear from not only you but your readers as well of what you think of these mindsets.
Warm Regards,
Ramon
P.S. For those who are interested in learning more about how to live your own dreams please feel free to add me on facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=508367272
Well stated! I hope that idiot ends up reading this!
Really well done. I’m white and my parents worked hard to raise me. I survived on very little to raise my own boys and am very proud of how they turned out. Your mom must be proud of you, too. Keep up the good work. I shared this.
You are seriously my hero.
-upper middle class white privileged liberal
every one of you that pointed out flaws in his grammar. have even greater flaws in your character. It is people like you that have allowed the grammar police to reinterpret and completely destroy the content of important documents like the declaration of Independence and the constitution, when small minded people focus on the grammar rather than the content, you show how small minded you really are. I applaud you for your response, it was articulate and the CONTENT couldn’t have been more spot on.
I thought your response was perfect. I grew up in a poor white neighborhood and started early, lucky to get a paper route and do odd jobs for people to make a little money to ease the expenses of having five kids in the family. Obviously Newt has had a much different life and he didn’t have to worry about being drafted when Vietnam came about, I did. Newt hid behind his deferments but, you wouldn’t know that by the way he rattles his saber and wants to go to war at the drop of an hat. Those of us who have been there are not so quick to want to jump in the very first time someone makes us a little mad. Newt has a bad temper and takes it out on everyone, and no one even likes him in his own party. He doesn’t like kids especially poor one’s and this is how he likes to get back at them and what he perceives poor parents are like. It is all their fault they are poor. That is how the rich republicans feel about the poor. They are lazy, do not work, are on welfare, and the list goes on and on. They are racist and in my opinion, just plain evil. They caused this problem with the economy by closing the jobs and sending them out of the country. They don’t pay any taxes because they have bought and paid off Congress to make laws to protect them from paying any higher taxes. Yet, we are the lazy ones. ” If we would only get up off our lazy arses and get a job.” The jobs they sent over-seas? I think your open letter nailed it perfectly about how much harder poor families have it to get by when they work more than one job to make ends meet and still can send their kids on to college. Newt omits that in his hate and covert racist speech to rev up his racist base. He knows what he is doing and it is shameful. You called him out correctly, in my opinion. And as an old white man in his mid-sixties, I thought your joke was quite funny. He does look like mashed potatoes in a suit!
( although that is insulting to the spuds. ) 
Thank you for posting this. I agree. I was in the military for almost 4 years, and I spent a long hard year in a combat unit doing a combat job in Afghanistan. I worked harder that year that anyone I know combined. We lost friends, and yet we were still required to go out the next day and complete the mission. I’m a single guy, so while the pay in the ARMY didn’t necessarily make me poor, it was however not equal too how much we should get paid for working over there. Some days it was days at a time without sleep, or adequate food and nutrition. This statement was coming from a man who was never truly poor, and who avoided the Vietnam Draft with deferments. It is a huge insult to every poor kid who maybe didn’t have the opportunity to work menial job’s as a child, mainly because the other people didn’t have money to pay for these menial tasks, because they as well are poor. It is also an insult to every child who wished to become something of himself and join the military to serve a country that so wrongly insults them and generalizes them.
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Hey Travon,
I really appreciate your article. Reading it reminds me of my family growing up. We never had money and we never could buy nice things like everyone else could. But just because of a rough patch in my family’s life, we do not appreciate being portrayed as lazy and inefficient. With my rough background, I would like to enlighten Newt (because apparently he needs a lot of enlightening) that I received a full tuition scholarship Iowa State University, one of the top schools in the nation, am completing 2 majors in under 4 years, have held 6 different jobs beginning at the age of 16 including having worked on the Obama campaign, have worked at the police department and a hospital, AND am currently a financial advisor for a huge annuities and insurance firm. Might I add, I AM ONLY 20 YEARS OLD. Having some idiot like Newt Gingrich say that I am not motivated or I am lazy is (excuse the language) COMPLETE BULLSHIT. I too would like to have a little chat with him and show him how much of an idiot he is. Im sure after hearing our stories, he should aspire to someday be like us, since I am sure all of us “poor” people have accomplished way more in the few short years that we have been alive than he could ever accomplish in his lifetime. Thanks again for the post.
Brilliantly worded. Thank you
Thank you for writing what I wanted to say in a civil manner. I could not get past the first line without being tempted to add every “dirty” word that I have ever heard. Since the first time I noticed Gingrich as Speaker of the House all I can feel is disgust and distrust. It seems that every day I read something else about his criminal, self aggrandizing ways. Yee gods people please do not give this lying, cheating, criminal a chance to destroy this country from the inside out.
I’m glad someone is so eloquently speaking up to this man. As far as I have seen, the “poor” are the hardest working Americans of all.
Your spelling and punctuation is atrocious, congratulations!
John,
That should read:
“Your spelling and punctuation ARE atrocious (then, a period, dash, or something other than a comma splice): congratulations!
You are awesome.
Big ups to Pam! John. E, you were offically owned!
Not to the many people who gets it!!!!!!!!
Excellent response to Mr. Gingrich. Newt has never demonstrated compassion or concern for anyone “unrich”, “unwell”, or “unprivileged”. For example, while is first wife was recovering from surgery (she was his high school geometry teacher and was 7 years older than he!) he came to visit her to discuss the details of their divorce because he had been having an affair with Marianne Ginther. This was a great surprise to her! Good timing and great character, Newt! Next, six months after his divorce from his first wife, he married Ginther. He then had an affair with Callesta Bisek, a staffer 23 years his junior. While Gingrich dogged Clinton for the Monika Lewisky affair, he was poking Bisek! He then divorsed Ginther to marry Bisek, to whom he is married currently, and no doubt, being equally unfaithful to! So, this calloused hypocrite is what the Righteous Christian RIght WIng wants to flock to? It only shows the depth of THEIR CONVICTIONS, as demonstrated by the willingness to participate in damaging gossip and lies about our 44th President, support a man who has demonstrted NO compassion or concern for fellowmen, or biblical standards (Hey, Newt – did you ever read the bible’s “good Samaritan” story?) He’s a sloth and cannot even manage his own behavior, much less the entire country!
@Duffy91: You said: “… recognize that a significant portion of the U.S. population is not contributing to society or the economy, because they feel entitled and somehow that they shouldn’t have to “suffer” to make a living.”
I really dislike and distrust statements like this. I might be forced to “recognize” it if you could back it up. There are no facts here. Just an ugly sound bite of opinion that reads like it was adopted as fact. I would like to understand how you came to the formation of this opinion. Do you have any factual information from a reliable source which shows how “significant” (as in % of people) is the portion of population NOT contributing to society/economy? Where did you get the information that they feel entitled and feel that they should not suffer? Were polls taken? Did someone do a study on unemployed people who ask for government aid where this type thinking was expressed? Did someone on Fox News tell you people who can’t find work don’t want work? Or is just stuff “they” say to promote “their” own agenda against poor (often working) individuals?
My son-in-law had a job, was going to a trade school, and had his eyes on a promising future when he asked my daughter to marry him. Fast forward and we find him graduated with student loans that will burden them for decades to come, laid-off from his job, and with a new baby. He actively looks for work daily. He does any job he can hunt down — no matter how temporary or menial. His work ethic in not impaired in anyway — (he keeps the house clean, the baby dry, the food cooked, the floors vacuumed, etc.) but he has to battle with such a large number of other qualified applicants for every job that it seems impossible to get one to call his own.
Screw grammar. Screw racism. Screw sound-bite regurgitation. The fact is, Newt is a master of “big ideas” that don’t hold up under any kind of scrutiny. He is the complete narcissist. Like when he stated in the mid-ninety’s that when he smoked dope it may have been illegal but not immoral Okay, I found the quote: “See, when I smoked pot it was illegal, but not immoral,” Gingrich reportedly told Wall Street Journal reporter Hilary Stout in 1996. “Now, it is illegal AND immoral. The law didn’t change, only the morality… That’s why you get to go to jail and I don’t.”
I wonder what part of his brain allows that breaking the law is not immoral. ???
I think it’s great that poor kids can clean toilets for a living. Heck, I was a poor kid from a poor neighborhood. When I was 15 I got into the CETA program, learned how to write a proper resume and introduction letter, learned about what attributes prospective employers look for in a candidate for employment. I even got a job cleaning toilets at a day-care center for $1.86 per hour. Life was good.
But then, the Republicans slashed the CETA program. So no more job training. Then they slashed day care programs; no more job venues.
Now, Newt says kids could get jobs cleaning toilets in local schools yet talks out of the other side of his gravy-stained mouth about slashing funding for them.
Fat chance, Newtie.
Newt is a suit. That is all. No brain, no pain. Does not think but opens his mouth and words fall out(not to be confused with thoughts). He is an excuse for a man and he is a disgrace to the phrase ‘human being’. This is what I have to say about the person Newt Gingrich. Pathetic speech and sorry candidate for any party……clearly not worthy of cleaning my toilet!
Thank you.
I’m white, I’m not a republican or a democrat. I grew up without enough money. I refuse to say that I was ever poor because the bonds and the love that lived in our Home made us all rich beyond any amount of material. When you grow up hard in a “really poor neighborhood”, you come to understand people and life better than the kids in the suburbs. We have an intimate understanding of sacrifice and love. They see the details at eleven… We see it in the front yard. Theyre usually born into what they have… we make it or we fucking die, period. No Excuses, and Yes I’m passionate.
This is bigger than politics.
A long time ago, a horrid little man set forth a strategy for dominating indiginous populations. He said, “divide and conquer….”
What he meant was that, when you take a whole people (Americans of every color and creed) and divide them up into two or more groups with racial propaganda and lies, with criminal journalism and manufactured problems with pre-packaged solutions that force you to take one side or the other, it then becomes easy to control those groups. You cannot stop one united army of people who all willing to sacrifice for each other and just as loyal to one as to the next. One fight for one cause under a collective consiousness. Thats a force of nature.
But if you have two groups that hate each other, you can make one try to kill the other, try to enslave the other, or just make them stay seperate so they dont merge into that one unstoppable juggernaut of human Love that world governments fear. One People will always trump One Government.
I am burning right now, I AM a contribution.
United we stand. There is no other option.
Amen.
I dont know what is better, the comments made or the piece itself. Awesome-sauce of a job and I am happy that someone spoke out against these remarks made by these so called “presidential candidates.” It should not matter how you write but the content in which you write. There are many songs, poems, quotes, etc. which are grammatically inaccurate that have been a source of inspiration for many. As such good job and well spoken!
The absurdity of these types of statements requires addressing from those being misrepresented. Brilliant, Thank you.
Gingrich’s comments are pure generalizations back by supposition. As far as I can tell, the only fact he presented was that of the first generation Americans (I presume, cause he didn’t specify) HE knows, they all worked as kids. He did not provide any demographics for the ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, geographic, nor income level, nor class of that group.
I hardly believe that it is a fact that in the “poorest neighborhoods” there are no kids with habits of working, showing up on time, staying the whole day, etc.. Again, what are those “facts” based on.
Really, it’s hard to take someone seriously when, in their campaigning they don’t have their facts straight. It begs the question, what’s going to happen when he’s faced with a real American crisis, like all presidents do, if he wins?
He’s clearly out of touch with the poor. And I think it’s safe to generalize that he’s out of touch with the middle class as well.
Newt = fail. Next.
Dear Travon, I wanted to write something really nice and elaborate about your article, but right now I am currently brain-dead from writing final essays that will soon be read and graded by some professors who probably believe that grad school is no place for a middle-aged hispanic woman with three kids like me. So, let me just say, in my best Sunday English, that you are awesome, and thank you for speaking out. Peace to you.
Monica, as a professor and friend of many professors, I can assure you that we are thrilled by all engaged students, hispanic or otherwise, young, middle-aged, or old! I usually find that middle-aged students bring experience and wisdom (and sometimes homemade cookies for the younger students!) that are appreciated by all. (Especially by me since I’m now middle aged, too). I’m sorry if you’re encountering some less than encouraging professors. Please don’t judge all of us through the actions of a few. Keep up the good work and good luck on your finals.
Anyone, even remotely, defending Newt has truly lost their minds or still lives in a closed minded environment. As age grabs a foothold on the politicians of yesteryear, senility or the the fading facade of diplomacy has let out the truth. If the republicans truly stand behind this man, then they are doomed as a party. As for your joke, it was well placed and suited. You could have said worse and justified it. Beside if the clicked the link, as I did to read the article, they would have noticed the huge banner that says COMEDY.
Spoken like a truly dumbasss field nigger.
Actually, given his eloquence, he clearly works in the house.
You’re welcome.
(it’s a joke…)
I’m a White guy and I’d just like to say to all the other White folk that if you read this article and then turn its focus back on yourself by letting us all know that White people are poor too, you’re missing the point. Yes its true that our people experience poverty, but the issue here is that another White person of power who knows nothing about poverty was perpetuating a stereotype that is almost exclusively shouldered by people of color. So please, join me in letting go of the anxious guilt that we hold onto, shed the self-victimization, and recognize that White privilege and White supremacy foster these kinds of sick ideas in which Professor Newt here is so confident.
Well said Mathis – I’m joining you and I hope others will as well. It IS really hard to let go of “I earned this” and embrace “I got this, or most of this, because I look the way I do”. Thanks for your eloquence.
Travon, this is a beautiful and accurate rant, and I agree with you 100%!
** Applause ** As a computer engineer, fighting to stay in the middle class in to which my parents worked hard to get us firmly established, I have to say that your response echos many of my feelings as well. Be we of African, European, Asian or Native American decent, born into the poorer sections of NYC or LA, the cities, towns and farms of the Midwest, or the coal fields of Appalachia (or the South, West, and pretty much anywhere else), we can no longer afford to be delusional that the 1% has any concern about us, other than how to add what few dollars we have to their overflowing coffers. Yes, some of them did work hard to get where they are, but for many if not most, thanks to their luck of birth or just having the right idea in the right place at the right time, have not only lost touch with the rest of us (the 99%), but also with concepts such as “Enlightened Self Interest” or those teachings of someone in whom they vocally, and sometimes overly so, profess to believe. Sadly, I think, and fear, that the time is coming in which we will have to do something about a group which one of our Founding Fathers and earliest presidents, Thomas Jefferson, referred to as “the aristocracy of birth and wealth”.
I don’t like Newt. I really despise most politicians. But I want to make something VERY clear. His comments are not about race. They are about a mindset. Drop all this race nonsense for once. You are proof, that your skin color did NOT hold you back. Your mother worked hard to ensure that you understood what it meant to earn what you get. She also did it because she wanted better for you. This is what it is all about. Fortunately for you, you apparently have a head on your shoulders, took the ball and ran with it. But my friend, it didn’t have ANYTHING to do with your race or skin color, but EVERYTHING to do with your efforts. Sadly, though, you are the exception to the rule. And if you’d get outside the race box for just a minute, you’d also see that this “ghetto” syndrome is universal. Whether it is a housing project in Compton, or a trailer park in West Virginia, it’s all the same. I grew up in a poor white community. Like you, I broke out and made something of myself, much to the credit of my single mother. But I see this completely differently. I’m not sure why, but there is a huge group of people in this country that won’t LET racism die. This is true from ALL sides. Don’t begin to think that I am being naive or that I am pretending to know what blacks endured in the past, but neither do you. Our generation should be working very hard to end this type of hatred, and concentrate on what matters. The issue here is that “the poor”, in many cases, are caught up in class warfare of their own. I was taught as a kid to hate “rich” people. “They think they’re too good for us”. Really? Perhaps some do believe that, but most successful people have simply put their mind and effort into what they are doing. Really didn’t matter where they came from, what their color was, who they prayed to, or where they went to school. Sure these things influenced those of closed mind, and it is disgraceful. But stupid is, as stupid does. Please don’t fuel the hatred that needs to go away.
And for the record, I am NOT a Democrat or Republican, but a strict Libertarian. MLK is one of my heroes. But if you go back and read his words, you’ll see that this man made not a single excuse for anyone. He taught love and peace, not hatred. His acts were a fine example of real courage, something this country hasn’t seen since.
After re-reading what I just posted, it looks like I am pissed off at you,…..I’m not. Just passionate about how I feel. Peace.
You took most of what Newt said out of context, and you also failed to include the question that was asked as well as what was said that led up to his answer.
If you want to appear credible, don’t be so editorial with what you base your blog on.
You grew up poor, you know there is little initiative in poor neighborhoods. You know there are very few to model yourself after. You know there is little to no help anywhere for homework.
Unless someone SHOWS you how to be successful, you almost never break the cycle. That is Newt’s point, not that he is hating on poor kids.
Get your feelings in check.
Now we all know you didn’t grow up poor either. You just grew up STUPID!
Excellent post. Most people who are poor/low income are because their job(s) pay lousy. Now part of that is, yes, businesses do operate at a thin profit-margin. But sometimes it’s because the top people take all the money for themselves. Point being that our values need to change. Maybe the CEO can take home $400,000 instead of $500,000 and the workers can take home a little more.
However, I strongly disagree that the ‘mashed potatoes’ line was only a joke. It’s very true, he DOES look like someone poured mashed potatoes into a suit.
What an awesome Open Letter!! We – Americans – should all be proud of your mother’s hard work and for her adding to her work clearly an impressive job in raising two powerful members of society! Keep up your hard work as you are a wonderful example for all of the youths of today! Thank you for the reminder to All Americans what is right with the country and what we all should be grateful for -the positive and motivated young adults!
I normally stay out of political comments BUT i could not stay our of this one. Now I completely see how you could of taken what Mr. Gingrich to be a racist comment, How you could see that he was Slamming all poor people. BUT that is not what I got at all. First let me start off by clearing the air..I am white. I have a job and I live in a renovated pool house because I can not afford to even rent a house. so i am not an elitist….Not all white people are rich or elitist. Not all republicans are elitist either. So my thoughts. Could he have chosen his words better, yes. But i taught a poor school in dallas texas and what for the majority of students what he said is dead on. I know this because i talked to my students and I saw that their homes, Their mother and father’s were not role models…There are poor people that have good parents that are good role models, that push and invest in their kids lives…But their are rich people the same way…This starts at the home NOT A GOVERNMENT HANDOUT, which a lot people want those now days. getting a handout does not help anyone…So when obama was elected I heard numerous people, read numerous articles that people were excited that they will not have to pay their bills anymore…So…we need change…I do not believe obama has the right mindset…robbing peter to pay paul does not work. Poor kids need role models. Parents need to start being parents again and stop being selfish.
How is President Obama “robbing peter to pay paul” or advocating “hand-outs”? Could you please be specific. What I see from him is a push to reinvest in the middle class of the country through education and fair business practices that protect consumers. Somehow, people are jumping from that to some socialist agenda. The fact of the matter is that our nation is IN THE TOILET. We all have to sacrifice to get it back on track. For the rich, that means paying a small percentage more in taxes. For the poor that means dealing with some entitlement cuts. For the middle class, it means budgeting better, providing our own health insurance (if possible), etc. It is called a BALANCED approach, unlike what the GOP is pushing. ALL of their solutions occur solely on the backs of seniors (cutting Medicare), middle class workers (trying to cut 200K federal jobs and freeze salaries for the rest), and the poor (severely limiting unemployment and welfare). Ok… where is the sacrifice by the rich in their plan?
I didn’t see the original speech by Gingrich so I can only go by what I read. I just want to say that just because he talks about poor people doesn’t mean he’s racist. I’m white and poor, very poor, despite the fact that I put myself through college with grants and loans. I was the first person in my family to go to college. I graduated with a 3.93 GPA. My parents were poor so they could not help pay for school. I was doing well, owned a business, was working on a master’s degree when I suddenly was stricken with a disabling illness. I lost my business, could not continue with my master’s degree work, spent the next 3 years crawling around my house wishing I was dead. I was divorced, had 3 kids, x husband is not made to pay his court ordered child support………….. this POOR thing is color-blind, white people are not excluded. I KNOW you mentioned the poor white people and I’m glad you did. I’m just not sure Gingrich is a racist and, believe me, I don’t like Gingrich. I also don’t like Obama, he did NOT and does NOT have the experience to do the job of President and he isn’t qualified, his father was never an American citizen. I know my opinion will be jumped on and people will HATE because of my words. Don’t. I don’t have any negative emotions for the person who wrote his opinion of Gringrich, I just wanted to share my opinion. The racism needs to stop with ourselves. With ME and YOU. Instead of pointing the finger, look within yourselves and realize we are all humans, we all suffer, we are all in this together. Some boys told my 6 year old son they were MEXICAN and asked him WHAT he was. He didn’t understand and asked me what he was. When I finally understood what he was talking about I told him if anyone asks him what he is to tell them he is an AMERICAN. Not an Irish-American, an AMERICAN, and I think people of all races who are American should start saying they are AMERICANS, NOT African-American, not Hispanic-American, just AMERICAN………… drop the colors, stop labeling everyone and yourself. See HUMANS. Make us all one………
what a prick !!!!!! Like he has any understanding what it is to be poor.
I don’t even know were to begin. To say that black poor people don’t work to get up on Monday is an understatement. I’m a black female who own her own hair salon, a product of a Mississippi BLACK sharecropper who owned over 75 acres of land. Who raised 12 children with his wife will getting up 7 days a week doing what you suggest Mr Gingrich that BLACK’S don’t do. Working hard to earn his wages and put his 12 children through historically black colleges. As a product of all his hard work, each of his children were given equal shares of the estate. While growing up in Mississippi at a young age, I saw my mother and father get up everyday to go to work sometimes working 2 jobs to provide for their family. And to say the least, my father after working 12 hours days in a hospital, he would then go out to the homestead and take care of the cattle, ponds and the property. As an angry BLACK woman after listening to this man speak, I can go on and on about how poor we were and what we didn’t have to say the least. But I know what my parents taught us growing up. That as long as you work hard for what you want, God will make a way. As a product, I’ve worked hard for what I’ve accomplished in my life, and to sit and hear someone like Nwet Gingrich say that BLACKS don’t want to work hard oh or better yet, come in on Monday’s is an insult. I hope that someone brings him off that so called pedestal that he’s so high on.
Have a wonderful day….
LOVE this. I grew up a poor white girl in Newt’s home state, and let me tell you… that man DOES look like someone poured mashed potatoes in to a suit. The nasty instant kind, not the kind I learned to make from my great grandmother. I got a scholarship to a private liberal arts school full of rich white kids (and devoid of the “flavor” I grew up with– I was in the minority and freaked out my first day of college when the only ethnically different people were on the cleaning staff) and could never make my classmates understand why I still had to work 40 hours a week.
