Today I was at the grocery store and one of the cashiers that I know not personally, but see her often in the checkout line whispered to me that people of all colors are using food stamps. she was offended by the words of Newt Gingrich at the King Day GOP debate. She said a number of elderly people are using them and their adult caretakers are using them on their behalf. Food stamps are for the poor. In this commercial Gingrich says the poor, but we have heard Gingrich rail against poor black people. Newt defenders can not see that his words are meant to appeal to the angry, and nothing anyone says can convince them of this so I won’t try. Gingrich is a son of the south and he knows what he is saying and doing, and he does it very well.
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I’m really surprised that you had to learn from a grocery clerk that people of all colors are using food stamps. Its now wonder she was offended by Gingrich saying that more Black people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any other president in history. Oh, that’s not exactly what he said but anyone who is not a defender of Newt knows that’s what he really means. Do I have that right?
Bill I did not say I did not know this before today I shared a story about something that happened to me as I often do in this space, but leave it to you to take it as another opportunity to mock.
>>Newt defenders can not see that his words are meant to appeal to the angry<<
Should I construe this as "code" for "southern whites"?
I really REALLY wish Newt would just come out and say that he KNOWS that the majority of people on food stamps and welfare are not black. He does emphasize the plight of blacks in this nation because, well, SOMEONE has to! The Democrats offer platitudes, excuses, explanations, and little else. Oh, and government programs. Lots and lots of government programs. The message sent is that poor blacks cannot make it without Big Government. Even the president himself took flack when he encouraged black parents to spend time with their children, read to them, help them with their homework, and other useful and effective things. You may recall the "reverend" Jesse Jackson threatened to "cut his —s off" for the perceived slight. (maybe he was talking in code?) Given the choice between the suggestions offered by Gingrich, the president, Bill Cosby, and others, or more of the same by the Democratic Party leadership, I'd rather go with what works for every other ethnic group. And we need to talk about it to make it happen. Newt's doing that.
Elogam – As a Black conservative (though an Independent), I love your thoughtful comments and generally agree with you. Having said that..
“I really REALLY wish Newt would just come out and say that he KNOWS that the majority of people on food stamps and welfare are not black.”
My question is: Why HASN’T he come out and said that? Puts up a huge question mark in my mind. He’s a smart man and he knows shat he’s doing.
LPM, I think it’s a problem of not having enough people of color who can advise Newt and others about what you and I know intuitively. When only 5-6% of your support comes from a particular group, you don’t get enough influence from them to be attuned to them. He went to one black church recently–wish I could have been there– but I suspect he spent most of his time defending himself in particular and conservatives in general. Just like Obama needed to get some advisors who understood the military, Republican front runners need more advice from blacks and hispanics so they can convey their messages effectively.