Listening to the idea put forth by Republicans that all I want is a government handout is insulting. To hear the the audience of the recent Fox News Republican debate cheer when Newt Gingrich tried to justify his claim that President Obama is the "food stamp president" insults myself and the millions of other Americans who have been hard at work looking for jobs that just don't seem to be there. Moreover to hear this from the candidates from the party that blocked most of the President's recent jobs bill is not only insulting but hypocritical.
I have largely been a lurker on his site, reading and infrequently commenting, but I am so insulted by the idea that all I want is government money that I felt that for my own peace of mind I had to write something about it. In March of 2008 I lost my job. It was a temporary contract that expired and I started looking for another job. Although I have not been looking for work all of the time since then due to health reasons because for about six months I stopped looking for work when I was suffering from kidney failure. Fortunately I have largely recovered and am feeling much better. I have been looking for work full time for at least the last two years. And yes I am living on government money, but I would give it up in an instant if I could find work to support myself. I was raised in a protestant family and though I am no longer a Christian the idea of the protestant work ethic is strong within me. For a large portion of my working life I have worked more than one job. Right now I would be the happiest man on the planet if I could find just one job to support myself.
The idea put forth by the Republican candidates and particularly Newt Gingrich that all I want to do is to live off of the government I find insulting. I would give up the money that I am currently living on in a minute if I could find a job that would support myself. And to hear this from a candidate from the party that blocked most of the president's proposals to put people back to work I find hypocritical. The Republican's complain that there are more people now receiving government money and not working than ever, but when they had a chance to put Americans back to work they blocked all the provisions of the jobs bill except the portion that helped veterans. They complain that people being supported by the government do not want to own their own work, but when they had a chance to help put Americans back to work they blocked it. How can this not be seen as hypocritical?
While I generally do not vote Republican, I certainly will not if they continue insulting would be hard working Americans like myself. Thank you for your patience with my rant.