Joke’s on them; I’m the only one with a job now. I’m the only one with any experience on my resume. They’re still kinda living off mom and dad, but they’re miserable and they don’t know why…
so……what is your solution to the problem? Nothing different here…..just like the Liberal Bashing Conservative sites……offer up your solution. What can EVERYBODY do to make everything the way YOU want it to be? Give some structure to your solution…..I would also like everything to be “FAIR” to everybody…….please explain your ‘UTOPIA’ and how easy it will be for all to work, or not to work…..what do we do with all the criminals, drug dealers, just bad people in general….where do they all fit in your solution? I really would like this to be a perfect world…..I do my part …..treat everyone the way I would like them to treat me…….that is a good start anyway.
Mr. Gingrich would do well to listen to the GREATEST speech ever!!! This is a modern visual of Charlie CHaplin’s final speech in “The Great Dictator”. It should be run on TV about every half hour during this Christmas Season. I would bet Newty has never seen the movie or heard the speech. Sad……………http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WibmcsEGLKo
Mr. Free,
Thank you for expressing what so many have been thinking. In life, there are always ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ but we are not stuck in the stereotypes and many of us get through/out of/beyond those circumstances; some of us cannot get clear of crushing financial straits but like you, I reject the idea that poor=lazy or poor=unmotivated or poor=lack of role models. There will be people screaming about your response to Gingrich, claiming you’re playing the race card or incitig more class hatred…let them say what they will…there are poor people in every community and there are still systems and institutions which inhibit financial earnings and stability for many in our country. The work of discussing and deconstructing racism, classism and many other ‘isms’ is ongoing. Let’s work together to address these critical issues and treat our fellows as we would wish to b treated.
Peace and blessings, sir!
“You represent a party of greedy, selfish, out of touch, wealth protecting, non tax paying,
destroyers of the middle class.”
Perhaps just as ignorant as Gingrich? It’s hard to make a case for someone else’s ignorance while utilizing your own. Just a thought.
And your point is???????
wow!!!! I have no other expression to describe what you did! I arrived here randomly and I think you are completely right, I understand your point and let me tell you one single thing, I wish people like you were the leaders of the entire world.
I will tell a story, my own story while being in the US:
I am a Mexican student of International Trade, in my university there is a program to work during our summer break in some summer camps along the United States, as you can figure out, it is the dream of so many, I mean, go to work to the US it’s the golden dream of every “poor” people in Mexico, in 2009 I went to work in a summer camp in New York and when I started my application I thought everything was gonna be completely different, I had heard from so many Mexicans that in the US existed racism, I thought to me was gonna be a different experience, because I applied for a visa ( which I got) and I did everything the american government told me to do to get into its territory.
Well, my expectations were to high, when I first arrived I started to notice that people, no matter the race, looked at me like if I was an invader or a criminal, the people looked down at me, because I wasn’t white, ( I really look latino), when I finally arrived to the camp were I was gonna work things changed a bit, the owner of the camp, was looking always after our integrity he demanded respect for everyone in there, but the kids who attended to that camp, were so different to him, they came from very wealthy families so they treated us as trash, they thought they had the right to insult us, I felt so bad those days and at some point I felt the urge of taking my visa off my wallet to show them I wasn’t illegal, cause foolishly I thought that only happened to the illegal people when suddenly I heard the Australians and the English claiming for the same situation.
So that day I came to a conclusion, The United States of America in not a dream, is a hell for those who want to go there and work properly, why? because it does exist people with a huge ignorance, with a tremendous lack of values, without kindness nor compassion for the others; I don’t want to call anyone in special but always I heard on TV about some problem it was the black people or the Mexicans, in contradiction when I had the chance of going to Manhattan for a week I realized that the black people is going to work every single day, walking down the streets well dressed to attend to their jobs, being nice to the others I cannot believe how this guy who aspire to be the president of one of the most powerful nations in the world in his infinitive wisdom can say those words, I cannot believe that he someday will make decisions that involve the welfare only of the Americans but the entire world.
Finally, there are, also, so many black people or Mexicans messing around, making troubles, steeling and doing illegal things, and that’s why we are discriminated, but there are more of them doing the right things, or are we going to forget that they belong to the rates which make the United States one of the best nations around the world?, that they help with the economy of the country? that they are also the soul of the country who defends the “freedom”, the “equality” and the “diversity”?
This is a call to all the American citizens to change your minds, not the middle class ones but the ” very wealthy” ones, we are not slaves, we are not an object you can handle according with your convenience, we are people, and we deserve respect, if you love your country follow the value it is looking for since its foundation. Don’t let the hope run away from you.
Discrimination doesn’t exist due to this people, discrimination exists because all of you, because I saw in the US the urge of everyone for being on top of the others, it does exist because this kind of people is not able, not a single bit, to see their own mistakes, because for you it’s easier to blame the other before change your habits, the most representative examples is my country, you blame us for producing drugs, I know we do, but have you stopped yourself to ask why we do it? the answer is simple, because we have a demand to cover, and do you know how is our distinguished client? yes, the Americans, but not the poor people, they rather to buy food to provide their kids with instead of buying weed to smoke it, our frequent clients are the “very wealthy families” who send their kids to Cancun to a spring brake for vacations ’till they get so smashed, or run out of money, or get into jail, so please stop this, everyone of us has the right of being respected and not pointed for an ignorant who wants to rule the country in the benefit of his best friends and neighbors in the hills.
I hope it doesn’t bother you I know it may be pointless but i had to say something, also I want to apologize if you find any grammar mistake, English is not my native language, but I’m trying so hard to improve it!
Best wishes everyone
The comments on your spelling remind me of something my mom used to do. She was an English major and constantly corrected my teenage slang. The one time it actually hurt me was when I came crying to her (at age 16) about whatever particular boy had devistated my life, and in the middle of my sob story, she corrected my English. Don’t get me wrong, she was a wonderful, kind and loving mother but grammatical mistakes just made her crazy!
Very good letter,hope Newt Gingrich reads it loud on his next debate,so everybody who wants him as president will think twice
I think what Republicans are most out of touch with is the fact that you can work hard your whole life and still be financially unsuccessful.
Great job and as someone said earlier, your articulation and civil tone to opposition is very impressive and I commend you. I am a single father of three with a daughter attending Columbia College and I am very proud of you and thankful for your mother…1love!
Hi Travon, Thank you so much for your comments on Newt! He truly is a despicable man indeed. So many of these Republicans are so out of touch with how REAL AMERICANS live. I have a former classmate who I graduated with who made it big, or is doing quite well for himself, he says if you don’t work 80-90 hours a week you aren’t working hard. I think he is out of touch with the cold stark reality that we can’t all sell gold/silver like he does. I was born and raised by my grandparents, grew up in Philadelphia,Pa. I worked as soon as I graduared HS. I took care of my grandparents and worked a full-time job. I resent just about everything Conservatives say. Thank you so much again for hitting the nail right on the head about Newt. I think he looks like the Stay-Puff Marshmallo guy!
“Poor” doesn’t mean “stupid.” That’s something Newt & the Repugs need to get straight. And it doesn’t mean “lazy” or “mooching” either. I know plenty of lazy, mooching, stupid well-off white people and it’s time to put someone ELSE in Congress.
Good job with this. However please dont label all Republicans as “greedy, selfish, out of touch, wealth protecting, non tax paying, destroyers of the middle class” Most Republicans are not like this just as Democrats are not all liberal hippies (of course I can say some very mean things but I won’t). I feel Newt is a freaking moron and actually all of the Republicans that are running are idiots as well. Unfortunately I feel the same way about Obama. So I guess I am either not going to vote this time or I am going to have to vote for the person I feel will best lower our national debt.
Why do you feel the need to disparage mashed potatoes, which happen to be a hearty addition to any great meal, by comparing them to a worthless POS like Newt Gingrich?
I execute call options on Wall Street and I schedule C for my taxes, but I’m still voting for Obama.
Right on. You should own some gold, though, just in case.
Truly, family and community are the single solution to our problem, however this can only be achieved when family and community are protected from the abuse of excessively powerful corporations searching for absolute power and cheap labor that is not fit for human survival. Only a just government can provide just laws against historic corporative abuses, only an unadulterated government based on an educated majority can be powerful enough to protect families from corporative excesses and abuses. Those who disagree or agree can feel free to watch the following video:
Travon, thank you for your comments. You and LZ Granderson (who wrote a similarly touching piece on this issue yesterday on CNN.com) have spoken a great truth and I commend you for it. While there are luckily many compassionate, caring, sympathetic wealthy people, you can’t truly understand the cycle of poverty, the sadness and desperation it brings, and the too-often sad consequences of that life unless you’ve lived it. Some of us make it out on the other side, having fought for an education (and fought is the right word because it does not come without a much heavier price tag than the wealthy experience) and have risen out of our section 8/trailer park/house in the “hood” past. But most do not and its not because they do not work hard or do not desire a “better” life. Its because poor people have much greater obstacles in front of them, obstacles that the wealthy just refuse to acknowledge (mostly due to total lack of personal experience and oftentimes due to a total lack of compassion). It takes ENORMOUS will and tenacity and resourcefulness to overcome those circumstances. Much more than so many people will ever understand. We are not all born on a level playing field. Not everyone has the same mental capacity, the same physical capacity, the same creativity or the same drive. To suggest that we all have an equal chance in life is ignorant at best and dangerous at worst, because it continually subjects poor people to an unfounded level of scrutinty and judgement that is not aimed at the wealthy. To be sure, there are plenty of lazy poor people. But there are also plenty of lazy rich people who are just damn lucky their rich mommies & daddies can bail them out of their problems. Most people are decent, hardworking people who just want to live a comfortable life, where they can be assured that their lights will stay on and their medical needs will be covered. To be accusatory and compassionless and judgemental towards the poor because they have drawn the short stick in life is just cruel. This country needs a leader who cares about all of us, not just a few of us. And this country desperately needs a lesson in compassion, understanding, empathy and real morals (not the so-called “morals” that the conservative party claims to embody). I lived the life of poverty and I came out on the other side but not without scars. Not without a continual sadness for those still trapped in that life. Not without a continued compassion for my fellow men and women who are literally treading water, holding onto a lifevest that is only half-inflated. Walk a mile, people. Stop and give real thought to those around you. They have dreams and talents and hearts and minds, too.
Oh, and I am white but grew up in the city, so I lived in predominantly black neighborhoods and went to a predominantly black school. You are absolutely right that Gingrich’s rhetoric is aimed silently at the minority population of this country. Its fear-based hate mongering, plain and simple. Perhaps if he spent a little time with the people he’s so afraid of, he’d realize that his notions are sad and misguided and just completely wrong.
Not all Republicans are like Newt. I am an independent but I usually vote Republican, and I voted against McCain in the previous Republican presidential primary. I will vote against Newt in this primary and I will not vote for him if he wins the nomination.
The Republican party actually contains a lot of Libertarians and other such Independents that are much closer to Republican fiscal policy than Democratic tax-and-spend policy without being the socially conservative assholes that people like Newt are. And there are plenty of people in the party that are actually extremely intelligent, but the news simply loves to put the spotlight on the biggest idiots like Michelle Bachmann.
I cannot, however, explain why so many voters choose the worst possible candidates in the primaries. I was extremely pissed off to hear that McCain won the primary last time. I hope Republicans have smartened up enough to know that Newt, like McCain, has no chance of winning. They need someone who is not an asshole, who does not have baggage, and who is not so polarizing as to drive independents like me away. Seriously, not all Republicans are assholes.
Newt will never, ever be president. The question is whether Republicans will realize that and vote for someone else in the primaries or if they sabotage their own chances by voting for Newt (or Perry… or Cain… or Bachmann… etc.)
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As a first generation immigrant who had to work for everything, I not only agree wholeheartedly, but couldn’t have articulated it better myself. Love the P.S. !
Great blog and response to Gingrich. Interesting replies, too.
“Pallet cleanser” can be taken as a word play on the Dude’s child-janitor “solution”.
Long ago I spell-checked “Gingrich”, and it offered “gibberish”!
Truly family and community are the solution only when family and community are protected from the abuse of powerful corporations searching for cheap labor. Only a just government can provide laws against historic corporative abuse, only a government powerful enough can protect families from corporative abuse. Those in doubt can feel free educate themselves with this video:
I am a white, middle-class writer mom and YOU, my friend, are my brother from another mother. I have shared your piece on Facebook and retweeted it and will do everything I can to get it out there.
I truly do not get why ANYONE in the poor or middle class and vote against their own interests would defend the Republicans at this point. We are all on the same ship and we will float or sink together.
When someone is smart, honest and funny, I am their friend for life. You speak the truth. The fact that ANYONE could possibly support that narcissistic, meglomaniac (sorry about the spelling, Word Nazis), hypocritical asshole just absolutely floors me.
Ignore the trolls and keep speaking the truth. Remember what happens when you try to teach a pig to sing: you waste your time, and you annoy the pig.
As a man who grew up poor in Iowa, I find myself, as you, totally offended by the comments made my Mr. Gingrich. Our family was 10 persons strong and went through struggles every day to make ends meet. I remember when I was a teenager, there was a government funded youth employment program which benefited me. I worked in our local school doing custodial work under the 2 lead janitors. It was a lot of hard work, but I was a farm kid, so I was used to it. What I grew up in was a financially poor family, that was rich in life and compassion. If you were hungry, you were welcome to come to Sue and Franks (my mom and step-dad) for whatever we had. Don’t have money to pay for it, we’ll work it out, My parents both worked and instilled in us the value of hard work, They afforded us opportunities to work off the farm when time allowed. And they taught us the importance of family, friends and community over money. All of my 7 siblings have careers. 3 with colleges degrees and two manage whole divisions of companies.
I recently have become part of the living poor again. Due to medical disability, I am no longer able to work. But the knowledge of the value in a dollar and family and friends keeps me going. And to be productive, I write grants for non-profit agencies so they can do their valuable work, Lumping all poor people together as lazy, uninspired, lacking work effort is ridiculous.
It is difficult to win in a smack down with mashed potatoes but you have managed it. Bravo.
Thank you Travon. Your mother should be proud of a young man who took the opportunities and examples she worked so hard for to heart. My own mom raised three kids by herself after my father died when we were 3, 7 and 10 years old. She worked two or three part time jobs at a time so she could be there when we got home to cook dinner and help with homework, between jobs. I don’t know if that woman ever slept. She is a brilliant lady and probably could have taken a single, higher paying job, but decided that time with her kids who had lost their dad was more important.
We know how much he values the welfare of children by the fact that after divorcing his first wife, Jackie Battley, he refused to pay child support and alimony. The First Baptist Church in his home town had to take up a collection to support the family he had deserted. Source: Stephen Talbot. “Newt’s Glass House.” Salon.com. 8/28/1998
I appreciate your addendum, but I’d like to point out that: 1. republicans hate poor white kids too. 2. you could have defended your mother as a WOMAN rather than as a BLACK woman. I agree with ever single thing you said, but you could have said it without alienating poor white people -which really, is kinda racist if you think about it. Lets stick together instead of dividing.
Newt is certainly not the best candidate for president to represent me – but it scares me that someone of your Ivy Leagure caliber champions the current administration. I think that Obama has been a resectable man in his office (unlike some of his predecessors, in my opinion), but his policies feed into the hands of the Establishment – more so than any other who has come before him, Republican or Democrat. Personally, I would vote for a candidate who can and will reign in the Federal Reserve, promote a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, promote smaller government, reduce public spending, and reduce the public debt. It is not the duty of the government to create jobs for its citizenry; but rather to create an atmosphere of stability and consistency such that jobs become a by-product of economic expansion.
Congratulations on your exceptional accomplishments – I trust that those in your circles of influence will find inspiration by them.
Steven
I grew up in a small town in the 40′s/50′s. We of course had our 1 percent, although they weren’t super rich, but the majority were trying to come out of the depression and WWII and build just a life, we were all poor but never talked about it much, we just worked. I babysat from the time I was 10 and worked in a drugstore from 11 through high school. People didn’t complain about the two or three jobs they held, or the hours they worked. We all tried to help out each other sharing what we had so the town could get through as a healthy whole. I asked my dad once if we were poor and he said “no one is really poor, we are temporarily without funds.” That’s how I’ve thought of my life since. I was a single mother of 4 and worked in non-profits all my life to try and help all of us in a community, even the rich. I have worked with the disabled, the abused, the poor, the homeless, the addicts, the arts, the inner city kids and even the rich if they had a problem. I have spent 40 years doing that and paid very little but somehow got by. I am now 69, with stage 4 cancer, on chemo and still working and I am glad of it.
People don’t have a clue what really poor or financially challenged people do to survive, they don’t have a clue how creative, hard working honest people go through just to feed their kids. Sadly it is mostly because they don’t really know how to cheat, steal, or lie to make their money like we have been treated to with quite of number of the 1 percent. If you aren’t stealing from the poor and middle class, it’s tough out there on the streets to make a living or get an education or keep a job.
The Newts of this country were pigs in the 80′s, 90′s and they are pigs now. But the Newts do know how to lie, steal and cheat. There are lots of 1 percenters who have made their money honestly or done a lot of good works, the Newts aren’t part of that common decency, but I have worked with people that if he were laying on the street would help him, including me.
In the 80′s, the Reagan years, you know the years of the “welfare queens” I worked for the homeless and the really poor who were trying to climb out. My organization had a “back to school” program for the kids of these families. In those days a lot of people gave old, torn, stained, dirty clothes to organizations like mine. You know, “the poor have nothing and deserve anything they can get” mentality. We were asking for people to donate new clothes for the kids as a small piece to help them feel like they fit in with their peers. A woman called me and said she wanted to interview the family she was donating to and the kids to see if they “deserved” what she was giving. I told her I thought that was such a good idea and I had formed a committee to interview those who were giving to see if they deserved what they had and if we deemed them worthy of giving to our families. Obviously, she did not donate anything and I didn’t care, a bunch of us made up her donation by buying this one family’s kids clothing ourselves.
Most of us in the lower to upper middle class don’t have any idea what “survival of poverty” entails and we don’t stop to think what it entails unless we’ve experienced it somewhere along the way, but we can and should stop and think what life is like for those who don’t have what we have, whether that life is illness, or disabled, or poor, or less education or no education at all. You think these people or their children are somehow different than you because of their color or living conditions? If you do, you are wrong, we don’t have to like all the different people in the world, but to judge them less than isn’t a good choice either. I wouldn’t eat breakfast, lunch, dinner or have coffee with some of the Newt’s I see around, but I and millions of others would reach a helping hand out to them. There are people who think they’ve made it on their own but they haven’t. From the day we are born through our lives we have hands reaching out to us, some of them are hurting hands and some are helping hands, I wonder if Newt had more hurting hands or if he just didn’t realize the meaning of the helping hands.
Sorry for the length of this but the above essay hit a nerve in my heart for those who want kids to clean their toilets after all the s… of theirs we have had to clean up through the decades.
You make a good point. However, for me it was overshadowed by your poor grammar. PLEASE GRAMMAR CHECK BEFORE YOU POST.
example please?
The whole article sounds like it was wriiten by an 8 year old and not somebody with an “Ivy League” education!
Seems to me that most people understood your grammar pretty well Travon. Great Article!
At least you spelled Mashed Potatoes right! LOL!
Please don’t respond to the grammar monsters. It is a blog, your personal space and by the way informal.
If someone’s whole point is “overshadowed” by a few grammatical errors, then you are very simple-minded. Seriously. It is one thing if the post is barely comprehensible, but his is VERY clear. You are simply nitpicking like an old, salty hater who is mad because no one would ever care to read what you think. There. I said it.
Many years ago I taught Eighth Grade in the South Bronx and most of the youngsters in my classes were brown-skinned Blacks and Hispanics. For the most part, their parents were hard working folks whose goal was for their children to have more opportunities than they had. Your open letter served to remind me how fortunate I was to have these children in my charge for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week as I strove mightily to provide a sound basic education. The suggestion that these kids work as janitors and the like is absurd nonsense, blather from a blithering numbskull who thinks his every utterance ought to be etched in stone when for the most part his words are mindless ruminations of an egotist of the highest order. Your mother, like so many others in similar circumstances is a hero of the first order. I salute her as I do so many parents and other caring adults who sacrifice so that the next generation will have better opportunities.
It’s a shame people focused on the typos instead of the message. Just goes to show you what type of world we live in.
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But he really DOES look like mashed potatoes in a suit.
This is one reason why we need instant runoff voting: Increasingly, voters don’t vote for candidates actually they want; they vote to prevent candidates they don’t want. It becomes a lesser-of-evils mentality. If the best candidate in the country has not gone through the hazing and successfully pledged with one of the two “endorsed fraternities” (Republicrats or Democrans), they’re deemed unelectable. Even candidates that are nominally accepted into the club are weighed against the looks, charisma, and other criteria having little to do with their smarts or their ethics to see if they’ll be worthy. “If I vote for a third party candidate that I actually *LIKE* then there’s a chance that the idiots in the country will elect the Antichrist. So, I better hedge my bets and vote for the person that might stand a chance of beating her.” This leaves politicians in the position of pandering not to get voted off of “American Idol”.
With instant runoff, you aren’t penalized for voting for good candidates. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant-runoff_voting
http://archive.fairvote.org/index.php?page=1476&articlemode=showspecific&showarticle=2992
First, let me start off with I agree. Newt Gingrich is a class A jackass. The worst kind. I remember reading (more like looking at pictures) of Hustler Magazine (Larry Flynt is quite the activist) and enjoying the a cartoon of Newt Gingrich watering his “garden of BS” –
On to Obama. If there is anyone who actually thinks Obama is “good” for “us” I would encourage you to google two things and just think about what that means to us, the American People (the 98%)
#1) S.1867 – National Defense Authorization Act. Michigan Senator Carl Levin wrote it, claiming it was Obama who directly instructed him to include American citizens (civilians or ALL colors) in the wording.
#2) Senate Bill S510 Makes it illegal to Grow, Share, Trade or Sell Homegrown Food –
After you google those two bills, do some homework about Monsanto, who “owns” many genetic patents on genetically modified seeds. Then think about that for a bit…
Some questions that may reveal a bit more truth are “Who pays for Gingrich?” and “Who owns Obama?” …follow the money trail
On this thread, I see a lot of Black/Brown/White topics discussed. In my opinion, this is a clever, effective approach to getting us all to enter into a state of chaos and disharmony with each other and lose sight of what the truth is.
i did not grow up “poor” (i came from the middle class of the past) but you absolutely spoke for me!!! this message was so on target – thank you for sharing!
I think comedians are the problem. Surely comedians must have promoted all these Republican candidates so as supporting the most wonderful lineup of raw material ever. Loved your column. As a copyeditor, I might just recommend giving your editor left brain a moment of review to catch up with your writer right brain…those conservative organizational types are a little slower…even in our own heads. Keep on writing…we need it!
see, me too. Slow down, girl…should be “so as to support”
(And I didn’t mean my first comment to be a big critique of a few typos… but since other folks were nagging you, I just wanted to pass along something that works for me, and my kids, and some other folks I know…if your brain works at warp speed, like yours obviously does, and you type pretty fast, sometimes you have to force yourself to take a breath and reread before you hit send. Or read stuff aloud–newspaper copy editors do this.) Anyway, you don’t have to include my comments under your blog. Just like your thinking and wanted to add my .02. Will look for your name & work in the future…all the very best wishes.
I haven’t read the other comments… but I just want to say… my family is well below the poverty line (although we are generally happy and healthy, clothed, fed and sheltered… but minimally) and my husband works 12-14 hour days (or nights depending on the month). We live in a 2 bedroom apartment with our 2 (3 when my stepdaughter is here) young children and do not have cable or even internet (we use whatever wireless network floats by). My point is the problem is not us not working hard. We are poor and you know what my husband does?? He’s a U.S. soldier.
Thank you tremendously for that open letter. I write a column for a small paper in very rural southern Kentucky. I do my damnedest to introduce reality in the way of liberal thought to these people who are kept in perpetual darkness by the GOP, tradition, religion and just plain fear. The irony being most here are very poor.
Reading your open letter has sealed it for me; a response to Gingrich will be the topic of my opinion column this week.
Thank you. I’m an old codger who walked with MLK and I’m frustrated and angry. It’s hard to be a pacifist these days. It’s good to know you are taking up the flag of justice and equality.
Right on, Trevon!
You rule! You rock! Thanks a million!
I grew up on welfare- and I do think that Gingrich correctly identifies a problem. His “solution” however, is just about most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Nothing like having kids aspire to low wage labor to bring them out of poverty! Where is the hope? Where is the mentoring? Where are the educational supports, or the welfare reform, or the jobs that would allow folks to get back to work?
I also want to say, I’m so glad that you “got out” but I do worry that the success stories just add fuel to the republican premise that the American dream is available to everyone. It is not. Those growing up without a legacy of wealth, of education, or of enfranchisement always start the race farther behind, and just because some catch up doesn’t mean that everyone can.
What a pathetic excuse for a canidate.
Bravo Travon, Bravo! Your mother must be very proud of you and your sister, as she should be. Newt and the GOP are so out of touch and I think they’ve angered more the half of the population. Even my friend who is a staunch Republican is disgusted with all of them and what they are trying to do to this country of ours. In fact, she says she’s voting for Obama next year.
I do hope and pray that Newt sees and reads your letter.
Thank you for your wonderful letter. I grew up poor, in NYC, I will never forget the day the new projects opened on 93 and first ave, and we got to move in to apt. 16f. We thought we made it..and we did. I even had my own room and didnt have to share a bed with my two little brothers. I never realized we were poor. All my friends were the same, and we all had food on the table. I loved going to my friends for dinner, nobody turned and kid away from the table. Isabel’s mom alway had a pot of rice and beans on the stove, Rosie’s mom worked days so she had us on the weekends, and it was heaven. Greens in bacon, always made sure i happened to stop in on sat. at dinner time. We learned work ethic, we learned love and we learned we were all the same and color did not matter. This was in the 60′s. While cities were burning, our parents kept us all in line, making sure we went to school, made sure we knew that everybody was the same, and should all be respected equally. I grew up in a rainbow of humanity.
Thank you again, you are what America is, and should be…and can be.
Awww. Mah. Gawd. This post is full of awesome.
Thank you for posting this. I am a government teacher and will use this in my classes.
Eloquent and to the point. It is unfortunate Newt and others like him will not see themselves in your words even when addressed directly. Nonetheless, I have shared it on my FB page, tweeted it and will do anything else to make certain it receives the viewership it needs.
You are a fucking genius! Thank you.
Really well said. Thank you. I am passing this around since your voice so clearly speaks for most of us.
In my own family I’ve seen privilege at work. I come from a white, middle class background. Nothing fancy but there was always a belief that if you work hard you will do well. I don’t know if times have changed that much or if we were just delusional.
When I was in high school my mom married a man who came from a very privileged family. He went to prep schools and an ivy league school and had a salary I could never even dream of (and I will never make in my lifetime). His complete lack of understanding of my own struggles to pay bills or even advance in my career has been a huge eye opener for me. I must be equally blind in my own way. There must be so much that I have and have been given and don’t even realize. Hard work does not always equal success. And people like Newt can never understand. His privilege makes him blind.
Everybody make sure you vote! Don’t let the Newts take any kind of office and represent us! If we are 99%, together we should have some power.
Brilliant essay. As many listen to Newt spin his stories, it’s far too easy to lose sight of the inanity buried within them. The unfortunate truth, however, is that there is a far right wing of the GOP that agrees with him–and always will. In the primary those people come out in force….
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“Un’d You will stay in the Finest Hotels as a Bar of soap!”
I find it interesting that so many are intent upon finding grammatical errors instead of focusing on the content of what this young man is sharing from his heart. If you were listening to him speak these words, would you “get it”?
Travon, thank you for writing and sharing your heart, you truth. You represent many through your words.
Best regards,
CL
CL, thank you for clearing out the bullshit. Seriously…. can we focus on content?
what a liar! this “open letter” shows just how ignorant you are and how you only hear what you want to hear. Newt is absolutely right on the subject in which he was addressing. your whole world is made up of “the man” holding the black man down, (which is a joke) and it just goes to show you that with most of the black population, nomatter what a white man says, he’s going to be called a racist and anything else you can come up with to ignore the truth! do yourself a favor and go back, listen or re-read what Newt was addressing. just try to apply yourself a little more and remove your hate filter just long enough to maybe (just maybe) learn something beyond your racist bubble world. and by the way, obama is a miserable failure. not because he’s black (he’s actually mixed) but because he is attempting to destroy the US economy and replace our capitalist sociaty with a socialist style society. and despite the fact that he doesn’t give a rats butt about the “black community”, 90% of you (who vote) will support him! hmm, i wonder why that is? so to close…you hate Newt because he looks like “mashed potatos in a suit”, what do you think barry looks like??
Capt. obviouly dumbass, you are an ignorant asshole who does not think. You’re going to defend a man that wants to abolish child labor laws? Newt is a sociopath that is out of touch with the reality of the lives of the common people of america.
You sound like someone poured mashed potatoes in your skull.
Thanks My Brother For Standing Tall.
Schools are learning institutions, not Nike sweat shops. Just one small step towards creating and establishing a lower working class that works for little or nothing so that wealth can be consolidated to the top. Everyone who works in this country fills an important niche and deserves basic human services. The gas station atttendant, the person behind the counter at the small coffee shop, the laborer, the person washing dishes. You say “if you want health benefits, get a better job!” Shame on you and your lack of thinking. What happens when all those people get better jobs? Who pumps your gas or washes your dishes? I’m sorry Mr. Smith, you can’t order food at our resturant because our dishwashers got a better jobs. Or: no you poor fool, you’re going to stay down there work hard for nothing and like it! EVERYONE who works in this country deserves to be taken care of when they enter a: school, hospital, pharmacy, or any government building. Newt is a sociopath and it’s clear from how he’s treated his exwives.
LOVE IT!!!! Thank you for saying what we were all thinking!!
When a thought takes one’s breath away, a grammar lesson seems an impertinence.
Thomas W. Higginson
You know what pisses me off? Everyone always makes these superficial judgments about everyone. That guy’s a drug dealer. That guy bought expensive rims for his car and wears expensive clothes, so he’s obviously gaming the system. Of course they never actually ask that guy, and because they’re no automotive geek or fashionista, they can’t recognize knock off brands or cheap chrome. They don’t know that there are tons of shops in poor areas where you can buy stuff that looks name brand, but for very cheap. People can still be poor, and feel good about themselves and I find it amusing that people make that judgment that they’re somehow cheating, because they have things that look nice. I’m not poor, or black, but I’ve worked in the community, and I understand and see these things. It’s a common generalization suburban white people meet every time they see a black person that looks a lot nicer than they should, given their “situation”. I think that’s something that needs to be addressed and people need to be aware of. I also think that most ignorant people won’t be satisfied till all the people they deem poor are all wearing the same grey sweatsuit or something. I know this doesn’t have a lot to do with your original post, but its part of the stereotype and assumptions that a lot of white people make about the working poor. Maybe since your pedestal is a little higher and louder than mine, you can bring some greater attention to this. Just an idea. Peace be with you, and keep speaking up.
Reading through all these posts, half-applauding and half-cringing, but this was the one that I had to stop and reply to in the hopes more people see it.
I work in a low-income community with a lot of lower income persons of various races. I’m frequently appalled by comments I hear from so-called professionals in my field who are offended that someone owns a cell phone or a Nike jacket. It’s an entirely different economy and can’t be looked at through the same lens.
Yoo..Trev..You made your point very simple and most importantly CLEAR.
I don’t see why you should respond to people who come at you with “Oh you misspelled this or that” or people who tend to sweep the truth under the rug.
Also if we have “In God I trust” on our money.My question is..Which God.
Cos we sure don’t act like children of God.
C.J
Shut up.
You are obviously one of those people who is racist against whites. There are many poor white children in this country as well, and he never once said black or brown children. Not everything is about the blacks.
Try to make that bonehead Grngrich, understand that before he decides to grace us with his out of touch facts again.
I am a grandmother on disability and raising my grandson. I have not listened to any of Gingrich’s statements, I don’t find there are any really qualified runners in this race. I agree that most, if not all, are not in touch with the true America……..hard working citizens just trying to keep it together. They have their heads buried so deep into the sand it’s a wonder none have died of affixiation.
I have lived all my life getting by and living within my means. I am satisfied with that. I have worked to help support my family for more than thirty years both as a second income and finally as the sole income provider.
When I was raising my family I did not request assistance, again I made do with what I had and succeeded.
Now that I am again raising a child, can no longer work for health reasons, they want to reduce what I have to live on. I’ve paid my taxes, done all that I was supposed to and now they want to penalize me for doing the right thing.
I truly resent the fact that they get all their benefits for nothing, paid by taxpayers, while I pay thru the nose so they can have. It’s time they got a good kick in the butt and sent on their way and start paying what they’ve taken from the hard working people and continue to do so.
One final statement…………….The politics in this country is a joke………How can any rational thinking person take any of them seriously?
Bless you and your mom who struggle every day to make a difference in our world so full of confusion and hate. My mom had 11 kids and never went on welfare worked the night shift to make it thru ever day. Bless you child for your insight on what is so Important in life. Bless you
I thought the first sentence was perfectly written exactly as it was. I suppose if you’re reading slowly enough that you must catch your breath while reading it, it may seem like it’s not grammatical, but I can attest to the fact that it is indeed correct.
It sounds racist. Newt uses other language such as really poor children rather than black or brown or yellow or white. He is always been one to walk the edge of being racist with other things he has said. It is his narrow minded view of really poor children that is so insulting. It insults the children and the parents of really poor children who actually made it without doing something illegal. His idea of really poor children is Newt’s anology of what he thinks is one of the biggest reasons for income inequality in America today. Newt never says it has to do with the fact that since Raegan was in office deregulation of the Market System has allowed the rich to do very well while the average middle class workers income has decreased. Or it has nothing to do with that deregbulation caused the real estate bubble burst causing a lot of these children to be “really poor”. Or because the Tax Cuts that only the rich can take advantage of while the middle class pays a larger portion of their income for taxes. Or any of the other sided policies Newt’s party supports that give the rich the bigest advantage. According to Newt it is their own fault. All the really poor children who grow up with bad work ethics and only know how to get what the want illegally. Newt can’t see that it might be his ideologies suppressed the small handful of really poor children that gave them no other choice but to do something illegal. And that sounds like good ole Southern White Racists mentality to me. One book I read that really open your eyes is “Black Like Me” by John Howard Griffin. It is a book about a white writter who changed his pigment to dark and seen first hand how the blacks were being treated in the South in 1959 – 60. As I read the book things stood out to be the same now just different times and circumstances. It helped me understand just how destructive bigotry can by.
I concur. I worked at a high school down in south Florida where section 8 housing was. Theyes themselves worked not for money in their pockets but to help their own family. Their parents were hardly ever home just so they could provide. Education wish they weren’t the smartest but they strive to work hard to get an education. It isn’t even their fault for their education it was South Florida terrible education system and poor models that was the staff. You can look up about south floridas staff and see them as thieves of school equipment, bearers to their children, and pedophiles of the very students they are suppose to be teaching. Its terrible that they move great teachers to great schools and bad teachers to bad schools, that they cut funding for bad schools and give money to good schools. Anyways, point being those wonderful children that i was honored in knowing and some who follow me on Facebook now because they miss me were such great kids with a government that would careless. Those kids that have nothing work the hardest to have something. Yeah you might have one spoiled in the bunch but you can’t assume all are. Like you stated about their being so many white rich people but can’t assume we all are. Our government pays the well off more than the hard working everyday citizens. I tell people this constantly, i love my country but hate my government, i love government jobs being the most stable but i hate the pay. Loved your post!
Btw, for the spelling grammar Nazi’s I am my phone typing and have autocorrect on.
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May I note:
I am a recovering Republican – have never been racist
I believe in the Republican Ideology – the old school one (i.e., small government, equality & equity for ALL people, minimal taxation, ummm… The Constitution at the center)
I am currently an Independent – got my head out of the clouds & realized that “We the people” are no longer at the core of our political system; money, power, and party politics are the mindset – even for the current administration
Grew up in poor hood – parents worked their asses off daily; my siblings and I had a list of chores daily
Dad was in prison til I was three – I have a better work ethic than 99% of those on Capitol Hill
I am a person of many ethnicities – I’m sick and tired of being told that I need to classify myself; I’m sick to death of this political game wherein we’re told to divide into race or religion or income bracket. THIS is the current attempt at a Civil Rights Movement – Keep Americans divided because there is NO collective strength in small fringe group politics! The 1% is dependent on the 99%, as the 99% is on the 1%, and the 85% on the 15%, and the 40% on the 60% and so forth! Guess what folks! We’re all American! Period.
I have no faith in our current political system – Left, Right or otherwise. Someone said it – they are elitists, they are provided for on such an awesome scale… Isn’t it revolting? These Poor Folks pay their salary? The Poor! Pay the Rich!!!! AGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
Oh, back to the initial point I was hoping to make – Mr. Free, you have inadvertently joined the ranks of Mr. Gingrich by making some pretty broad-sweeping generalizations. I feel that you are a man of intellect, a man with important ideals, a man who is aware of the world around him – albeit, one who seems to delve slightly into party politics – I feel that you might make a grander impact if you were to consider your arguments from a wholly inclusive perspective, from a human point of view, and from a non-partisan platform that recalls that until very recent history, it was the Democrats who stalemated the Civil Rights movements that provide for each of us a basis to speak freely and openly. Many of us are Old School Republicans who dream about the promises of our Constitution.
xoxoxo
When people have to nit-pick about barely noticable typos, then they cannot dispute the content of what you are saying. So well done, Travon. You did a great job debunking Gingrich’s silly claims from first-hand experience. I would like to add that although Gingrich is practically a dinosaur, even he must recall what it was like to be a school-aged kid. To suggest that poor kids take on a second class citizenship role and clean the toilets for their “better off” classmates is absurd. What a way to invite low self-esteem and bullying. Perhaps my “favorite” part of his rant is when he suggested that middle class kids have a work ethic. IN WHAT COUNTRY??? I grew up in a firmly middle class neighborhood and do not recall seeing my classmates working janitorial or kitchen jobs. If anything, a few people would hold down a cushy post at Abercrombie or some other store at the mall during the summer… and that was mainly for the store discount. My parents never allowed me to work until the summer after I graduated H.S. because they wanted me to focus on school. If anything, poor kids probably work a lot harder in order to support the family (doing chores, taking care of younger siblings) because their parents work such long hours and can’t afford babysitters. His argument is complete crap and I am shocked that people actually considered this guy (Gingrich) to be such a shrewd politcian. He couldn’t conceal his true motives for more than a few seconds. His aim was to 1) vilify the poor. This makes sense when his party shamelessly panders to the rich, 2) throw some read meat to bigots with the crime references, and 3) take a jab at “overpaid” union janitors. Funny coming from a guy who once charged $60K per speech. I, too, hope this buffoon gets the nomination. I can just see him now trying to debate Pres. Obama, a real champion for the average American, by arguing that we cut jobs for janitors and replace them with child labor. Finally, (random observation) isn’t if funny that some conservatives are actually willing to refer to this loser as “Speaker Gingrich” when they never, ever, ever have respect enough to refer to our PRESIDENT by his former title? Think about that–the disgraced ethics violater and pseudo-lobbyist deserves more respect in their eyes than our current commander-in-chief. Sad, isn’t it?
Thank you for recognizing that this is a poor / rich issue not a racial one. I despised this man long before he opened his mouth and revealed what an — he is. I admire your mother and all of the other parents who sacrifice so much to make life better for their children. That is the role model all children need to look up to and strive to be like not some sour, jaded, arrogant polititian who puts himself above others.
I can’t help but roll my eyes at every comment, so much support for such an unwarranted backlash. He said nothing racist, absolutely nothing. You’ll probably tell me to read between the lines, and see through his “code speak”. Whatever man. He was simply commenting on poor neighborhoods and their overall work ethic and how in your adult life, people generally reflect the environment they grew up in.
So your mother worked multiple jobs in a rough neighborhood and you turned out fine. Congratulations lucky boy, you only prove his point. Since your mother raised you while working to provide and instilled a hard work ethic in her family, her son went on to receive a college degree and blahy blahdy blah.
Children who have parents, who don’t work, have no desire to work, and live off of welfare checks generally don’t grow up with a strong work ethic. Generally speaking. Generally speaking. Generally fuckin speaking.
You played the race card here, no doubt about it. But before you go throwing words in the candidate’s mouth; just remember his comments were not directed at you personally. You and your hard-working mother. It’s time to stop being so sensitive to these comments about poor neighborhoods.
You need to take a hard look in the mirror brother, and decide who’s racist. I feel for you man. I really do. Because I was there once.
- Christopher
[47 year old black man.]
You’re right…
-Somebody from Romania, Europe
Children of rich folk are no more likely to have a good work ethic – come on now really.
I have lived in poverty and wealth and aside from the advantages of time, education (including that received subliminally around the dinner table), & health care that wealthy parents can but do not necessary leverage they are no better at instilling a work ethic than impoverished parents. Entitlement born of either wealth or poverty is a basic disconnect from the experience of having something to contribute that one feels mutually enriched in the process of contributing.
If a group of people has been enslaved, then “freed” within the confines of continued racism, it will take more than a few generations for them to climb out of the disadvantaged, broken place they have been put, so don’t act like they are able to “get over it” with legislated equality and social advantages.
I live in Richmond, Virginia – which was one of the main slave markets during colonial times, where the legacy of English aristocracy is still evident in attitudes and in the city’s racial divide. We have a Holocaust museum, but not a Slavery museum. As a White male, I am ashamed at some of the things done during my lifetime to inhibit racial equality, such as “Massive Resistance” during my grade school years. We need reconciliation here and nationally, and the Presidency of
Barack Obama feels like a step in the right direction, despite the poorly disguised racism with the Birther movement and in cries of “Socialism” from the Right. Bullshit. The John Birch mindset has returned ignorance to mainstream America. There is no Us and Them, it’s all US..
First of all, I am not a Newt fan. I do however see the persons Newt refers to everyday in my job. You are right, there are so many mothers and sometimes fathers that are doing everything they can to make a living and finding no help because they are undereducated and underqualified. I feel for them and try to help them one at a time on a personal level. But as a home health nurse I see so many that do not even wake up during dayight hours, do not want or care about working, do not pay any attention to their children, do not have anyone in the family who cares about them, have no men in their life as a role model. I have to agree that the poor are so disadvantaged and I realize that it is a cycle of behavior. No role models of success or successful behavior. I constantly thank my parents for being there for me and teaching me values etc. I do not see this behavior in poor white/black/brown etc communities. I am doing something to help these families by mentoring children. I wish I could do more. I am not perfect but I do care about each one, even though I am a selfish republican.
Do you do any screening for depression on your patients? Excessive sleeping and lack of engagement with loved ones (i.e. one’s children) are both symptoms of major depressive disorder which is frequently under-diagnosed and untreated for people in poverty for a variety of reasons – waiting lists for treatment providers, lack of transportation for appointments, losing Medicaid eligibity for one reason or another, etc.
Thank you Natalie for bringing this up.
Not everyone has the social immune system protections (healthy loving family, luck, extraordinary talent etc) that can provide a buffer (as can wealth) against life’s hardships, of which poverty is one of the worst. Modern medicine now knows the toll stress, pollution, lack of education and lack of nutrition (all more present among impoverished communities) takes on a person’s stamina, concentration and overall ability to function.
Children of rich folk are no more likely to have a good work ethic – come on now really.
I have lived in poverty and wealth and aside from the advantages of time, education (including that received subliminally around the dinner table), & health care that wealthy parents can but do not necessary leverage they are no better at instilling a work ethic than impoverished parents. Entitlement born of either wealth or poverty is a basic disconnect from the experience of having something to contribute that one feels mutually enriched in the process of contributing.
So you are going to UCLA. What, no luck getting into Berkeley or Stanford, now that the quotas are gone? Heh heh heh heh!
The reason you are so lame is that you have to make shit up in order to respond to it. Newt isn’t into race, so you just had to pretend he is in order to launch your rebuttal. Say, don’t you know that “The sky is blue” is really just a Republican code word for “I hate niggers?” Sounds like something you may have learned in Compton, where you pretend somebody said something to you so you have an excuse to start a fight. (Yeah, white people do that too, we know all about it.) He never said anything at all about black kids being janitors, just kids who need a job getting the janitor jobs in their own school.
How about a National Service where every single American does community service outside of their own immediate community for a year between the ages of 16 and 19 in exchange for room, board and/or funds for higher education – no matter their color, socioeconomic status or whatever.
Can you imagine only the impoverished kids cleaning the toilets at their own school? While the kids with more resources meanwhile take part in more enriching activities and likely tease the toilet scrubbers….Yeeesh talk about devolving.
I’ve read the work of plenty of people in Ivy League schools, and their conformity to prescriptive linguistic ideals has never correlated to their insight. I’ve graded their tests, too; take away spellcheckers and those amazing geniuses are quite ordinary writers.
How you write, however, isn’t the point! What you’ve written will bother people who are either unwilling or unable to decipher the codes that our politicians use. When Newt Gingrich talks about the poor having a culture of laziness, he’s not talking about economics; rather, he’s using old chestnuts from the social conservative armory to discuss race. No politician is going to reveal how they feel about a given class of people unless they’re stupid or the class is not protected/popular (e.g. LGBT and Muslims).
Thank you for calling him out for using that code to let his supporters know he thinks they are superior to the rest of us.
Thanks Travon for puttin some gravy on them taters.
Google “brain scan shopping poor” & you’ll see NTY Times Article on how brain scans of energy expended by grocery shoppers indicate it is physiologically more exhausting and stressful just to grocery shop when you’re poor due to the complexity of decisions that must be made.
As an oatmeal colored girl I grew up poor and was often the only non richly hued person in my family (foster kid). Later I lived amongst millionaires who loved to boast of their hard work yet were ignorant that they had the privilege of working half as hard at what they loved & were suited for than did the folks who meanwhile cleaned their clothes, cars, multiple homes and raised their kids. The rich can make mistakes that will kill you (unmercifully slowly at that) if your poor.
I was a poor white kid, and I support this message. Thank you for posting it.
Mr. Free:
Upper middle class born and bred white guy here. I don’t have your experience, but I promise to do my best to understand your experience. Couldn’t agree with you more. I can’t even begin to follow the logic where asking rich people to pay an extra 3.5% in marginal income taxes (that’s tax only on earned income above $250,000) is somehow “class warfare” but bashing all poor people as having no work habits somehow is not. What a world. We’re all in this together, I wish more people would act like it.
Also, that sh-tbag really does look like someone poured mashed potatoes into a suit.
Keep up the good work.
I call BULLSHIT! No way a poor black kid wrote this article. It’s more likely a lazy piece of shit liberal ,socialist,communist ,Obama loving Demecrat wrote this article.
*Democrat*
Great post. As a person on the low end of the economy I appreciate the struggles of other like situated people what ever their race. So far none of the republican candidates have shown any understanding of the majority of Americans.
well said. I’m neither black nor poor and I hate that this man and the GOP seem to think they represent me. I’m sad for this country and sad that so many people struggle to make ends meet – our system is badly broken and I fear things will never be fixed due to unwillingness to compromise and work together for the betterment of one. I fear things will never improve when the sheep in this nation believe the rhetoric they hear and are too lazy or don’t care to learn the truth.
Aloha Trayon….I’m now a 75 year old American of Japanese Ancestry who rose out of poverty, coming out of an experience with a mother who worked her hands to the bone and who with my step-dad who arrived later in my life, furnished me with the values and opportunity to work hard, study hard and make a decent life for myself. They are both deceased now, but sadly, never really got to enjoy the fruits of their labor. My “Dad” the last to go lived on less than $2,000 a month and was still in a “savings mode” at the time of his death. As the only remaining survivor of our family, I get to enjoy the fruits of their and my own labor, but at times the taste is bittersweet. I along with my wife of over 50 years went on to form our own family of three sons, all of whom preceded us in death…..one from an act of homicide and 2 from HIV/AIDS……and yes they were Gay. My wife and I have learned to survive without them since 1994. Our story is chronicled in the book Honor Thy Children and in the online video at: http://vimeo.com/33421616. I share this with you not to “toot” our own horn, but simply to give you some background information about me and where I am coming from.
First of all, thank you for writing and expressing what you have shared with so many of us. We need more folks like you to continue to express our own brand of “wisdom”. I have lived and experienced what is good and what is bad about America. I don’t believe that America or any Nation is capable of being perfect, that the poor and disenfranchised groups will always be presented with challenges that such statuses bring. But what is so disheartening is that the lives of ordinary people are getting worse in just about every sense of the word. People have simply become commodities in a world that has been taken in by the abuses of capitalism perpetuated by those who seek to amass fortunes at the expense of others……no matter what the cost. And yet, I know there are so many good and decent people who want to see a better America emerge from this hellish pit we’re currently mucking around in…….and looking around to find those who can help them up……..you are one of them and again, I thank you for being such. Your essay on Newt Gingrich needs to be understood by all of us common folks, and believed in. I cringe at the fact that there are people in America who “defend” him……actually they are defending their own feelings and perhaps that is the most scariest aspect of what is happening in America.
Al Nakatani
Honor Thy Children, Inc.
Just saw this on FB, and I wanted to applaud you. Ignore those who will find some reason to trash you, they feel threatened by your truth. Your truth is inspirational and heartfelt. Thank you for sharing it.
Thank you so very much for taking the time to compose this wonderful piece. God bless your mother, as well as all the other working poor parents out there. It is said that one should not judge until they have walked in another’s shoes. How true. The ignorance and disdain displayed in this speech left me wordless. Thank you for finding those words for me.
PS. I find it unbelievably absurd that someone could read through your piece and comment on grammar, punctuation, or spelling!
Chip
Nicely done. I think Newt has watched one too many episodes of “The Wire.”
I’ll be linking you in here:
http://newtoniumbomb.blogspot.com
Dear Mr. Free.
What a joy to read your blog entry. The ignorance I see posted as response scares the bejezzus out of me. Is the electorate really that narrow minded and selfish? The comment from Duffy91 that “Freedom requires self-reliance” sums up the justification for voting Republican by the poor whites of the south. It reminds me of a black man who joined the KKK because he likes being outdoors. Who the hell do they think builds the roads they drive on, supports the police force and firefighters they depend on, builds and staffs the schools they send their kids too, pays the salaries and feeds the military they so hardily support with their silly yellow ribbons, educates and financially supports the Army Corps of Engineers that work to prevent flooding in their homes, inspects the bullets that go in their assault rifles so they don’t explode in their sorry assed hands, or funds the CDC who works to prevent the spread of disease that can kill them..Who? If they are so self-reliant, they should move to an uninhabited island and live by themselves and save us the from their complete lack of understanding of how a civilized society functions.
Love the Mashed potatoes comment too.
Peace.
YOU TELL HIM, BABY!!!!
I’ve scanned the many previously written letters and I agree with many of the points brought up. I think what hasn’t been said to date, beyond the obvious code word of “poor” being a metaphor for “minorities” is the implication of kids being made janitors means they also could be held out of certain classes and certain tests. Everyone’s school today is subject to external reporting measures-how handy to be able to identify possible poorly performing students and make them janitors. They’ll clean toilets instead of “screwing up our statistics”. Think about it.
To address some of the more conservative replies….conservatives value maintenance of the social order over social justice. Is the Tea Party racist? Yes. The Tea Party is comprised of conservatives reacting to the huge disruption of social order that our experiment in democracy caused-the election of someone who ranks below white males in the social order. Do the members of the TP automatically qualify for the KKK? Probably not. You don’t have to be a vocal racist to have prejudiced thinking. Would there have been a Tea Party if Hiliary had been elected-Yes. For the same reason, women rank below white males in the social order. Let’s look at two conservative candidates whose presence supports my argument. Hermann Cain, a business CEO-if his business had been as successful as Thomas Monaghan’s, he would not be as supportable. But Godfather’s closed 178 restaurants under Hermann Cain’s management, whereas Thomas Monaghan’s Domino’s Pizza now has 9000 stores worldwide. Michelle Bachmann-kinda nutty, even to conservatives. If she had been as forceful as, say,Tom DeLay or Mitch McConnell, she would have not been as attractive. We women know what she would have been tagged with-the ever present “bitch” moniker. As she is, less competent and less threatening to the social order
Unqualified? I think Obama was more unqualified than anyone who is running for nomination besides Mr. Cain. The Obama administraion was so scared of him that they had to come up with lies of sexual harrassment to get him to drop out. Also, I think the title of this article is a little misleading. This was not written by a “kid”. It was written by an adult who obviously has an issue with ANY non-liberal no matter what they say or do. You have to realise that democrats need the poor to stay poor. That is the only way they will stay in power. Democrats continue to give people all of the social freebies as “payment” for your vote. Don’t be fooled. Obama gets more money from the very people that you label as evil and the 1%. So, with that, I suggest that all of the readers of this nonsense wise up and start thinking for yourselves. Don’t rely on establishment, left wing, communists to get your information. They have an agenda and it isn’t to make our people better.
Just thank you. I thought your comments were well written, true and from the heart.
actually travon you did say the tea party was racist. ” As long as towns like Vidor Texas exist and groups like the Tea Party who are undeniably racist exist racism will forever live in America and the world.” Just saying…basically you make as many assumption as newt in your letter. Not saying they are the same thing as he is running for president of the united states while this is a blog. Still though the statements you make in your letter and the justification for them are just as ridiculous as the stuff newt said. i just wish we could get someone in office who works for the betterment of people/this country rather than a select group of people, money, or corporations. Both sides of the aisle are guilty of this.
The GOP has made it fashionable to make derogatory remarks — especially about African Americans — for it is one more dart aimed at depreciating the Presidency of the nation’s first non-white president. It is a strategy to keep AAs in their place,to further damage their collective self esteem and to keep the society restive during the Obama presidency, characterizing it as a most turbulent period. It has become a running joke that they can’t even find a suitable presidential candidate since the well-thinking potentials have distanced themselves from the hatefulness and meanspirited behavior.
Hey man you should be thankful that Newt may get the nomination, every poll shows him getting thrashed by Obama in the general election whereas Romney on the other hand, in a head to head matchup is much closer to and actually beating Obama in some polls. I fear that even the Republicans will realize eventually the insanity of having Newt Gingrich as president. After all they may be ignorant as to how to manage the economy to help the middle class, but they don’t want their kids to breath nuclear fallout anymore than the Democrats.
Garbage retarded propaganda…. any idiot who reads this crap and twist the TRUTH to this B.S is a obama loving blind retard!!
Sadly, all Gingrich and his ilk will react to is how the author “resorted” to such “classless” language as when he wrote, “I say that is a load of shit.” It’s all they’ll see.
You speak the truth. All the candidates scare me. The potatoes thing is also the truth. You don’t have to say it was a joke, it’s the truth…
ROFL! #cosign
Wow!,, Ditto. Very well said
Well said ..good for you !! Newt is an old recycled windbag..but I hope he gets the nomination .Obama 2012 ,!
That was an eloquent statement (typos and all). Gingrich is hardly a viable candidate for leader of the Free World (such as it is).
But I’d like to say that no honest work is demeaning. No, I don’t think students should take the place of janitors and clean the toilets, but the toilets need to be cleaned and somebody’s got to do it. And that job is just as honorable as being president of the United States (irony unintended). I could, would, and do clean the toilets when it’s needed, and am not stigmatized by the honest effort.
Bravo to you on all accounts. For your hard work and success. For knowing your mommy was working hard so you and your sis could have a great life. Annndd your letter to that insincere, moronic, lying pig AWESOME!
The kardashian line makes this article. Our country has become a joke when it glorifies people like that, when i am a college graduate, mother of two, and am still on state aide. But at least im attractive, it gives me hope if i decide to show my cooch on camera and hoggishly de-moralize my way to the top.
Duffy91 – “In the history of humankind, nobody ever had to work ALL DAY.” Where did you study history, moron? Up until the mid-20th Century almost everyone had to work ALL DAY.
While I appreciate your commentary I must submit there’s millions of poor white children living in rural settings with No advocacy..no assistance….no educational way out or recognition for their abilities.. Please dont forget them. I rarely see them included in any fashion regarding poverty. Two parents working two jobs each because they too were forced to provide for themselves far too early. Child labor Never Ended. Ive No Memory of not working 8 to twelve hours days as a preschooler on. A gifted student with no escape. Just consider..
Loved the piece you wrote. While distracted by some of the responses re punctuation, I noticed that some of their remarks needed proof reading as well. Anyway, well said, and keep up the good work!
Wonderful letter. And people who pick out spelling errors obviously have found nothing else to talk about.
I never knew I was poor till I grew up and realized how well my parents did on so little.
I thought we were middle class, we were not. I thought I was white collar but I was blue.
Both my parents worked. We went to public school, I didn’t really understand there was a choice of private school, but then it wasn’t a choice for me. Both said choose a college we will make it work, because they valued education. I’m the first in my family to go to college because they made it work.
I have a very clear understanding about the difference between want vs. need. Doesn’t stop me from wanting but it helps me understand I have what I need. And what I have now is a president that I trust, that is what I need. I might want more, seems like Americans always want more. BUT what I don’t need a newt.
Chuck Franks
Way to go, Travon. I grew up poor, but far out in the hills of West Virginia. My mother was a coal miner and we lost our home when I was 14. Other than growing up poor, you and I don’t have much in common. I still live in a small town in Kentucky (I hate it, I admit) where racism is aplenty, but I know it when I see it. It is comforting for me to see that you and I can be so different in so many different ways, but we are both reasonable people, and we can come together on an issue like this.
To be honest, it’s scary to me that so many people would seriously consider any of the GOP candidates. They are all racist, anti-worker, anti-personal rights, anti-environment fanatics.
In another decade I will be nearing retirement, and I am already planning for it. I am lucky enough to have a pension (before the politicians destroy the last few of them). I will be moving out of this country to enjoy my golden years. I have, more or less, given up on this country.
Take care,
Brian
I dont know who you are, and until today I have never heard of you. But you can be SURE I will look for you now, after I read your letter to newt, I am a fan for LIFE. Your wit, and pathos and candor are just a breath of fresh air and reality in this insane political season. Your letter to newt was so spot on, it made me shudder. And your humor at the end , with the mashed potatos line, just floored me. I am going to be passing that on all day. I dont know you but I LOVE YOU already! Never stop, never change, and keep spreading the word of reality and sanity.
Go OBAMA 2012!!!!!
Diane, in Orlando
May I ask both you and those who responded to you this one question: What would you have our financially broke and morally corrupt government do? I am NOT saying Newt is correct. But there is, at least from what I can see (no, I don’t live in Compton or even a metro area), a sense of entitlement and lack of willingness to do what must be done. Not by all, obviously, but by enough that one is aware of that sense. From a (very) quick google search regarding single parent homes and proverty:
Ninety percent of single-parent families are headed by females. Not surprisingly, single mothers with dependent children have the highest rate of poverty across all demographic groups (Olson & Banyard, 1993). Approximately 60 percent of U.S. children living in mother-only families are impoverished, compared with only 11 percent of two-parent families. The rate of poverty is even higher in African-American single-parent families, in which two out of every three children are poor.
Most children live with one parent as the result of divorce, but by 1996 the single-parent home was as likely to involve a never married as a divorced parent. Unmarried women in the United States accounted for nearly one in three births in 1995, compared with one in five in 1980 and one in ten in 1970. The percentage of births to single women varies across race. In 1995, 20 percent of all births to Asian and Pacific Islanders were to single women, compared to 25 percent for white women; 41 percent for women of Hispanic origin; 57 percent for Native American, Eskimo, and Aleut women; and 70 percent for African-American families.
For the most part the increase in births to unwed mothers is the consequence of unplanned, accidental pregnancy coupled with the decision not to marry. This includes teenage mothers who are less likely to marry than pregnant teens in the past, as well as adult women who delay marriage while pursuing educational and career opportunities, increasing the probability of pregnancy outside of marriage. Teens account for almost 13 percent of all births in the United States (23% for African Americans, 23% for Native Americans, and 17% for Hispanic Americans, 11% of white births). Approximately one million adolescent girls become pregnant each year, with half ending in birth. The majority of these pregnancies (67%) involve an adult male over the age of twenty. (Read more: Single-Parent Families – Demographic Trends – Poverty, Family, Women, and Percent – JRank Articles http://family.jrank.org/pages/1574/Single-Parent-Families-Demographic-Trends.html#ixzz1gVl9pCok)
These numbers seem old to me, but what struck me is that how can one person do the job of two? How can one person be both father and mother? How can a hardworking single parent be there to make sure that their child is doing right? Doing their homework? Doing their chores? How can a 16 year old teach her child all that the child needs to know when she is just a child too? Just so that you know, I am divorced and finished raising three children alone and worked three jobs to do it. It isn’t fun and boy the mistakes I made will haunt me for an eternity. I took responsibility for my situation. I took responsibility for my mistakes. I believe that at some level, personal responsibility has to come into play. That and the idea that we can’t and shouldn’t rely on our broken and corrupt government to help us out. Maybe we need to explore other options.
I am not the smartest rock in the pile but I see a lot of finger pointing, name calling, and posturing. We don’t need more of that, we need solutions. What do YOU propose because Newt’s suggestion is, well, in the crapper…
Bravo! Bravo! I don’t know where this neighbohood is. I don’t if it is black, brown, white or all of the above. The point is being poor and/or homeless does not matter what color you are. The comments were racist, unjust, and mean. I work with poor and homeless every day, half don’t even know the Gingrich. It is because of people like Mr. Gingrich that our outreach center doesn’t have enough money or services to help all those who come to us. It really makes me sick…Thank you for your comments, they were very good.
Thank you! I grew up destitute. Sometimes we got food stamps or medical, but usually not. Lived in the woods with no electric, running water, proper sanitation (no trash pick up and such) and definitely no telephone. We used a hooked up car battery to watch a little TV but mostly played board games using a kerosene lantern. It was cold, and I was hungry and it took a lot for me to see a doctor of any kind. I only remember seeing a doctor a handful of times after the age of 8 or so. Yes, I am white and yes, I am okay with you addressing the Black community because for some reason, even though the majority of those on public assistance are white (although, the last stats I read did say that there is a greater percentage within the minority population that live below poverty, just not as many numbers). I grew up working hard. Really hard. I continued to work hard until a medical condition took that away from me, but I still did not collect any benefits despite being legally disabled. Instead, I took a huge chance and some loans and am graduating with honors with a BA (hopefully a Masters later on after I get a job). Working is what poor folks usually do. Being poor is backbreaking, scary and yes, many succumb to the notion that it can never get better and they aren’t wrong. Institutionalized poverty I call it. The harder they try to get out, the harder they are pushed back in. After a while, some do lose hope, and I don’t blame them one bit. We are still not doing very well, but when we can’t eat on the 90 dollars we get for food stamps that a friend pushed us into applying for, (four people btw) we do have friends that seem to come through when we need help the most. We are lucky.
A note about Food Stamps, if you have a child in college, most often they will not be considered a member of the household if it is a University and even when it is a community college you need to be in an approved program. In other words, if you are poor you can only be what we tell you to be. Institutionalized poverty. Goodness, I have gone on and one, and definitely could write more, but the jist of it is here.
I did want to say something about kids (and all kids, rich or poor) helping with cleaning their schools. I think that in moderation it isn’t really a bad plan. I don’t want my five year old scrubbing other people’s feces of course, but cleaning the class room, sweeping, washing the windows, I don’t think that is a horrible plan. I had to do it in most of the schools I went to at least twice a year and we always put our chairs on our desks when we left to make things easier for the custodian. There still needs to be a custodian for sure, but a little work can often give a child pride in their school because they are part of the process of keeping it looking nice. I do NOT think that they should be worked hard, be asked to do dangerous or big jobs, but I don’t see anything wrong with them helping a bit. Of course, I know that is not what the Newt is trying to say cause he is a ball of hot stinky air, but students helping isn’t the worst idea in the world.
That was the most eloquent and poignant comment, or letter, I have ever seen. That low quality, morally reprehensible, self-aggrandizing, arrogant piece of human excrement, Gingrich is beneath contempt, and he deserves to be shown for the racist, classist, clueless jerk that he is! Every time he opens his disgusting mouth only vile sputum flows out! Newt cannot dare to comment on the ethics, work, or otherwise, of anyone else, when he himself has been excoriated by the House Ethics Committee for his highly unethical usage of campaign, and charitable organization funds, and was fined over $300,000! That is the HIGHEST fine the House has EVER levied against a member! Newt left the position of Speaker in DISGRACE, how the HELL does he DARE to look down his nose at the struggling poor, and judge them? I guess as long as high powered political forces like Gingrich and the crook Issa make lots of money, even by immoral methods, it makes them acceptable to run our country and able to decree that honest, hard working individuals who through no fault of their own, remain poor, are, on the other hand, the scum of the Earth! The REAL SCUM calling good people scum, is a nightmare trip into an alternate reality, and it makes me want to rebel against such injustice! It is that kind of hypocritical character assassination, and treatment of our fellow citizens of this country, that makes the Occupy Movement so strong, and so enduring! Newt is an upper class crook who only deserves the Big House, NOT the White House!
Well written! And he DOES look like mashed potatoes in a suit! haha! Except that I adore mashed potatoes and this man makes me sick. From his name to his ideals to his face. Nastiness incarnate. Newt… Ew.
I was a poor, single mother. What that experience taught me is that in America, being poor is equated with being, sinful, slovenly, lazy and a bad parent, and that all the problems you have as a result of being poor are your own fault. Undoubtedly, add dark skin to the mix that and your problems are doubled.
My kids are grown and gone and those days of poverty are behind me (I hope). All I can say is thank goodness that was 25 years ago, before the international corporations and especially the medical insurance companies were given free range by our elected officials to take advantage of poor and middle-class Americans with any get-rich scheme (they get rich, you get poor) they can dream up.
What I never understand is poor and middle-class who folks don’t see through people like Newt and the rest of the Republican clowns. I often wonder if it is sheer fear– you know hang with the bullies and maybe you won’t be bullied?
Newt does look like mashed potatoes stuffed into a suit. Poor is a state of being, not a criminal activity.
As a white suburban engineer-turned-stay-at-home mom, I thought I understood what happened in the poor neighborhoods of Birmingham, Alabama. I was wrong. I started a free music education program called Scrollworks and thought if I opened the doors in a poor neighborhood, the children would flock in to learn to play the violin. For the most part, they didn’t. I was so disappointed. But I decided to find out why. As Scrollworks slowly grew, I realized that the children weren’t coming because their parents were too exhausted to bring them, or had to rely on an inadequate public transportation. I went further in my research. I moved into East Lake, a crumbling inner city neighborhood. Almost every house on my street is empty. I heard gunshots last night as I stayed up late writing a grant for Scrollworks. Yes, one of my neighbors is 27, unmarried, and just had her 6th child and is ignorant and greedy. But she works. Every day. And I met plenty of similarly ignorant and greedy in my old suburban neighborhood. Many other families I have met here work very hard and want the best for their children–but they are exhausted and often overwhelmed. One mom manages two fast food restaurants and is struggling to keep her teen-aged sons out of trouble when she has to work until midnight most nights. What options does she have? Does she have any energy left to pursue them?
I am so glad that I made this move so that I could discover how wrong I was in my condescension toward the poor. I knew nothing. I still don’t know everything, but I at least I am aware of my ignorance. And I am building my music program so that when we come to this neighborhood and open the doors, we can serve the children here with due consideration of what they and their families face.
Bravo, thank you for saying so eloquently what a great many of us are probably too tongue-tied with rage to say.
Clarawieck,
Proud Member of the United Federation of Teachers
Great response to the insults against the poor. I have lived my whole life as a poor White, and I doubly thank you for including our demographic in your piece. I have had it with having to hang my head when coworkers, doctors, or whomever I am around launches into their theories about what makes people poor. Everyone is allowed to speak their brilliant assessments of us except for US. We must be too stupid to have valid testimony as to how we got and stayed poor. For us poor Whites, the accusation is often made that the money we spent on all those broken down cars on our lawns could have gone into a college education, health insurance, and a savings account. Really? You can buy all of that with 4 rusty Buicks? I wish I had known that before I took out $60,000 in student loans! Keep speaking your truth, and regards to your amazing mom for raising someone with intelligence and wit.
I completely understand. Many people forget that there are many poor white Peopel in America but I ink it’s because there are so many (soooo many) rich white people in America, it creates the illusion that almost all white people are well off aside from a handful of southern hillbillies which couldn’t be further from true.
Like to explain that southern hillbilliy comment.
Nice Ivy league spelling skills.
Mr. Free,
Good rant. I don’t like the SOB any better than you do. During the god old days, back about a hundred or so years ago, so-called ‘scientific racists’ divvied up the world under the skinniest of excuses. Jews, whose literacy goes back more than five millenia, and who wrote the Old Testament folks seem so fond of, were cast as being moronic as a ‘race’; Black people, of course were on the bottom; and ‘poor Whites’ (read Scots-Irish ‘hillbillies’) were cast as a race apart from the noble Nordics. American scientific racism was frighteningly close to the Nazi interpretation. Manipulating one group of poor folk to prey upon another was easy, as long as they were both kept ignorant.
That said, there were some occasions, and some practices where people ignored those lines- in coal mines, for instance, where everyone’s life depending on everyone else’s against a common enemy, the Operator. And to a small extent, in interpersonal exchanges of common music, fiddle music. The great and much recorded Doc Roberts, for example, was taught to fiddle by a Black man, Owen Walker, who was never recorded. Bill Monroe and Merle Travis both learned their early music from a Black man named Arnold Schultz, of whom there is precisely one photograph, and no recordings. One reason we know so little about these people is the segregated nature of the music business of the time, separate catalogs for Blues/Gospel and Nostalgic/’Old Time’ music. Black Ballad singers, fiddle and five-string banjo players who played in their home regions for square dancing were rarely recorded, and for the most part by law were kept from competing in fiddle contests.
I hate to disagree with you, but I think Newt meant that if your are a rich kid you don’t need a work ethic, you can become a politician and not work at all.
Thank you for writing this Travon. I love what you wrote on your blog. You are spot on with your thoughts, and I hope that Mr. Gingrich will read what you have written. Gingrich is an idiot and clearly out of touch with what is going on in the country he is wanting to lead.
*For those of you that are focusing on grammar, instead of Travon’s words, there is something wrong with you as well. This man is pouring his heart into his blog and the only thing that you took away from his piece is a few errors? Think about what this says about you as a person.
~~IM SO SO GLAD GOD DO NOT SEE COLOR~~ ALL THESE THINGS SHALL PASS AWAY….
Your an ass!!
It seems to me that this Arse Newt Gingrich, who in their right mind names their child after an amphibious reptile, seem to forget how the rich become rich. It is by exploiting the poor. How many of these company owners increased their profits by exporting jobs, so if these poor kids want to see workers or get a job themselves do they have to move to China, India or Malaysia ????? When Micheal Jordan was advertising Nike trainers he got paid more for the adverts than Nike’s entire Malaysian workforce did for one year. It seems that there is a real chance to make some serious serious money installing windows, the glass type, in Politicians stomaches so they can see where they are going as they have their heads rammed so far up their arses. As for your typos, ballocks passion before punctuation and if they want to pick holes in my typing they can as English is Not my First Language
Hey Travon – that Ivy League education doesn’t seem to be helping you very much. That was one of the most illiterate pieces of drivel I have ever read. Did you really go to an Ivy League school? Were you the beneficiary of Affirmative Action? Is it racist for me to presume that??
As a white single mother who was forced to raise her sons after the death of my husband i also went through a long period of day to day struggle juat to get my kids one meal.
So happy you replied because as a person who grew up in the projects ,we were also aware that “poor” and the word tough times was not just exclusive to one race ~creed ~or Color! Just in Newts Mind!!
Dear Grammar Nazi’s,
I’d like to set something straight. This is not the New England Journal. This is a personal blog. This is a place where I express my own personal opinion at any given moment and sometimes I will write my thoughts in a passionate rage(as I did in this piece). And you know what? Sometimes when you write in a passionate rage you misspell words or typos happen. And that’s fine with me. Like I said, not the New England Journal.
I have written a book and many well received pieces for other websites as well, and when my work is being presented in someone else’s forum I’m sure to check it a thousand times over and someone else checks it afterwards. But this is MY home. If I want to leave my clothes on the floor I will. Leave the dishes in the sink for a few days? Who cares. You see, much like in your home where you’re most comfortable, everything may not always be perfect and I’m OK with that as I’m sure you are as well. If I misspell a word bad enough or create a typo so horrific that it allows you to completely miss the message that was being presented, then I failed at conveying that message in the first place. Otherwise, just be an adult, acknowledge the error if it pains you so, and lets all move on with our lives.
Peace and Love,
TF
It’s “Nazis,” not “Nazi’s.” No apostrophe
.
Also, great piece! Well said!
Believe it or not, that was my own purposeful rebellion of irony in feeling the need to write it in the first place. Only a matter of time become someone pointed it out.
Hah! Yes and thank you!
An incredibly lysdexic old fool I have taken to intentionally misspelling just to get the goat of them thar folks who learn by wrote.
Actually, he is writing in the plural sense so the way I was taught it would be Nazis’ had it been a possessive *laugh*.
You know that anal-retentive has a hyphen, right?
I won’t lie, I can be like that in my head, but unless someone calls me on my poor use of the English language (or some might say abuse) I don’t make a deal about it. I do avoid reading text speech though, and all caps, it makes my stomach hurt.
I for one am thinking of contributing to Newt’s campaign in hopes of a “Mash Potato Man” / Obama face-off. As the NYT’s put it recently, Gingrich is “what stupid people think smart people sound like.” Imagine the intellectual TKO. Pow! Zap! Zing! Better than a video game.
The anticipation of that catharsis should give you and others so rightly offended something to look forward to. The visual disparity alone cracks me up. Now there’s a stand-up routine you should be working on. (And yes, as professional editor, I just ended three sentences w/ prepositions. We need to stick together. Indeed, I once published a magazine that, despite many eyes and spell ck, misspelled San Francisco on its cover. I seriously considered suicide. Yours is no disgrace. It is an occupational requirement.)
Have you seen that patronizing article in Forbes, http://www.forbes.com/sites/quickerbettertech/2011/12/12/if-i-was-a-poor-black-kid/
I could not even concentrate on the audacity of his condescending “advice” to poor kids, because he kept repeating “if I was a poor black kid…” — do they not have copy editors over at Forbes??? Moreover, did they not teach grammar at this writer’s grade school, or maybe he just did not apply himself as diligently as he preaches that poor kids should do?
THANK YOU!!! I agree!! At times you get into a “zone” when typing things and you will misspell something at times….WHO CARES!!! It’s a MISTAKE!!! We ALL make them!!! Get over it people, it is what it is!!!
God Bless!!
I agree, Travon. I figured out this was a blog, not a news piece. This grammar “advice” comes across as condescending by some of the posters even though a few of them meant well. I deal with students every semester regarding this topic because the right wing machine has even convinced a lot of poor students that they aren’t as hard working as rich ones. It’s amazing.
Yes, what he said!!! Get over yourselves grammar police (whoops, should I capitalize police…bleh!).
Great, GREAT piece!!! I saw this post on Facebook on Keith Olbermann’s page, and had to read it!!! You speak with such passion and eloquence!! Great job for your Mom to raise such a wonderful son and daughter!! Congratulations on your success!!! I am sure your Mom is soooo proud of you!!
Newt is an idiot and we’ll soon be celebrating another win for Obama on January 20th, 2013!!! The man has much more work to do for ALL Americans!!
Travon, Another way to say all that is,
To those seeking to critic the grammar errors
Yes I know better. I rushed the response and as such I did not check my work.
Saying anything more is pointless.
It’s the picture above that I have a problem with–scary to us white folk! I worked at the USPS for 25 years, and the last 15 of those years sorted a lot of music magazines with angry or menacing-looking young black men on the covers. One day an Ebony came through with a covering featuring black actors, and I kept wondering, what’s wrong with this picture? Turns out, nothing. They were all smiling! Don’t forget what follows fear–hate. As for your posting, even though I’m known in my family as the Grammar Police, I know a burst of writing when I see it, and as a professional proofreader at one time, know how hard it is to find all the errors. Newt Gingrich is 500 lbs of shit in a 300 lb bag. Keep up the good work!!
Wow so many people criticizing, for what? If a homeless Guy wrote a sign saying I’m hungry, you are not going to pay it any attention because he had grammar errors. That is why this country is so far from just.
People are so quick to judge but slow to actually help.
Yeah, I love it. You are so right! Who cares about grammar when you have someting so important to say. You are da man! Thank you so much for saying what so many of us our thinking and just can’t find the words or backbone to say. Wish we could have 500 more of you in the “system”. We then might truly be a nation “for one under God”. Thanks again, and please have an awesome Christmas. MG
This is quite possibly the best response to a typo message I have ever heard. Too many people fixate on a stupid misspelling, thanks for addressing it. Oh and BTW your post was FANTASTIC!! You articulated so fabulously what so many people can’t always put into words.
No excuses. Just go back and fix them!
Oh grow up @Books Moore.
I rarely make spelling mistakes, because I’ve always been good at spelling – so what? An internet blog only lacks credibility if written with spelling and grammatical errors to someone stupid enough to not realise that the CONTENT of the blog is what matters. Is Travon’s MEANING difficult to grasp because he makes mistakes? Can his MEANING be dismissed, ignored, discounted, because he makes mistakes? If that’s how it is for you, brother pedant, you are a petty, smug, arrogant, snide, and feeble-minded TWAT, as we say in the UK.
This is as good a response to those of us (I include myself in this) who are, shall we say, “hyper-grammatical” as the original piece is to Newt Gingrich. Bravo, TF.
Travon,
I’m glad you took the time to compose and express your open letter. In the future, prior to doing so again (to someone else), I encourage you to either use MS Word grammar tool, or have someone edit what you’ve written, someone skilled in English editing; doing so will insure your communication not only hits a nail on the head, as this one did, but that it also pounds that nail through the heart of target, without drawing criticism for the literary errors therein embodied. (Understand that this critic is also an African American, with only an high school diploma.)
Silence = death. Without someone speaking against Dude (I don’t respect him enough to even call him Mister) Gingrich’s elitist, ignorant and profoundly out of touch perspective, position and speech, others who need to understand that the content of his character and of his words are inconsistent with the greater reality of (middle class and) poor Americans would be inclined to think he was more accurate and appropriate than not in presenting his point of view and “solution.” You’ve helped them to know the truth as you’ve also flung a wrecking ball at a critical point in his ivory tower; I hope your letter serves to help facilitate that tower’s public collapse.
And I suggest that you give that lowly punctuation mark, the period, a try. That first paragraph-long compound sentence was a doozy! And not just because it was rude, but because I haven’t seen quite that many commas, semi-colons, parenthetical phrases and missing or misused words used in a single literary critique in a month of Sundays!
In the future, when you write a response to a blog post you wish to praise, you might try preceding the stick with the carrot instead of the other way around. In a perfect world you might even consider hiding your own literary light under a bushel and just praising the man for speaking so eloquently from his heart. It’s just a thought.
There is NOTHING wrong with long sentences, as long as they’re punctuated properly. Read Dickens.
Well played Lori, Well played.
Thank you, Lori. For saying what I was thinking about that person’s post. And I really enjoyed reading this editorial.
I second Lori’s comment.
Agreed Ms. Smith…1love!
Are you insane, Miss Lori?
While you can shoot the messenger all day long, Lori, it does not necessarily mean Minshana was wrong. Speaking as a writer, nothing frustrates me more than to see well-meaning, thoughtful, and passionate words handcuffed by poor grammar. The entire mood of Mr. Free’s letter, while powerful in its own right, would have benefited greatly by having the impact of proper speech. It seemed that many times when I was ready to champion his argument, I was derailed by an incomplete thought, or a word that never belonged there in the first place. Had he taken the little time required to check his passionate plea beforehand, his argument that poor kids not knowing how to go an extra step or take extra time to work, would have had double the impact – as such, he makes valid points, yet failed to do the complete work that Mr. Gingrich harped on in the first place, which unfortunately, gives some, if only marginal, validity to Gingrich’s conjectures.
Perhaps bringing to light someone’s grammatical shortcomings by coupling them with praise for their ideas and meaning (as Minshana did) should be considered less rude than letting someone continue to express themselves in a way that handicaps what should be a strong argument? Just a thought. :c)
Yes! Standing ovation to you Lori! That was an excellent and poignant critique of the very ironic critique, highly entertaining on your part. Excellent reading to be found all over this page, especially on Mr. Free’s part!
In re “(Understand that this critic is also an African American, with only an high school diploma.)”, since the H in high school is pronounced, the correct article is A not AN.
So, what was your comment about again?
That was going to be my question!
It’s “ensure” not “insure”. Insuring is something you do to an automobile to protect you from the high costs of an accident. I wouldn’t have bothered to point it out but you yourself are being a stickler so I’d say its appropriate..
Minshana, while I didn’t notice any grammatical errors in Travon’s piece (and am not going back to look for them!) I don’t agree that you were being rude, as others have suggested. Your tone struck me as earnest and not patronizing. I also really liked your extended nail metaphor, and for that very reason I wanted to let you know the word you wanted was ensure, not insure. “…doing so will insure your communication…” I’m sure Travon’s communication doesn’t need major medical!
to Minshana, the word is “ensure,” not “insure.” I suppose your MS grammar checker would not catch that, but I did.
Dear Grammarian,
Before you criticize the writing of the passionate author, check your own usage. The word should have been “ensure”, not “insure”….
That was a loooooong sentence that I don’t quite understand. Starting with Without speaking against Dude…
Hey Mishana… As this blog is not a mainstream publication, give it a rest about the freaking grammar niceties.
Also, the word is “ensure” since we’re nitpicking.
I think you meant to say “ensure,” not “insure”. That is, of course, unless you meant to say that you intend to hedge monetary collateral against the possibility of property damage or bodily injury/death.
While it’s natural for some of us to want to point out someone else’s mistakes in grammer and punctuation, they’re focusing on technicalities and missing the point of what was written. I noted some grammatical errors and misspelling, but so what! The important thing was, I understood what the man was saying , it neede to be said,and he said it well. “Nuff said?
Thank you so much for this wonderful response to a man who doesn’t deserve one, much less one so thoughtfully prepared. What he deserves is the butt blistering his momma obviously failed to give him at an early age.
I was one of those single white mothers working two jobs to make sure that my son was housed and fed and safe and got to school every day and didn’t ever feel like he was “less than” in a world where new pair of sneakers sometimes cost a week’s worth of rent. I will never forget the evening I left my day job, picked him up from daycare, dropped him at his grandma’s to go to my night job and he hung on the handle of my car door crying, “Please, mom, don’t go to work! I will get a job!!” He was FIVE YEARS OLD.
In this current climate of scapegoating and bigotry of every stripe, this addle-brained old dinosaur would put children in a situation straight out of Charles Dicken’s. Let’s see … how can we best help children overcome poverty and live up to their potential? I know! We can make them not only the outcast picked-on “poor kids” who come to school in second-hand clothes from Goodwill but we can make them “the kids who clean the TOILETS.” What an excellent self-esteem builder THAT is.
This man is a pathetic worm who make me wish with all my heart that there really is a god so he can burn in the hell he would create on earth for everyone who isn’t privileged to be him. Out of touch doesn’t even begin to cover it.
On behalf of all the working mothers who make their children’s education and well-being their first priority and are rewarded with happy, confident, well-adjusted and successful adults, I salute you and YOUR mom. Job well done by all of you. Mr. Gingrich and his three wives put together couldn’t buy a clue about what “family” or dignity mean.
Thank you again!
The image of your five year old saying he’s get a job so that you could stay with him broke my heart.
Darned good response, Lori. Maybe you , and all the others, should email your comments to “The Newt”. Maybe, sitting on the veranda of his plantation house, he can have his butler read them to him. But I’ll wager he better have a nice cold ment julip to sip on, ’cause his ears are gonna be burnin.
Thank-you for your reply. It reminded me how lucky I am to be at home with my kids even when we are having a not so smooth day.
“Good response”
More like another hateful rant.
Newt is just trying to make the point that we should try to encourage a better work ethic with people at a younger age. The level of vitriol displayed by you and the auther of this article is simply astounding. It says more about you and the racebaiter who wrote this article than it does about Gingrich.
I really loved what you had to say and agreed with all of it.
But i just have one minor, minor nitpick.
You’re Ivy League educated correct? Why then would you say “Pallet cleanser” when the phrase is “Palate cleanser”? You know the difference between a pallet and a palate….right?
Thank you for reading and your comment. I did not go to an Ivy League school, I had scholarship offers to three. And the spelling error was merely a product of furiously replying to comments and mis-spelling a word with multiple spellings. I do know the difference between the two words. Thanks again for your comments and taking the time to read it.
Then your claim of “Ivy League brains” is misleading. Even in a hurry, “pallet” and “palate” are very different. Take the time to proof read your writing if you want to be taken seriously.
In that case I can take from your comment that you live in a world where people who attend an Ivy League school are these immensely talented super humans would would never and have never made a typo, spelling error or mistake for that matter which leads me to believe that you live in a fantasy world. The piece was proof read and the addition of the updated segment that was added today was indeed done in a hurry, not that that needs justifying to you or any person for that matter. I’ve achieved very high accolades for my work including receiving a reward from the President of the United States so if you think I’m going to let a misspelled word and your comment about one slow me down I think not. Now if you’ve attended an Ivy League school and have never made a single error on anything then I commend you and you should be studied by science but to criticize someone to that standard of perfection when in all actuality makes little to no matter in the grand scheme of what this piece is even about is both trivial and a waste of time. Like I said before, I appreciate you taking the time to read it and I appreciate your comment but I’ve made plenty of typos and I’m sure I’ve misspelled many words but I would attribute my errors to the many hours I spend every day writing because even the proof readers at Penguin and Harper Collins have missed a word or two. I’m sorry my typo affected you so deeply.
LMAO, I wanted to respond to Tra’s brilliant comment below, not this one.
But alas: I love Travon Free. That is all.
<3
Naw, man, Newt wants his pallets cleaned! He wants pallet cleaners, not pallet cleansers, you have to provide the cleansers on your own! He ain’t payin for that.
You can show up at Newt’s with a power washer and your own damn cleansers and GET TO WORK cleaning those damn pallets!
Please Duffy 91, shut up!
are these people serious? Spell things however the ef you want, it’s your blog. Anyone that takes the time to write SEVERAL PARAGRAPHS on the personal blog of a stranger needs to get a job or a life. The only comment that I would like to make regarding your piece is “Hoozah!” Well said.
Although I didn’t go to an Ivy League school, I attended a very good and exclusive college where I earned a BA. I saw just as much in the way of spelling errors there as anywhere else. Get off the man’s back and appreciate the content of the article Jeez!
Wow! Where did you end up going to school? I wish so badly that I could have been in your position. To even have the opportunity to turn down, not one, but three Ivy league schools! Gosh!
So you’re the kind to use a spelling error against someone to push back against the content of their topic, eh? Shame on you!
Wasn’t GW “Ivy League brains”? Just sayin’
Wow, really Joe Doe? Maybe you should worry ONLY about the purpose and true content of the essay and quit being a dousche. (or did I spell that wrong too?) Pew. ):p
Can we stay on point with this??? Who cares!
If you agreed to all of it, then it should be obvious that you know what he’s saying….right?
Why is Compton the most dangerous place in America?
Because of all the poor white kids?
Listen bigot, I live in a poor white neighborhood and it is a dangerous place to live as well. You don’t have to be a minority to be a criminal. I have been around rich white kids who are delinquents as well, even more so because their parents buy their way out of trouble so they never have to take responsibility for their crimes. The problem with this country is people like YOU who have never evolved enough to know better than to stereotype. Walk a mile or STFU
Compton is the most dangerous neighborhood in America. I am sure that Mr. Gingrich’s child-janitor program will turn Compton into a model gated community in no time.
However, the people who Gingrich represents with his lily-white trash talk have turned the entire nation into a cesspool of poisonous air and water, dying former one-industry towns, an ever-widening gulf between the rich and the poor, a failing imperialist power that can be brought to its knees by 18 people with box cutters, and so on. (I don’t want to be accused of run-on sentences).
I suggest, Rick, that you pull your head out of wherever you have it stuck and take a good hard look around. You are living in a nation that is moving towards revolution due to the failure of policies by serial misogynist Gingrich and his crowd. Should that happen you will likely find that your neighborhood isn’t any safer than Compton, and that will be due to rich white men who hire gun-toting posses because the idea of police departments is too socialist for them.
The reason why you live in fear is that you can’t face reality. Wake up.
Rick, . . . in 1980 I walked door-to-door selling insulation to homeowners for Pacific Gas & Electric sponsored utility financing to be found on their monthly bill. The Compton and Watts area of Los Angeles were my prime areas to walk and look for sales. As a white young man it was also an education. I do not know if Compton is the “Most Dangerous place in America” but at the time it was the most life threatening place when the sun went down. The black adults owning the homes were very sweet and polite even when speaking to me from behind an iron clad screen door used for security. Eye contact was not the issue. When the sun went down the youthful exuberance expressed to me was from their frustration of me supposedly taking money out of their neighborhood and going into my pockets – - – as they knew not how I was helping homeowners in a money saving way or making it affordable. They just knew if I continued to hang around showing my face I was gonna get the other end kicked in a major way! I could not blame them. I grew up white and poor in the Midwest. I was street smart enough to know how to hide down on the car floor waiting for my partner to come back and drive us both out of a dark and dangerous place. So, Rick . . . what neighborhood have you been in which you were afraid for your life trying to make a living?
And, . . . Thank you Travon for this forum. I don’t care if words are spelled correctly or not. I get your idea and I agree whole heartily! And to all of you who comment on the poor or black, brown or of any skin color to which you do NOT have yourself . . . . please do not say anything and just listen. God gave us all two ears and one mouth. It really is all of our business to understand to which ratio and usefulness was intended upon his intentions, inventions and purpose. Don’t believe all those who speak from the stage of ‘Authority’. I shoveled sidewalks and mowed lawns for money as a ten year old and am still poor. It is not because I don’t know how to work or did not have the tenacity to hold more than one job or did not have persistence. I have half an idea it is because fat white men in politics are more dishonest than myself and willing to swindle the American public while smiling in their face and leave us paying the bill during their undoing of this great nation!
Hmmmmm…. maybe because the transition from industrial to service economy left millions of urban african americans without the jobs that had brought them to cities in the first place? maybe because segregation not only lead to ghettoization which was then compounded by the myriad social pathologies associated with relationship of poverty and the historical legacy of institutionalized racism? maybe because of a culture of violence developing largely in response to the violence of racist white policemen murdering and depriving the residents of their rights on a continuous basis, based on their race? Who profited from and caused all of these things that heavily contributed to why south central was the way it was? Rich ass white people, that’s who. I’m white, educated, and poor, and I’ll tell you something, I have hardships to face. But in terms of obstacles, I’d take being white and poor any day over being black and poor. Two different things. p.s. i don’t care about grammar on a blog.
@ Rick Moranis – You’re as ignorant as Gingrich with that remark.
Because poverty has a deleterious psychological and sociological effect on those who live in the area and economic advantages are less available to minority communities. That is what is known as the “cycle of poverty”. And you are now known as snarky dipshit.
Can you understand that all Humans are dangerous given the right situation? Even young, old, and infirm?
So-called whites have a long, long history of violence. I’m white but I feel more threatened around whites than people with more color.
what kind of an idiot question is that? or is it your sarcastic way of ‘saying’ Compton is dangerous because of the blacks who mostly reside there? rick, i cannot believe that you created the world around you through your own will, experience, common sense, education…. must i go on? you prove the author’s point.
in my view, it is your sheer dumb luck which placed you where you are, without enough brain matter to understand the differences people inherit.
The most dangerous place in America is Wall Street. Pull your head out of that place that doesn’t shine.
No, because of all the rich white kids. Obviously, you’re a racist and a skinny, henpecked nerd who is jealous of those who have achieved success despite a system that gives them less educational opportunities in the k-12 system, and has never had to defend himself from those who gave up and turned to drugs and crime, but poor white neighborhoods aren’t much better than poor black areas.
Now, get back to the banjo playing, Deliverance inbred.
(I’m a cracker, too. So this isn’t reverse racism, this is a guy who hates stupid white people, like you and Newt.)
I didn’t grow up poor ( my dad has more money than God ) or even close to brown (I am so white I glow in the dark enough to confuse fireflies) but….
I am a middle aged woman with some kids who at not pigment challenged whose father can no longer work….we are…poor. We didn’t choose this. My husband has a health issue that means he can’t work. After 26 years of working unless I stole his keys and called in because he was too sick. And now I work one job and pick up side jobs to keep the bills paid and the kids in school.
Newt is an ass, he has always been an ass and no matter what your melanin content? That is truth. Last brush with reality or real problems the man had probably was when the doctor that delivered him smacked him on the butt. Good for you. He’s a whackaloon. For oh so many reasons…and he does look like dough in suit.
Unfortunately most politicians live in the same lana land as him. The one where the poor are stupid and lazy and the rich are smart and hardworking. And my dad will probably vote for Newt. Sigh.
If you are hardworking, then obviously Speaker Gingrich was not talking to or about you or your mother or your father or your sister or your brother or anyone else who is hardoworking.
I think you missed the point. He painted an entire group of people with a broad misinformed statement whom most of his audience will take to mean exactly what he said as fact and thats wrong. If poor people didnt work millionaires wouldnt be millionaires because there would be no one to work in the jobs in their companies so the middle class that can actually afford SOME things will buy them thus making the people who own the companies richer while the poor stay poor. And now that they are tearing apart the middle class it’s only a matter of time before they realize without a middle class they have no one to market to. its a give and take system, when the middle class thrives america thrives. When it suffers america suffers.
Right. I disagreed, so I missed the point. I don’t understand. I don’t know what it is like to work ALL DAY. In fact, I dont’ know anybody who has to suffer and work ALL DAY. In the history of humankind, nobody ever had to work ALL DAY. The author’s emotions have rendered him irrational.
Small businesses are the life blood our republic’s economy. Class warfare, greed, coveting, and jealousy never generate any good. So, instead of whining about someone’s “generalizations” that don’t even apply to you, recognize that a significant portion of the U.S. population is not contributing to society or the economy, because they feel entitled and somehow that they shouldn’t have to “suffer” to make a living.
Freedom requires self-reliance. It’s about choice. Choose leaders who protect your freedom, not take it away by promising to “take care of you.”
I’m very offended by this video. I do see your point. I don’t feel so much that it was about the color of skin but whether it was or wasn’t, he is still wrong. Just like everything else in the world, there is always a bad apple to spoil the bunch. This idiot stick took the “stigma” of poor people must not work or they would be rich; they have no work ethic so therefore they are poor. I don’t see him lining our pockets with anything? I’m not saying I’m looking for handouts but if you are gonna make a statement like that then he should be doing more to help those people out, not boxing them in a corner labeled “poor and helpless” or “black and helpless.” This is one deceived and deceiving man I will NOT vote for! Thank you for sharing this!!
It does’nt take living in a situation to recognize and/or speak on the misjustice directed towards it. To overlook a whole segment of the American population has always been the MO of the (R) party. The idiocacy has poured over into the general public, as evident in your statement. It’s the mindset that you have displayed which has kept the country divided. Thank YOU Travon Free for eloquently addressing this manner.
duffy91,
You definitely miss the point. Let me put it this way; If I said that everyone who uses the screen name “duffy91″ is an idiot, you’d probably be offended — and rightfully so. If I then said, “Oh, but there are probably a lot of people who use that screen name (after all, the Internet is a big place.) If you’re not an idiot, then my comment doesn’t apply to you.” — I don’t think you’d accept that as either an explanation or an apology.
When Gingrich — or anyone — makes a broad generalization about a class of people, the words are going to be heard as if they’re true for everyone in that class. And there’s no evidence that Gingrich’s words are true even for most poor people.
I tell you what: Find us some real, concrete evidence that most poor people are lazy. Not anecdotes, not third-hand hearsay. Show us that you have done your research on poverty, and can back up what Gingrich said. Then we’ll talk.
Apparently hyperbole escapes duffy91. The funny thing about the self reliance idea is if were truly put in place the financial sector would have collapsed, the big three automakers would be gone and alot of jobs would have been lost. We couldn’t use roads, or schools since that would be reliant on the government for infrastructure and education. A police force and fire department are no longer necessary because you would be fully self reliant.
It’s just sad that you hear this rhetoric about how lazy the poor are and how the system is only abused at the lower end of the income scale. duffy91 is right in saying that some people feel entitled and are not contributing but it’s not the poor. How about the fact that most of the wealthy gain their incomes from investments and pay very little in taxes on those investments. Then when the creative accounting is addressed it’s considered class warfare and jealousy.
It’s funny because I used to vote republican. Then after that ruling where corporations could spend unlimited amounts in advertisements either supporting or opposing a campaign I realized how the party has strayed. I don’t even consider myself a democrat. I just wish the republican party would get back to reality.
@duffy91. You do realize that a “significant portion” of the U.S. population is not “contributing” to the “society or economy” because the “job creators” LOST 8 million jobs since they’ve been rewarded for being “job creators.”
You do realize that the remaining middle class and poor contribute more in through payroll, sales, and other “hidden” taxes than the rich. They don’t have the benefit of offshore accounts or accountants who can play with the numbers to the point where Warren Buffet’s housekeeper pays more in taxes than he does.
You do realize that we pay into social security, medicare and unemployment and that when you pay into something it is not an entitlement.
You do realize that in accusing the author of this piece of “generalization” that you have also done the same.
You do realize that “class warfare, greed, coveting, and jealousy” are the same talking points that have been given to the protectors of the “job creators” in order to further “class warfare” and protect their “entitlements”
You do realize that it is the 1% in this country that are really the entitle whiners. Their hands are out for more tax breaks, less regulation and more subsidies. They’re the ones who are getting something for nothing. As I stated above – these “job creators” have lost 8 million jobs for the U.S. by outsourcing to countries that have no labor law protections, no environmental protections and are using child labor or the labor of dissidents to create toxic and dangerous products that are sold here in the U.S. Read up on Bhopal and the fact that lax regulations led to the deaths of thousands. Is that the kind of world we should be leaving behind for our children?
There are many, many people in this country who have overcome their disadvantages to to on to become some of our greatest leaders – Abraham Lincoln, Bill Clinton, Colin Powell and Barack Obama come to mind. In addition, you have authors like J.K. Rowling, Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and Larry Ellison (I only add these to this list because of their poor beginnings but their outsourcing of jobs is abhorrent); entertainers like Oprah Winfrey, David Geffen and Samuel L. Jackson. The list is endless. These people did so with nothing but went on to do great things in their chosen field because of the opportunities (and social safety nets) afforded to them and their parent(s). Those opportunities are being chipped away and gutted to continue to provide entitlements for job creators who don’t create jobs and corporations who use all of this great country’s social resources but do not want to give anything back.
So before you get on your high horse, please look at the facts.
Duffy. Since you have nothing to contribute, disagree with the editorial, and obviously are of a certain demographic that would vote for mister Mashed Potato, and are SO bored that you keep coming back to state how uninteresting and irrelevant this whole article is,why don’t you inform us all just what Newt IS talking about. You obviously have a finger on the pulse that we are all not privy to, and maybe you could enlighten us. Forget the facts about Newt actually using the words “pimps, drug dealers, and prostitutes” as an alternative to work that “those people” use, which is a well known whitey up tighty code word for “black”, and tell us what he REALLY meant. I await with bated breath.
Duffy should change his name to Daffy. Because if you think no one in the history of humanity ever had to work all day for little or no pay then well you’re worse than Newt. I mean he can get away with being out of touch because he’s rich, but to this group of politicians if you’re not making 500k or more in USD then you aren’t even considered human. With that being said if you’re making 250k a yr. You unfortunately belong to the rest of us. Those of us who can lose everything within a single night, one accident away, one hospital bill away. You’re no more secure than the rest of us. The US has really become the Lord of The Flies. The bullies and out of touch are becoming the leaders, and the naive morons are cheering them on.
Looks like a lot of people missed the point, the idiotic ones who believe the Republicons are Gods and are actually doing SOMETHING to better our country, no doubt. Thank you for this piece. I wish I’d the time to write it myself.
I am sorry, but he obviously was talking about me and my family. I was hard-working. I am hard-working. I will be hard-working. My mother was hard-working. My father was hard-working. My sisters and brothers were all at the top of our classes in school. We went to church every Sunday. No one in my family was ever in trouble with the police. If we had been, we would have preferred what-ever the police had in mind for us over what my mother would have done to us. In spite of this WE WERE POOR. We also had our dignity, which is what Mr. Mashed Potato wants to take away from blameless children.
I’m guessing you are a small businessman. You somehow feel that you are a notch above the workingclass, because you have your own business. Big deal. Your business is nothing without customers. Who are your customers? Do you cater to the rich? The elite? Do you know how many small businesses fail each year? Why do they fail? Poor planning? Or are they driven out by large conglomerates? Eating alive by corporate sharks? That happens every day. Perhaps you have an original product to sell that is safe from corporations undercutting you. If you sell to the middle class, how will you survive when they no longer have the money to buy the necessities they need? There is no “Class warfare, greed, coveting, and jealousy”. The 99% are trying to remain viable. They are trying to not drown under the corporate warfare, greed, coveting, and jealousy. We have RIGHTS – bestowed upon us by our founding fathers. These are not ‘entitlements’ in the derogative connotation that politicians are trying to make you believe. When we’ve worked all of our lives, and paid into a retirement system that we were forced to contribute to, then is it an ‘entitlement mentality’ to expect a payout when we retire? I don’t think so. Many people, including myself, have worked hard all our lives to make ends meet, keep food on the table and a roof over our kid’s heads. We are the ones who have worked to help businesses, both small and large, survive and grow by being consumate consumers. Now we are looked down on because we worked for others instead of ourselves. Its all a spin. People will believe what they are told to believe. Now the spin is that hard-working Americans are starting class warfare, they are greedy, coveting, and jealous of what others have. They think they are ‘entitled’. Nothing could be further from the truth. Propaganda. That is what the 1% are selling. Do you buy it?
“So, instead of whining about someone’s “generalizations” that don’t even apply to you, recognize that a significant portion of the U.S. population is not contributing to society or the economy, because they feel entitled and somehow that they shouldn’t have to “suffer” to make a living.”
I’m confused now. Are you referring to the poor or to the wealthy as this significant portion?
Duffy91, you seriously have the debate and reasoning skills of 5th grader. Sure there are people who work ALL DAY–day meaning sunlit hours. There are plenty of people who leave for work before the sun rises and return in darkness. The fact that you are simple enough to assume that people mean 24 hours a day is kinda…. well…. like I said, debate and reasoning doesn’t seem to be your strong-suit.
Not so obviously. Mr. Gingrich made no exceptions in his statement – he referred to really poor kids in really poor neighborhoods, and said they had “nobody” around them to show them what it means to work. And worse, he has not backed off that statement on whit, despite the fact that he voted for welfare reform in the 1990s that has put more poor people back into the work force. He’s a man with a very short memory, which makes him a bad candidate for president.
Newt did not make any such qualifier in this clip. He only said, “kids in very poor neighborhoods”, it was pretty clear he was talking about all of them. He went on to imply that any work that they might do is actually something illegal. You can keep your Horatio Alger BS. It is a fact that poor folks can be hardworking and still not able to improve their economic situation.
Bravo DUFFY!!!!! Finally, someone who actually understood the point Mr. Newt was making…and that is that the “Entitlement-mentality” that the existential government give-away programs creates and has created, are the underlying root to the BLIGHT that is “The inner-city-neighborhood” where two out of three households have ever housed a father-figure and even fewer have a father and husband who is a provider for the children HE fathered…black brown WHITE or OTHERWISE…..Entitlement programs equal entitlement expectancy and that breads an ignorance of the enterprising spirit that built this great nation
*BREEDS …please pardon
This is obviously an RWA with an agenda to change the subject and confuse the issues. It will say anything to get you off the truth. Your best tactic to deal with this type of infiltrator is to clearly name it and then ignore it.
No he was talking about anybody who does not make $60,000.00 an hour just talking. As a man who has left 2 women who were extremely sick and had an affair on each. Used his CONNECTIONS to keep the money flowing. Who grew up not poor nor rich but who got lucky and was elected into a position he so richly did not deserve. This piece is for all the hardworking ALL DAY poor, those who did not get a break and somehow ended up on disability, and those who tare the 98% (Oh and by the way a lot of the rich support the 98%) Newt you will not be president. I also want to know what makes him different from Herman Cain???? His infidelity and piccadilly should have made him leave the republican race just as Mr. Cain had to or is it because he is white that makes the difference.
I know the difference between president and the U.S. President.
Duffy91, he was talking about the whole neighborhood. He cited a 43% unemployment rate among black teens. How many white teens have jobs? Perhaps the 57% have parents who are blessed to be able to work 3 jobs so the teens can focus on school, and the real problem is the 43% who have to supplement the family income instead. On the flip side, that doughy bastard hasn’t worked a day in his life. No-one gets that fat building houses, cars, or scrubbing toilets.
Wonderful letter Mr. Free…You are awesome!
Totally agree! Thank you for saying what many are feeling. The truth is out there, in our communities, all over America. Keep speaking and writing, so the elite, out of touch, powers that are, will have to take notice. Blessings on you as you continue your career!
Thank you for having the courage to write this. I’m a disabled Cajun of mixed heritage that was raised by a single mom in poverty. I too busted my ass to try and work and go to college. I unfortunately had to let getting a degree go in order to just earn enough to eat and pay the rent. That never changed nor did I ever get any closer to climbing out of the pit. I worked two or more jobs until my body literally crapped out thanks to a disease that I inherited from my father. It was the only thing that he ever gave me or my two sisters since he never once payed a dime in child support nor even sent a xmas card. I have no regrets in life. I was born poor, worked my ass off and stayed poor and I will die poor. My only hope is that my kids get a better chance than I did. This country has become a very scary place for the poor and if you happen to be poor and disabled it’s a double whammy. Today’s political climate makes those like me a target for the hate and anger of people like the tea party and Newt. I have been personally told to ” die somewhere and to whore myself out to afford my meds” in front of my kids. I now stay home for the most part not willing to risk the humiliation or physical attacks that are sure to follow when they start their rants in my personal space. The GOP is hanging themselves with this type of crap. I know that anyone who would force my 6 year old scrub toilets for rich brats will not get my vote. Just by the way they speak , they betray themselves and prove that they never truly worked a day in their lives. Someone who truly comes from poverty and tough times would never suggest forcing kids to work for “money” at such young ages. Not mention these nuts also want to do away with minimum wage…… what will the kids be “paid”? I’m willing to bet my life it will next to nothing if not nothing and then making them thankful for the humiliation of it all. Obama may not be perfect but at least he is honestly trying to give those in the middle and the bottom a fighting chance to survive. If the likes of Newt were to get that position it would only be a matter of time before we are rounded up and either forced into work camps or worse.
Thats heartbreaking to hear and sad that in the “greatest country on earth” people have to go through what you go through. its the stories like yours that need to be told on the congressional floor when the GOP is doing everything they can to dismantle the already broken dreams and opportunities of the less fortunate in this country while they pad their pockets and do everything they can to get their next tax cut. God bless you and thank you for reading this and taking the time to comment.
I’ve called my congressional delegation until I’m blue in the face with zero results even from the few democrats left in my state of Louisiana. We have been over run by the tea party faction of the GOP including the Governor. They were calling my house constantly during the elections for their little tele townhall meetings which I did take perverse pleasure in letting them know exactly what I thought of their “let them rely on the charity of others” mentality. If my situation was the exception to the rule I wouldn’t be overly concerned because that can be corrected. I have found that this is now the norm and that is the true tragedy. The poor, middle class, elderly and disabled are now considered acceptable collateral damage and the GOP likes it that way. Keep up the good work. From the looks of this you hit home for many of us and that is a huge service that we are grateful for. Happy Holidays.
The bible says to take care of the poor, they will alway be amongs you seem like we have forgotten who is in charge, the real problem in this country is good against evil, satan fell because of pride and you know where he is today right here on earth ruling this place, but only for a little while longer his time is about up the king is on his ,every knee will bow and every tongue will confest that he his Lord, yes even the rich
I think you are a hero. You tried your best to make a life in this downward spiral.
Maybe Mr. Gingrich will be such a bad salamander that he will end up a catalyst for progressive change. Then we will all be faced with the choice of just hiding — or hiding and fighting.
as a person who was raised a poor white child – single mom with seven kids (in case newt wants to know, yes all from the same father – he died while we were young) i can assure him i saw my mother work – cleaning the houses of people who would never ask her over for dinner. my feelings towards the rich have nothing to do with a bad work ethic (by the way, i have a doctorate degree newt) – my feelings come from watching my mother work hard for them, making their life easier, and watching them treat her like crap.
I have always loved the song: “The lonesome death of Hattie Caroll” by Bob Dylan.
I had the same experience growing up. Poverty is pretty much equal opportunity… and work only gets a person so far. I don’t think much of the rich either.
What exactly did newt say that was racist, again?
And don’t project or put words in his mouth.
Click play on the video. Listen to his words. If its not evident then that’s unfortunate.
Hmm. I think Muddywood’s like Colbert. He “doesn’t see color” too.
I do think it’s true that Newt’s GOP doesn’t like any poor people of any color — except the lads who would clean out the toilets in their schools — but the code words were pretty clear for this white person too.
See, the unemployment among the poor is because they’re LAZY. The poor folk I know just do 50-60 hours a week in two different jobs are anything but lazy.
Ok, if you don’t agree with it being racist, then just look at the math of this man’s solution to the problem. He said they could scrub toilets at their own school. So, assume a school of, say, 200 teenage students. Assume it’s a predominantly white school (to take out the racism factor). Based on a 23% unemployment rate for white teens as of July 2011, that’s 46 unemployed white teenagers. Just how many toilets are at this school? Let’s say 92 toilets. So 2 toilets each… per day. Maybe 1 hour of work for each teen? $10/hr. minimum wage? Ok, so the school will be paying 46 * $10 per day = $460. And exactly where are these schools supposed to come up with over $9,000 per month (assuming 20 working days per month) to pay these wages? How many current janitors will these teens be replacing and what do THEY make? I’m assuming less than $9,000 per month. And THIS is the man who is supposed to get the U.S. out of a financial crisis?
LMAO, its always funny when you put #s behind a politician’s statement. Always shows how out of touch they really are. Newt probably thinks that janitors make 10k a month. XD
And he also uttered some nonsense about sending poor kids to work in the library… I actually did that job as a teen. Its not a new concept. The real irony is how those teen jobs have been eliminated in so many libraries because the states are out of money! Now its done by volunteers.
I am in no way jumping in to say “this is a great plan”, but I am saying that lots of people are leading with their own ignorance and emotional response. Sure, this was not a well conceived and considered piece of oratory. That’s part of what Gingrish is known for . . . but he is by no means an idiot. Consider . . . there are more than just a couple poor white families in the world , . . . so this isn’t a “mistreat black people” plan. I know the realities of poverty demographics . . . I also know that personal prejudices can color intepretation of others’ words. A waise man once told me, “Don’t attribute to malice waht is explained by ignorance.” I suspect old Newt got caught with his ignorance hanging out . . . think twice and speak once, Mr. Gingrich.
No, for the math question: Setting aside the absurdity of 8 year olds cleaning bathrooms . . . this is not a completely meritless plan. Mostly, but not completely. Delegating the loswest skill tasks to least skilled labor means that the more skilled Janitor Adults are freed to spend more time on the more skill-required tasks; there really are skills involved in janitorial work. Additionally, janitors could get some experience in higher grades supervising and training subordinates. You should read that as “higher order, marketable job skills”. They get a shot at some upward mobility as the supervisory positions would be more prestigious and possibly carry some higher pay. Janitorial staff would be contributing to the educational experience of the student body, making them more integral part of the daily staff. Kids doing work projects is not at all unheard of, and is practiced more often than one would think. How about light maintenace work? Lanscaping projects? Are those too racist to consider? How about administrative tasks? Food service/serving for older students? Still too racist? Parental consent required, guidelines created by local of federal Departments of Labor.
It is not a tenable plan as flipped out in the interview . . . but is it completely without merit? With some actual, considered strategic planning, it could turn into a resource for job skills/habits for those students who realistically have no chance at success in college. Not every child in every situation will succeed in college, nor do they all WANT to. Just offering a moderation to all the bile and vitriol flowing around on the matter.
Can you not read for yourself? Why send others to do this simple task for yourself?
This is obviously a fishing expedition. Muddywood tries to get you to work up your arguments. It sits back and will discount every truth you say.
The best way to deal with these types of infiltrators is to clearly name them and then ignore them.
My brother. I thank you so much for putting into words, what so many poor people in this country felt after Gingrich’s comments. I grew up in a home where both parents worked…..hard! It was seventeen (17) of us, and through all of my parent’s efforts, they produced several physicians and a few attorneys from their union. It is scary, to me, to think that Americans would even consider nominating Newt Gingrich for ANYTHING! I keep hearing…”he’ll stand up to Obama”! He will never be on the same level as my President. OBAMA 2012!!!
Brilliant.
How fitting is it that this prototypical Republican politician has as his first name the name of a slimy amphibian? Nice job of putting him on blast…not that he presents a difficult target.
I would dearly love it if the GOP would put up just one candidate who actually could be taken seriously. Instead, they give us the political equivalent of the Insane Clown Posse.
Anyway, nice job. As they say in Britain, “stand strong.”
Well stated…I might have to use the ICP line.
I also find it interesting that Newt doesn’t suggest something along the lines of mentoring with professionals or learning about other career paths but has them learning how to do low wage jobs so they will remain in the cycle of poverty. Cleaning bathrooms would motivate me – NOT!
This is the most sensible comment on here. BY FAR. Set aside racism and projections of your personal experiences and suffering into this context. Michele is right… when did we stop telling our kids to be astronauts and engineers and presidents and start telling them to hone their skills in a low-paying career path?? It’s about keeping the poor poor, whatever color they may be.
On a side note: the world takes all kinds. We need people to fix cars, clean toilets, trim trees, collect garbage… just as much as we need doctors.
You hit the nail on the head Michele! Put “toilet scrubber” on your resume and see how many job offers you get… well, job offers that don’t include scrubbing toilets. This man is seriously out of touch.
Agree 100% with this comment.
Excellent point!
I loved and am so proud of this piece!
I think I love you. :#
I love you back
For the Newt Letter From Black Kid post: THANKS TRAVON! MUCH GRATITUDE!
Thanks Travon. PURE GRATITUDE, TYPE THANKS!
Travon did a great job of telling the truth, a foreign concept to the Republican Party; If the truth were a deadly poisonous snake, it’d have bitten and killed all of the GOP by now. Travon was also correct about the Tea Party Militia; if they’re truly against “financial corruption”, why are they supporting the party who committed it or allowed it to happen? The GOP has three factions: Tea Party Militia, 51%; Moderates, 35% (and falling every day) and Conservative Right-Wing Nut Jobs (14%). What Gingrich is trying to do is unite all three factions; sorry, Pig Newton, not going to work. the Moderates HATE the other two factions and will vote for Obama and the Democrats. What’s worse is that only 37% of the electorate of this country are GOP; they’ll need to unite AND get a lot of the “others” vote to elect a President…does anybody see a winning formula for the GOP here? I don’t…what the TPM and CRWNJ, in conjunction with the Libertarians (the combination to which I refer as “The Axis of Evil”) wants a fascist corporate plutocracy. The storm clouds for an FCP have been gathering:the Koch brothers spending hundreds of millions of dollars to unleash the TPM and ALEC, the American Legislative Exchange Council; the abominable Citizens United SCOTUS decision that makes corporations “people” so they can make unlimited donations to (mostly) GOP campaigns and, the Defense Act, which, if it’s signed by the President, would allow American citizens to be indefinitely detained for being terrorists without due process. The Republican Party, which started out as LIBERALS fighting Democratic conservatives, has done a complete 180…now, they’re the party of the rich or 1%…if poor and middle class white people stopped voting against their interests and voted for Democrats, we can kick out the Fascist Corporate Plutocrats…the Tea Party Militia needs to die a quick death, and the only way to do that is to vote for Democrats next year. If the TPM is allowed to take over the GOP, god help this country, and we’ll need god’s help, because the TPM’s plans for this country are the most fascist, elitist plans ever thought of in a democratic country. Gingrich’s plan to unite the three GOP factions will lead to his downfall; as the GOP continues to outsmart themselves (which is why I call them the “Wileys”, named after the Warner Bros. cartoon character Wile E. Coyote, who outsmarted himself every Saturday on ABC in the 60′s and 70′s-LOL), the party continues to fade from American consciousness. We’re still 329 days away from 6 November, 2012 and it looks like Obama is going to have four more years…and the “Wileys” have only themselves to blame LOL
Thank you for your truth and honor. I am a white, middle-class privileged woman (I know this is redundant) and I find Newt to be a moral monster. You articulate it all perfectly! Keep it up, and don’t back down! Thank you again!
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Lets all step back here take a long look at everyone who is running,None of them are here working for the poor familys who work very long hours just to provide the basic things for their familys while the rich keep getting break after break.All of our products are made in other countries and those companies get huge breaks for doing so just like polaris snowmobiles going to mexico,Cheap labor.Its time we all say enough is enough you will start working for this country and notfor the people who reap the rewards off of hard working americans taxes and fees and make it harder for familys to make it.I am tired of working 16 teen hours a day for same amount of money that was madein the 50′s and sixdies.Its time we go back to the days when both parents were at home for supper and the family unit was intact.That is the whole problem in this country the family unit is destroyed the very foundation of american value is gone.Its time we get a president that opens his eyesand sees wherethe value lies and takes American back to when the family unitwas strong kids were home for supper not running around freely doing what ever they want.Lets Bring back our American Values and our attitude about being proud of our country what it stands for.
Sounds like another racist black man throwing out the race card again because black president 44 is a failure. There are more poor white kids in this country then black so newt wasn’t directing this at one race. And we know a lot about black presided 44, he has increased the poverty level by 20%, he has raised the unemployment of black men between the ages of 18 and 45 to 26%, he has raised the homeless rate of children by 33% in the past year and 33% of the people fired or laid off by the government in the past year were black women. Sounds like black president 44 doesn’t like black people. I have hired a lot of poor youths of all color and a majority have no motivation or work ethic but some are motivated and work hard but those are the ones who have a hard working parent or two living in their house.
Sweet, these are always my favorite. I wont waste too much of my time here so I’ll get down to the facts. Obama is a failure, false. Heres your proof:http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/
Second, I acknowledged the fact that there are poor white people in America and maybe even more than other races but maybe because you had your mind made up before reading this you missed it.
Third, Barack Obama didnt increase the poverty level on anyone. Those rates changed as a direct result of the economic stalling of conservative politicians. You cant attribute indirect causes to the person who is in charge just based on the fact that hes in charge. If you want to intelligently debate facts im more that willing to do so, I just encourage actually having them.
What facts have you given? You are giving us links to biased websites
Come on man. Politifact is a completely impartial and unbiased fact checking source for ALL politicians(including Obama if you didnt notice they rated him poorly on many things as well as positive but the good far outweigh the bad) and political rhetoric which is why I presented it to you. How are you informed but arent aware of where to find UNBIASED and IMPARTIAL facts? Please start by proving to me that Politifact is biased. I’ll bet you $10,000 you cant. Sound familiar?
Democrats and especially President Obama still place a majority of the blame on President Bush. I will be the first to say that GWB made some mistakes, but Obama and the Democrats have had plenty of time to turn things around. Neither party is helping poor people or our great country, for that matter, in my opinion.
Took 8 years for ‘W’ and his cronies to mess up the country with their ‘De-Regulations’ for the banks and corporate structures…and even Obama said that it will take MORE than 2 terms for ‘anyone’ to be able to straighten out this mess! PLUS you have the Republicans ‘going out of their way’ to stone-wall ANYTHING that Obama tries to do! Both parties are playing with the ‘lives’ of the American public, and I, for one am not going to vote for the party that got us INTO this mess…..ie.-Republicans.
President Obama didn’t put those folks on the street. The bankers did. Follow the money and you’ll find out you can’t blame the man who wasn’t even president when the s**t slide started. BTW, if you want to find really unmotivated teen to hire, look towards the children of the privileged class. I couldn’t help noticing that Mr. Gingrich doesn’t think the rich kids should be mini-janitors. I think learning to clean up your own mess is a valuable life skill for everyone, even pompous blowhards like Newt.
Amen.
Just to add on, I was talking to my conservative uncle a couple years ago and he said Obama started bailing everyone out. He WOULD NOT believe me that bailouts started with Bush.
Yes, and just to play devil’s advocate here: Who allowed for these dastardly bankers to remain in business by bailing them out to the tune of $13 billion? Just curious… by the way, it was a call made by the executive branch. And that’s precisely why big banks and big business continues to run the economy into the ground, and why we continue to see increases in unemployment, poverty margins, and homelessness. Sure, I’ll get on board with the fact that it’s no ONE person’s fault, but you have to consider just how closely all these entities work together before you go excusing any one person either.
Big Daddy please stop quoting your facts from Fox News, you are really showing your ignorance. Im sure Im not the first to tell you that you are a douchebag and I certainly wont be the last. It doesn’t matter if a Black man, Chinese man or White man wrote this piece the facts are the facts and Newt along with most of the Republicans are racist. Presided (as you like to refer to the President) 44 has been anything but a failure, if you really want to refer to Presidents that have failed miserably look no further than the 2 Bush Presidents. Next time you want to be a keyboard gangster try to get your facts correct and dont sound like a whiny little racist girl
Big daddy, I always love it when your type rears your head and reveals to the world what an ugly fool you hide inside yourself.
The only proven method for dealing with this type is to get them out more often into the real world… maybe an adult education class or anywhere where it can broaden it’s ability to relate to other Humans.
I just related to you…didn’t I? Thanks for your response. : )
There are alot of untold storys of everyones unique journey….but how can you deny…HARD WORKING MUSICIANS, SINGERS, CHOREOGRAPHERS, VOCALIST,ETC THAT WORKED HARD IN THE CAMP OF MOTOWN…yet inspite of a good product, and good work. Motown could not put the artist faces on the records due to rejection from hard working whites in high places within the entertainment industry. (Just to sell a good song?) Even Sammy Davis Jr. whom I felt worked hard on his craft….had to enter from the rear of venues he was performing and sometimes the head liner.
IS THIS A RACE CARD ? OR A FACT THAT IS IGNORED BY WHITES?
You are eloquent and correct. I honor you for your journey and for articulating the truth. The right is so wrong that it can be seen from space. Please keep your voice loud and heard!
–from a white girl who grew up privileged in the middle class that is shrinking
Man, this was a brilliant takedown of the corrupt asshole who passes for an intellectual in the sad Republican clown car. Thanks for saying what so many of us have been thinking.
But I have to admit, your postscript is what will stick in my mind!
That was supposed to say neuter Newt’s mouth.
I liked neuter Newt. Or is that an oxymoron?
Unfortunately biggots like Newt will be around forever therfore we must neuter Newt by stopping him from getting to the office of President.
You are hysterical… clown car indeed.
Reality is that our fight will not be over if GingRich becomes U.S. Prez or not. We’re in for a very long fight. It will last longer than any of us. If you’re paying close attention you know that we have been losing badly for quite some time.
I’m afraid Mr. Gingrich’s unfortunate comments were not meant to be taken seriously by any intelligent critically thinking person. He knows they will immediately recognize it for the bullshit it is.
His words were designed to act as the proverbial “dog whistle,” calling out to all the ignorant racists he is gambling will overwhelm more rational white people at the polls during the upcoming Republican Primaries.
He’s betting that the hateful bigot philosophy is more in touch with the spirit of today’s GOP and that it will win him the nomination.
Correct! Such a cynical approach to wooing voters. I think it was Bush Sr. who originated it, right?
And thank you, Travon, for so eloquently expressing what I was thinking after I heard the reptile’s remarks last week.
You’re right on, Mark, about GingRich’s tactics. He’s not talking to you and me, he’s talking to the RWAs, the radical right, the fooled followers. He’s going to say and do ANYTHING to them to get power.
No one could make this stuff up. It’s very entertaining.
Thank you. Eldest of eight children, alcoholic Father, a Mom that worked her tail off and we were dirt poor too. Your story is many peoples stories. You expressed it very well. It is too bad that a few elites are trying to destroy US. I am part of the 99% and proud. Thank you again.
I am your average middle class citizen. I find that in my life experiences the opposite of what Newt is saying is actually the truth. Some of the most hard working people are those who had to work for every dime they have. Most often those are the people who started out with nothing and no the only way out of a bad situation is through hard work. Most people who grew up with money don’t understand what is like to have to do that. So while it is easy to point your none callouses finger and tell people they haven’t worked hard enough and that is why they are poor maybe you should pay your taxes. Additionally those with the most character are often those who have worked themselves out of a bad situation. While I know there are some poor people who don’t want to work hard and some rich people who work equally as hard as anyone else it is not fair to use those out liars as a basis for factual evidence. The American dream was born out of hard work but our government has lost sight of that and is only looking at quick immediate gratification solutions instead of long term projected ramifications of their decisions.
As a poor, white, single, gay, grandmother living in a trailer on SSI and raising a grandchild and on behalf of my 10 year old brown skinned grandson thank you. I have never seen such a sorry assed group of people running for the highest office of the land in my life. What comes out of their mouths is viral. My brown grandson is on the honor roll, in band, reading at an 11th grade level and works for what he wants. He makes $5 an hour working and has saved up for items that cost over $120.00. He will go to college and because of his roots, he will never talk like they do!
Remember the House Banking scandal, where so many congressmen wrote rubber checks on government money? Newt hopes you don’t, because he bounced 22 himself, which almost cost him reelection in 1992. His vote for the secret House pay raise, and the chauffeur who drove him around Washington in a Lincoln Town Car, didn’t help.
Read it for yourself…This Family Values man has no Values.
http://www.realchange.org/gingrich.htm#draft
Taking funds from a charity for poor kids..is the least of it.
Seems Newt likes to use poor kids…in 1994 he wanted to take the children of the poor and put them in orphanages.
Nice guy this.
YES …. YES …. AND AMEN!! Standing ovation to this young man who gives voice to those who wake up everyday and try to live their lives as best as they can under some of the most difficult circumstances life can offer. Often, it is those moms, dads, grandma’s aunts, cousins who hold our communities together … What an ignorant shill and a disgraceful messenger of Christ Gingrich is!
Gingrich only manages to underscore what we have always known about the modern day Republican party: ignorant, unaware, out of touch and hypocritical.
Most people from Ivy League schools would be too high falootin’ to tell someone they look like mashed potatoes in a suit. I like that about you.
This is all pretty hilarious to me. First off, I am a WHITE female that grew up in a very poor side of town, where I was the minority. So I know racism very well. It works both ways. I witnessed several things in my neighborhood. Hard working people trying to make a dollar (usually single moms/dads), and YES, plenty of lazy people, and drug addicts sucking off the system! WAKE UP PEOPLE! It does exist, people DO take advantage of the system, and from what I saw, there were plenty. Also, unless people are coming out and making blatent racist remarks, it is unfair to assume they are racist. To believe that the majority of tea party members are racist is ubsurd. I think what it comes down to is values and morals. People are a product of their environment, and it looks like your mom did a great job with you, growing up poor or not. I think it’s time we start looking at things on a smaller scale. Saying your going to aid every poor person is crazy, when some do not deserve it. Why not get involved with your community and personally try to help these kids on an individual bases. It’s NOT the goverments problem, it’s ours as a society.
Thank you for reading and commenting and for the record i never called Newt racist i called his comments racist, there’s a difference. I dont think any politician has ever said they could aid every poor person in America but the aim is to help as many as possible. The Government doesnt have to do everything for everyone but every government has a responsibility to its people and to help the less fortunate as much as they can. There was a point in time where the gap between the rich and poor wasnt as wide as the grand canyon and we had a thriving middle class that created the current 1% and now we live in a society where the rich want to extract all the money it can from society while giving nothing back in return. Thats as unamerican as it gets. What is society doing to fix the problem?
It’s all just so “ubsurd” I can hardly stand it. The ubsirdity of the poor, the audacity of the rich, it’s all just entirely unbelievable. My parents were poor, barely present, it was difficult for my community to get involved on an individual “bases.” Yet, here I am, alive and registered to vote. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to vote for a racist, adultering, human pig in a blanket that has no concern for anything except his own bank account. This guy is a scourge. I work in youth development for a non-profit and I do not approve that juicebox’s message. Not just for me, but for all the kids I work with and for. They may be a ragtag bunch of have-nots right now, but because their village is raising them, there will be a reckoning when the next gen has their moment. Anybody that tells another person to get involved in their community to solve the problem, isn’t actually involved in their community. This is America and there are children with no food and parents with nowhere to turn. I would rather die than judge them and revel in their suffering. Newt Gingrich is so out of touch, he might as well be a doughy fat toga-wearing cretin eating grapes and fucking his fellow senators in a bathtub in Italy.
Society is never going to do anything to fix the problem as long as they have the government for a crutch. The bigger question regarding the gap you were talking about is to look at the way our government controls the economic problems we have. Take the federal reserve for instance. They have been pulling the puppet strings all along my friend. Pretty scary stuff. If people have problems with greedy corporations then stop consuming what they offer! I don’t shop at walmart for a reason, and believe me, I have to scrape and scrimp, including cut coupons just so I don’t have to.
And for the record, I am NOT a Newt supporter. I think he’s a lying idiot
@ Sara Calvosa
Sweetie, I am involved in my community. In fact, I work 45 hours a week and still donate at least 20 hours a week to help those in need. These prograsms work because they are NOT GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS, but through community support.
Sweetie? If you liked it then you shoulda put a ring on it. Do you think that everybody in the community should have to uphold a 65 hour week working in their community to take care of the people that government has left for dead? It’s an impossible standard. The American Dream belongs to everybody, not just to a corrupt government controlled by greedy corporate thieves. Being in the community is understanding that these people need help and that their government is failing them. I’d like to think we volunteer to help and spread compassion and empathy and advocate for them, not so that we can break our arms patting ourselves on the back for being such good people. If you worked in the community the way you say you do, then I would expect you to have a greater understanding of the people you work with and for rather than passing judgment about whether or not they actually meet your racial, economical, and moral criteria for deserving any help.
@ the truth will set you free. Denying racism is RACISM! Its so unfortunate that people like you do not get it. The people you complain about being racist to you actually have decades of oppression to fuel their racism or dislike of you. However i too have lived in an area where i was a minority as a white woman. The difference between you and i is that i understood and sympathized with their positions and took the time to get to know my neighbors and show them i am not a person who agrees with our socially unjust history. In the end i don’t live in that neighborhood anymore but am still great friends with ALL my neighbors of color because i proved to them through my actions not words that i was a good person with no preconceived notions of who they were. In effect i changed many minds on the stereotype of what they had experienced for so many others. You don’t understand or know the TRUTH, so you dismiss it with simplistic reasoning. The republican party and the tea party should try working on giving people proper living wages and benefits so they don’t have to complain and whine about all the people they have to so called “pay for”. Your circle jerk thought process is the true travesty of the American demise. You cant have an executive pay increase over 400% in 30 years while the average workers stays the same, and then complain that the average worker is just lazy…..hmmm couldn’t be that the cost of living far outweighs the minimum wage. Couldn’t be that we spend more for health care than any other country. Newt is an out of touch politician who’s lunch bill for the day is what some HARD WORKING Americans make in a WEEK. The TRUTH is sure there are lazy poor people but if you accept that then you have to accept there are also lazy rich people. No one including Travon is saying there are not lazy poor people. What he is saying is don’t generalize or compartmentalize it just shows and proves ignorance and a lack of any real knowledge of any subject. Great article Travon and great replies to the comments….I believe together we can all make a difference and hopefully evolve into a CIVIL nation.
@Travon – you ask what is society doing to fix the problem? In my opinion its not society’s responsibility to fix anyone who is poor in our society. See I think that’s just a tip of the problem – in our society and government; we think we have to fix every problem either here or in another nation. Its the individual responsibility to bring themselves out of being poor. But we also have to remember that our definition of poor may not reflect the other person’s definition. One whom we think are poor, they themselves may not see it that way; they maybe perfectly happy. Again, why I say its the individual responsibility. Poor is just a label that society (who is really good at creating labels) has created. Yes there is a gap in income levels in this country. However the bottom line comes down to the choices that person made that led up to them being poor. There are plenty of non-profit and church organizations in position to provide help to those who ‘want’ the help. See the keyword ‘want’. In my life (working in non-profits helping poor and ex-offenders) I’ve seen so many people content in their travels making what little they have and they don’t seem to care much about their situation until its gone; then they panic and expect everything to be made available to them right then and there. When it doesn’t happen to their liking they blame the system. Its not a race issue, only if we make it one. The same scholarships, welfare funding, loans, churches, non-profit programs are open to all ( or maybe I should correct this statement because there are many non-profit programs who receive funding for serving minority groups over others). I am not a big fan of continuing this long term funding of unemployment when I hear of states with employers who can’t find people who want to work for them. Yes these jobs may not be the best, and may not pay as much. But if it was me and it came down to no job or a job I’d take the job. I will state where the major issue lies for those who do receive benefits is that sometimes the jobs available would allow them to make less money that what they bring in as benefits. I can see how one with a family would not want to loose their benefits. But, I also see many of these same individuals driving big SUV, living in homes that maybe outside of their range in their current state in life. Many of these people need to downsize their lifestyle instead of living off benefits for years hoping they can get that same job back or another job making the exact same wage they were making before. Its time to get real and face reality. We’ve become too dependent on government (‘society’) to carry us and provide what we expect to have. Initially when our government created these social programs it was to assist family in making sure they had the basics in life not preserve their oversize lifestyle.
Yes proportionately there are more blacks poor than whites – but if one person uses ‘poor’ in a statement we as a society shouldn’t just jump the gun and say that’s a racist statement. In my book what you say is what you think – basically your words represent your character. That’s why I said you were calling Newt a racist by stating he made racist comments. But we can agree to disagree on that.
I’m all for kids, poor or not poor to pick up a broom in their local school so they can learn good work ethics. What I would rather see is rather than singling out poor kids but make a program available to all kids and run it like the college work study program. Where instead of giving the money directly to the kids, their paychecks should be deposited into a college trust fund. So such kids (even poor ones) would increase their chances of going to college or a trade school because they would have been able to save up some money and also learn valuable work ethics.
Maybe Newt could have been ‘political correct’ and stated all kids should be allowed to work rather than focusing his statement on poor people. But seriously, are we becoming a society that can’t even stand to hear the blunt truth? Do we have to sugarcoat every single statement because we should live in fear that we may offend someone or something? Wouldn’t it be nice to take all of this energy we’re spending on tearing down a person’s statement and trying decipher if he’s a racist bigot – we spend this energy on creating viable solutions for society so when poor people or any other person chooses to change their way of life they have options.
I asked what is society doing not because I thought it was there responsibility, but because she said it was society who should fix things instead of the government. I believe it should be a mix of both.
Hey, I have been on government assistance at different times and people that take advantage of the system here HAVE to be high-functioning individuals. The enormous requirements for documentation to get assistance is overwhelming. Possibly because we were both working and raising our children. It’s complicated for people already making money. What’s more, some people fall just outside the margin for assistance because they make x dollars beyond that mark.
I would agree with this if society (all of us) had ever taken up the cause of helping people who are less fortunate. Even the churches are busily spending millions on lawsuits, building huge cathedrals that end up empty when they go bankrupt and otherwise wasting money that should be going toward fulfilling the teachings of Jesus in this world! Instead, too many people sit in judgment of the poor and try to figure out how to work things out so that only people who get help are the ones who REALLY deserve it. And because nobody can agree on who that should be, nothing gets done.
The government does not look at your moral values or your religion or anything else – only what your income is, and other objective criteria – to determine whether you need help. And the government took up this cause because society for decades failed at it. Society is STILL failing at it, because if society stepped up today and everyone worked in soup kitchens, helped people get off drugs and alcohol, volunteered to help children, donated warm clothes, all those things… then we could scrap the welfare system altogether. Until that happens, I’ll happily pay my 30 cents a year or whatever to help foot the bill.
Hilarious. It’s what is ailing you. Your view from “up” there must be exhilarating.
The arrogance of surety is a certain way to narrow your view. Get it?
I have a problem with the “non-tax paying” piece. I think that’s a bit off base. And coming from a small town full of full of poor people I do know first hand these free ridin’ surely people do exist. He may have been wrong to generlaize all black people with laziness and drugs, but I know plenty of folk that lay around all day doing nothing but collecting social security. And to the people that say the poor work harder for less pay, do you think people get executive positions handed to them? just stirrin’ the pot…
Yes. People get promoted or offered jobs every day that don’t deserve it. It’s quite common in corporations and business. I’ve seen it countless times over the years. While yes, some better off or rich people are extremely hard workers. A good portion of them are conniving, backstabbing, immoral, or just plain lie their way into positions. If you seriously think this doesn’t happen often, well, I wish I had your ruby glasses. Hell, many corporations treat their customers with more respect than their own employees. Though in defense of my own comment, it’s usually the undeserving “bosses” that show lack of respect rather than the business itself. I speak only of the “management positions”, I’m well aware there are employees with the same lack of morals as my statement on some corporate level employees, but where do you think these corporate employees come from.
And when he says “non-tax paying” all that really refers to is income tax. Yes, I’m poor and I get all my income tax back at the end of the year. I still pay on medicare. I still pay pay-roll tax. I still pay sales tax. I still pay property tax. “non-tax paying” my @$$.
Not that I’m defending the guy, but if you’re reading this and get offended because your parents worked hard and in turn made you a better person, he’s not talking about you. He’s talking about the ones that don’t work hard and rely on the government to help them out and don’t make an attempt to do anything to help their families, all the while instilling that same type of work ethic in their kids. In fact, he’s actually speaking well of the poorer families that do give at least a little effort.
And tell, me, just how is his plan to fire janitors and replace them with poor children armed with mops and toilet brushes going to help the situation? Those janitors are grown men with families, some of them displaced workers who could find no other work to keep a roof over THEIR heads and food on THEIR tables. But they’re a blip on Newt’s radar … a mere obstacle to the success of his Oliver Twist Work Program. If you’ve been paying attention he would also do away with child labor laws, the minimum wage and the Board of Education, so why not schools as workhouses? It was all the rage in the 1800′s.
Watch for the re-institution of Orphan Trains … coming soon to a poor community near you.
The only thing that speaks to this current crop of politicians is a “letter to your Congressman” with a million dollar check attached … on corporate letterhead.
Divide and conquer.
I have a job and you don’t. You’re black and I’m white. I have a home and you do not. You’re young and I’m old. I work harder than you. The list is endless.
The Filthy Rich use this tactic very effectively, don’t you think?
Dear Newt,
As a white kid who luckily grew up in a household in which both parents were present and made enough money to send me off to an expensive college, I’m offended that you think I was somehow born with a better instinct to do work than a kid in the ‘hood. As well off as my family was, I had NO IDEA the kind of wealth that was out there until I went to college. There was no name for it then, but today these people would be part of the 1%.
I worked my ass off in college, and worked all semester mopping floors in the dining hall while my room mate from Chappaqua smoked dope and bought shit from LL Bean with Daddy’s AmEx card. One girl who drove me to school after a break (because I didn’t have a car my freshman year) complained about her Audi, not because the brand new car wasn’t nice, but because her daddy didn’t buy her the model she wanted.
I worked 10 hour days on my summer ‘vacation’ in a factory while many of my college classmates ‘summered’ in the Hamptons.
Again, I’m lucky. I got an education. I followed the rules, I earned the $$ to buy a reasonable home without getting screwed by a bad mortgage, and I have a stable job (although by your standards, I’m a lazy blood-sucking parasite because my teaching paycheck apparently comes directly from your pocket, despite the fact that I pay income taxes just like anyone else)
Where are my pot-smoking, lazy-ass college classmates now? Running the companies that their parents owned, probably handed down from their daddies. These are the people you call ‘job creators’. They earned NONE of the money they have today, and you and the GOP have fought tooth and nail to let them avoid paying taxes on this money they never worked for in the first place. Sure, they’ve made money since daddy handed over the company, but is that an indication of hard work? Let that kid go into the workforce starting at $7.50/hr and see if he ends up being the CFO of an investment firm by age 35. I doubt it.
So for you to make a sweeping generalization about the work ethic of an entire class of people (and yes, race as well. I can hear your dog whistles), you’re showing how out of touch you are with the reality that is growing up poor/black/brown in America. Screw you, screw your 3 marriages while you campaign on ‘family values’, screw the fact that your own 1/2 sister is gay and if you have your way she’ll remain a second class citizen, and just to piss off Ricky Santorum, screw the damn horse that you rode in on.
/rant
Well said weapons I agree!
Great letter, I grew up poor, my mother worked very hard and that Lizard needs to learn some lessons about ethics, period.
AMEN! It’s a slamming post!
Thank you. So well said and poignant. Wonderful! I’ll share and I hope more do the same!!
http://youtu.be/gdVRlM-kSx8
(Seattle rapper Macklemore, song’s called “White Privilege”. Enjoy!)
Newt has a heartful of shit and splinters. To suggest that janitorial work is a way to elevate poor people is just illogical. Education is! Oh, but that cost money; and when the rich get too far removed from the rabble, they’re increasingly hard pressed to spend money on them. Why should they when they so easily pay for these advantages themselves. Doesn’t everyone?! What a tool! Good job Travon! You rock
Do you tour? If so come to Port Townsend Washington. Keep carrying the fire.
Peace,
Cole Russell
I do and I would love to! Thanks for reading!
I’ll see if someone could hook us up for that.
If you make it to Port Townsend, plan on making a stop in Spokane as well. We can use a little balance in this redneck paradise.
Thank you for this letter. I hope the entire country reads it. Bless you and yours.
Next time Mr. Gingrich is in a hospital he should take a look at who is working their backsides off cleaning his butt and his floor and making his bed and bringung his tray and remiving his trash, ad well as reading his diagnostics and even, yes even prescribing his medications! Mr. Gingrich, you are a disgrace to this nation!
Kudos Karen! I couldn’t agree more!
Have you ever heard of spellcheck..You would come off to have a bit more knowledge if you had a bit more education in the English language
She has three typos. Keyboard proficiency is not usually indicative of a person’s general knowledge, nor their English language knowledge. By the way, questions are generally followed by a question mark. It is found on the lower right hand side of the keyboard on the key with the forward slash. You have to use the Shift key to get the question mark in your text. You would come off a bit more sympathetic if you didn’t cast the first stone.
Thank you for the insightful letter, Mr. Free.
Dear “Tiger”,
Yes, i apologize for the mispellings. I am not good at a small keyboard as well as having just finished a 12 hour shift of working with dying patients. Karen
Typonese dude, its called typonese…. where have you been? its the new language of the century and most of us are fluent by now! Typonese has NOTHING to do with knowledge nor education nor the English language you dweeb.
Awesome point Karen!
I read this and cried tears of “YES, YES!” absolutely pouring down my cheeks because you get it. These few paragraphs explain everything about my parents (my dad actually died ON the job, they found his body, no retirement there) and all they wanted me to be. Their work ethic (overtime, weekends, odd hours and odd extra jobs) ensured a happy christmas and a ham and/or a small turkey for just the right time of year while we struggled the other 11 months. Winters with no heat, sometimes very little food due to rotten fridges (crappy apt? you get what you get for a cheap rent) and the lights turned off. But this struggle gave me character. I will not, I CANNOT forget the troubles that made me. Mom took me to church and drummed into me that for what little we had? Some people had even less, maybe less than nothing, so I needed to appreciate what I had, to respect work, my piggy bank, and above all, to remember to donate cans of food and knit scarves and sew old clothes so some other unlucky child could have something. I might have gotten colds and coughs from sleeping in NYC 30 degree wonters with coats, gloves and 5 blankets on my bed, but I had a bed. I had parents. They tried. To this day, I volunteer. For people & for animals. I sew, I still knit. My struggles made me. Mom could have said, “Screw it, i quit. But she didn’t. She had the right kind of pride. Dad, too. Poor and working class is not a color thing. It’s a $ thing. Newt & his pals want people like me–people like US–to have less and less. But he doesn’t realize that our fight is a lifeline personality trait. We will not give up, we will not quit, we will not lay down, obey and die. We will win. We are smart. We are survivors. Come hell or high water, no one will place a price on our dignity, our grit. We will win because it is right. Evil, greed, selfishness does not win. Not if we do what we’ve always done. Put our head, our hearts, our souls together and say ENOUGH. Stay strong, keep going, head up, minds high. Obama 2012!!!!!!
Thank you so much. your story is great and I really applaud your strength through all that you described. I’m glad that I was able to speak to and resonate with you on a personal level. Much peace and many blessings to you and thank you again for reading and for commenting!!
Well said.
Well said, sir, and I applaud the dilgence of all those in your family. I saw many of the examples of your Paris and Kim examples while attending high school in Pacific Palisades in the late 1970′s.
My only complaint, as much as I agree with your sentiments, is that your integrity may be slightly undermined by the directness of your vitriol. I understand it and sympathize with it, but I fear that it may turn off those who it might otherwise reach.
Thank you for reading and for your comments. What exactly would you consider vitriolic? I didnt think it was at all but i could be wrong.
Vitriol? If you watch the video it’s straight and to the point!
I cannot applaud this letter enough! Travon, you hit the nail right on the head!
It sickens me to listen to this pompous windbag (and yes, sadly enough there are many others out there like him) spew out his venomous ignorant rhetoric as he himself is totally ignorant in so many ways to people in general, and the poor and disenfranchised in particular. And the poor comes in all colors if he does not get that concept!
There are MILLIONS of working poor out there that work and slave away for countless hours and barely making enough to keep food on the table and a roof over their heads. And yet he makes these totally asinine and incredibly ignorant remarks!
I myself am black, and my father worked his fingers to the bone and managed to start and run his own company back in the day, and trust me, it was VERY hard for him. Thank God we survived and thrived. I studied my butt off and studied at Harvard, and fast forward to today I try to give back whenever I can because yes, it is tough out there. There are a lot of great, hard-working people out there that are below the poverty level that don’t want a handout, just a hand. And they don’t need soulless morons like Gingrich criticizing and flaunting their quasi-elitist rhetoric in their faces.
They, and we deserve better…MUCH better!
In short, Gingrich, GO AWAY!!!!
I have no interest in what others may have replied here…
What I say is THIS WAS FANTASTIC! Excellently written and quite well to the point. I too had this challenge. I was a single mother who had the writing tallent to become an author then but I knew I had to attend to my children’s basic needs so I had to set my future dreams aside to raise my children the best I could. I am a caucasion woman who did whatever I could do to remain off of government help short of prostitution or theft of any kind. I busted my butt as a maid, clerk, assistant manager, factory worker, or what ever else would take the chance on a single mother. I hope this jerk is reading these replies because he REALLY HAS NO CLUE. I say we fire the lot of them and tell them they can’t have any unemployment and then tell them they have to go to work for Walmart. Let’s see if they can get by on those salaries. I bet they have NEVER known a hungry day as most impoverished children and families have.
Thank you for writing this inspiring response to a deligate who has no business being in ANY OFFICE…
Lisa
so when Bill Cosby made the same statement and questioned why a parent was absent when the child was 2, 12 and 18 and now ask why they have a gun… was he being a bigot too? Come on people get real. the only reason why racism still exists is because you keep trying to look for it. any statement no matter what words you use or how it is phrased can always be considered racist if you yourself believe it still exists in everyone else around you. If you don’t like being poor or your kids being poor get of your butt, quite taking my tax money and earn your own way in life. teach your kids to work. the sad thing about Newts statement is the fact that he’s suggesting government to raise your kids because you obviously can’t teach them anything else but how to depend on government to give you welfare and food stamps. Now thats the ugly truth. Racist people can’t stand hearing the truth. Educate yourself before your bigotry leads your tongue.
I think youre in an entirely different ball park my friend. What Bill was talking about is an entirely different matter and issue as it relates to what Gingrich said. This has nothing to do with the very small percentage of lazy people who may take advantage of the system. This post is about the people who do and are doing all the things you seem to be saying in your comment which is working and trying to provide for their families so their children can have better lives. Racism doesnt exist because people look for it. Thinking that racism doesnt exist and wont always exist even on the most minute level would be extremely naive.
To think that there arent families in America who dont need or deserve assistance from their government is both selfish and un-American if anything at all. We arent all born to the same advantages and benefits which is why you have government assistance in the first place. The few who abuse it dont ruin it for the people who actually need it. No one in this country makes a single red cent without the help of the American next to them in some way shape or form so please dont succumb to that terrible GOP “on my own” rhetoric. The ugly truth is the rich that the richest in this country continue to take from the poorest in this country and then pass it off as capitalism. So my words are never lead by bigotry but are instead keenly guided by the understanding of what it means to go not have, go without, and work hard to achieve in this country and all of the people like myself who can relate. I call it like I see it and everyone sees Newt for exactly what he is.
Newt is not stuffed with mashed potatoes. He is stuffed with steaming excrement that spews from both ends, from Fox News, and all of the right wing idiots en masse. I believe Obama (despite all of his concessions, appointing conservative staffers, and making nice to the GOP) makes them see red, and their rhetoric escalates as they feed on each others’ hatred and xenophobia. Newt is unelectable, along with the rest of the GOP clown posse. (I’m stealing that one from another commenter because it’s perfect!) Dubya proved that the unelectable can be elected and reelected, so I’m bracing myself for another eight years of rule by idiots and fools, unless by some miracle Obama is reelected with a Democrat majority in both houses. Non profits that assist the lower economic groups in getting registered to vote are under attack from the right. The same goes for non profits helping the uninsured, homeless, debt ridden, women and their reproductive choice, public broadcasting, unions, and the list goes on. Any person or group trying to give a hand up to those held down by grinding poverty are finding “leaders” like Newt shooting at them from their pedestal of wealth and power. Thank you for painting a accurate picture of this human pile.
Then please “tell it like it is” about old BHO. BHO is a rich 1% no matter what the campaign slogans say. He is of the superrich, He has continued to waste our money and our lives. He has given more to the banks and the rich then any president ever has. There is a vast difference between what is promised and what is delivered. I know his campaign but, do you now him? BHO doesnt know what it is like do do without. He is as elite as the rest of them.
“BHO is a rich 1% no matter what the campaign slogans say. He is of the superrich,”
And he is still trying to enact programs which will allow someone in his income bracket to pay his fair share. This is a GOP falsehood writ large right here. Progressives don’t hate rich people — many progressives ARE rich people. Not everyone who is rich is out to screw the little guy. In fact, haven’t an awful lot of the 1% come out publicly and said that they probably should pay more than they do? This is what kills me about the current political game. When someone with the means says, “We are living in tough economic times. I should pay more at least until we aren’t” then LET THEM. The GOP/Tea mantra these days is simple, They look into the camera and tell people,”YOU work too hard. Everyone else is lazy (except the superrich). You don’t get paid enough, I know, but that is because everyone else gets paid way more than you…. and Barack Obama personally made that so.” If you are struggling, that must be really nice to hear that one guy is to blame and if you get rid of that guy your problems will disappear. If you think about it for a moment, though, it really isn’t possible.
The reason the superrich are “saying that they should pay more taxes” is because they wont. stop getting all your information of the TV and do some real research. These elitest know that all these tax hikes go straight to the middle class. The rich dont pay taxes… they have lawyers and accountants and investments that cover their losses. They know these changes wont effect them one bit. So it is fun to go get some PR by getting on TV and saying something pop culture wants to here. That way you will go see their next crappy movie.
Oh… and for those who feel “they should pay more” (as if anyone really feels they should) there is literally a line in the tax return for voluntary payment. The odd thing is no one pays attention to this line because no one wants to tax more of their own personal money, they want other people’s money to pay for these grandiose ideas.
” If you are struggling, that must be really nice to hear that one guy is to blame and if you get rid of that guy your problems will disappear. ” Or that this magic yes we can____ (fill in the blank with what ever your heart’s desire will come and solve all your problems by taking from those mean old rich people.
It’s surprising someone can be so obtuse. But it’s always a gift when someone like The Ugly Truth reveals it’s tainted “truth”.
The only proven way to help an RWA like The Ugly Truth is to help them get out more, maybe take an adult education class, and learn to be more open to finding out the reality for other Humans.
His, and indeed the GOP’s, denigration of the poor is all part of their psychological tactics to get people to think that poor people are lazy, criminals, etc. so they have a better chance of effectively implementing their “opportunity zones” (which is a term coined by Herman Cain, no less), where they want to strip away workers rights and erase minimum wage and allow participating corporations complete control. They basically want people to think “well, they weren’t working much anyway” or “well, now they have jobs”. It’s dehumanization so they can implement their dehumanizing plan. I hope their “opportunity zones” do not come to pass, and if they do, that the people will have the gall to end them outright.
It’s the old “us versus them” and “divide and conquer” tactic.
If they get you to think of others as getting a free ride somehow, then they’ve divided you from others. Their biggest fear is that we’ll all see through this ruse.
REALITY: We are all in this together. It’s going to be a long hard fight. (Witness that they’ve had us on the run for a long time already.)
Gingrich is not someone we want in office. I will completely agree with you there. As far as Obama though… I’m not sure how you can sit there and state that we’re in a better position than we were before. Sure Bush gave himself power and started this war and made some stupid tax cuts; he screwed us big time!
Obama however also CONTINUED those same policies. He’s extended the patriot act and is pushing into more wars with other nations. Syria, Libya, Pakistan, Iran etc are not happy with the US. And if we continue to push like we seem to be doing with the recent settlement into Jordan; China and Russia are going to bounce back at us.
Not only have we been raising the debt cap, we’re spending more and more everyday which our country cannot afford. There have been minor cuts but then banks keep getting bailed out.
Both Newt and Obama have received funding from Wallstreet. And if you look now who is Obama’s main source of income… errr almost ALL, you’ll probably not be too surprised.
Actually, the numbers you think represent Obama’s campaign coffers don’t (it’s the DNC’s, which is NOT the same). And we are not pushing into war and have not gone to war with Libya. We provided assistance to a NATO effort that the Arab League *asked NATO to perform* and we are no longer even doing that. The other nations you mention wouldn’t be fully pleased with the US if we left them alone, either, so your observation is pointless. Also, the debt cap HAD to be raised or the social benefits many of us rely on would’ve dried up. We could afford to do more if the GOP-led Congress could get its head out of its arse about tax cuts. Obama’s working on reducing the deficit as well.
I’m sorry to see you fell for lies and deceptive rhetoric.
Your arrogance is blinding you. And your condescension is not helping your argument.
Obama is just the next slick talker… a placeholder. He may even want some of the things he talks about. The problem is that the system is broken and no one person is going to fix it.
We are in a long desperate fight for our lives and the lives of our grandchildren. It is going to require gargantuan effort by a lot of people to set this right.
And it will start by re-electing Obama!
Hi, I’m from Indonesia and I found this so hurting to you and your community. I hope that you would find a better man to lead your country, not a douche bag man who likes to insult everything that he doesn’t know.
Travon,
You are preaching to the choir. This is a well written response to this man’s bigotry and idiocy. I was a poor white child, brought up in a poor black neighborhood. My mom was single and raising 4 kids, she worked two and three jobs. I was delivering papers at 5 am before school on a bicycle by the time I was ten. Long story short, Newt you idiot, I managed to show up everyday, I managed to get thru school, I managed to pay my way through college and get a double major with a minor. Today I have my own business, I work my ass off still today and I treat my kids like we are still a poor white family in a poor black neighborhood, so they value the ethic of work and were your money comes from. Good on you Travon, and thank you for this post.
Wow, love this. Love this. Love this. It astounds me that these Republicans that are running for office are so openly racist and bigoted, and I’m often left with my mouth agape at what they are “allowed” to get away with. Let there be more people like you (and your mother) who speak up about this. Awesome letter.
*applause*
****applause**** ****applause****
Church!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Travon, this is a great response to a complete moron who somehow was resurrected from political obscurity. One would think that Gingrich, having to pay a fine of $300,000 for misleading investigators conducting an ethics investigation of himself, would have retired and never be heard from again. Instead, he somehow got a great consulting gig for $1.8 million as a “historian” for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. What history course did Mr. Gingrich actually teach? Housing Fraud for Dummies? Great Financial Crimes of the 20th Century? Then, we the taxpayers had to bail out these corrupt institutions to the tune of over $100 billion. If Mr. Gingrich is such an honorable man, why doesn’t he return these historian consulting fees to the U.S. Treasury as a partial repayment of the bailout funds? Mr. Gingrich has no intention of returning these funds because he has no honor whatsoever. Mr. Gingrich thinks child labor laws should be repealed. Maybe that’s why his first wife had to sue him for child support. He probably believed that his children should be working at a young age to support themselves so that their dear father wouldn’t have to contribute a dime. Isn’t it wonderful that Newt Gingrich is such a family values candidate?
By the way Travon, although I am white, I was raised in a poor household by a working single mother myself. So, I really can relate to your experience. And, I thank God everyday that I wasn’t raised as a rich spoiled brat who doesn’t know the meaning of work. As an accountant, I see many wealthy people give huge inheritances to their children only to have their children squander this money. These kids have no sense of responsibility and no work ethic at all. Mr. Gingrich, I have watched many Presidents, I have voted for many Presidents and I have supported many Presidents. But, you sir, are not qualified to sit in the Oval Office.
Thank you for reading and for your compliments. What I said in previous comments and touched on in the letter briefly was that I know there are just as many if not more poor whites in America whom I also was speaking up for. I was originally writing in defense of my own mother so that’s why I focused on the black/brown experience. But. I hope that people who are products of poor white families who succeeded in life would find his comments equally offensive as well. I really appreciate your comments and for reading!
Travon you made my day with that letter to that dim wit. Like you I grew up with a mother who worked hard to make a way for my sister and I and are doing fine. I even managed to get a college degree and will soon start my Masters degree. Not bad for someone from a poor environment.
Thank you for reading Simone. I applaud you and your mother who I imagine worked as hard as my own. Im sure that masters degree will feel great coming from a less than fortunate background and even better knowing people like Newt think you cant do it on your own and have no role models.
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Very strong and profound words.
I just found your blog via facebook, but I will definitely return. This is an excellently written post. I worked in an alternative school with predominantly poor students for a time. What you describe is is exactly right. I feel privileged to have known many of the students I had in class. Thank you for being the voice of many who want to say the same thing, but don’t have your eloquence and way with words.
You’ve nailed exactly that the Republican Leadership is out of touch with both the conservative citizens he wants votes