Juan Williams: Extended Jobless Benefits Weaken Values About 'Showing Up, Dressing Well' (VIDEO)

Juan Williams told Fox News' Megyn Kelly that extended unemployment benefits are harmful to peoples' work ethic and basic values. (H/T TPM)

The two were speaking about the fight over the extension of the benefits on Thursday's "America Live." Kelly told Williams that a man she knows is staying on unemployment because his jobless benefits bring him more money than a potential job.

"To me it's crazy because the longer that person is unemployed the more difficult it is then for them to get a job," Williams said. He continued:

"Because employers, potential employers, will look and see that gee, they've been out forever, it doesn't make sense. And I think that's partly playing in to this cycle. And at some point then it becomes a matter of you lose your work ethic, your values are impacted, you know, getting up, showing up, dressing well, all that good stuff. So I don't know that that's smart."

WATCH:

Kelly seemed to agree, saying that, at some point, the benefits would have to be cut off because entrepreneurship was being hurt.

Comments

[JamesJohn]

06:01 PM on 12/07/2010

So by these two people’s logic:
- Two colloquialisms make a theme.

- People who refuse to take a new job because of a $400 unemployment check would otherwise be entrepreneurs.

- If we stop paying unemployment, companies will hire more.

- There are millions of unfilled job postings, but what prevents them from being filled are the people who choose to better their life and life’s prospects by accepting unemployment rather than working.

The points above are the logical assertions these two are making, even if they don’t state them explicitly. Very flawed. Think for yourself and call out the BS.

[ChristianCooper]

04:25 AM on 12/07/2010

Well, I can say that those people could have dressed a bit better. But, I am unconvinced that it because of unemployment benefits, granted there are those who milk it, but for many people it is a great struggle.

[astroblower]

03:50 AM on 12/07/2010

Juan Williams is only employed because he shines Brit Hume's shoes. What a suck-up.

[harriettubman]

10:55 PM on 12/06/2010

I don't know one unemployed person who is slacking and thinking of being unemployed as a vacation. Perhaps if Juan were unemployed for 2 yrs or after NPR got rid of his butt he'd have some compassion. I know people who are depressed & losing their faith over this economy. Folks like Juan and the GOP make me furious with their asinine comments.

[ScarlettMocha]

10:20 PM on 12/06/2010

Does anyone dress well in the workplace anymore?

[consequenceofsounds]

10:03 PM on 12/06/2010

It's so easy criticize the less fortunate when you've never had a chance to walk in their shoes.

[sistahfriend]

05:09 PM on 12/06/2010

Mr. Williams were are the jobs? We were not as fortunate as you to get a job paying 2 million dollars from FAUX.

People that are making millions of dollars don't understand the frustration and situation that many of us, unemployed, are in. I have worked over 35 years and paid my taxes and now, after being out of work of over a year, find it very difficult because of age discrimination. And quite frankly, I don't know anyone who is happy with unemployment benefits. It's almost a 3rd of what a person was making. So there is not enough to provide for your family and pay your bills.

Mr. Williams, you and others need a reality check. Why don't they have everyday people on their shows talking about their situation rather then pundits just making up stuff?

[4RealMan]

02:11 PM on 12/07/2010

Faux gets their ratings from making stuff up.

[HeartT]

02:01 PM on 12/06/2010

What a media hack. This is why issues and the truth get no coverage. Too much focus on the conflict and controvery mean-spiritedness and ignorance can produce.

[Ramenra]

01:32 PM on 12/06/2010

Well, it looks like he's turning into a Clarence Thomas type now. Here and there you hear a person say they know someone that won't get off unemployment because they make more money than the jobs will pay. Of course, when the jobs pay less than the unemployment which won't pay all your bills or just barely if you don't have to use any gas. Of course the people who are the loudest are making serious geetus. I wonder if they do the Jim Baker gluteus maximus exercises with their buddies too???

[Bronxdude]

12:56 PM on 12/06/2010

Regrettably: He now suffers from Fox of the brain, which is incurable.

[fatback65]

12:17 PM on 12/06/2010

I have to say, I know several people that have been on unemployment now for at least a year and a half. I was for about 6 months. Some are desperate to find work. A few are milking the system and not interested in finding work, but are still on unemployment. The interesting thing is that the two that I say are milking the system voted republican. One even rails about how the minorities are all on welfare and ruining this country. When I try to point out this hypocrisy, it is the end of the discussion. Go figure.

[Maezeppa]

10:21 AM on 12/06/2010

George W. Bush said many dumb and appalling things as President but the worst, most morally bankrupt thing to come out of his mouth was when he sanctimoniously explained to his fellow conservatives, “First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill.”
 
This zeal for piling on the unemployed is a disgrace, and a sign of numb sociopathy.  One of the conservative fantasies is that the rich are rich because the rich are innately good and deserve to be rich.  Conversely, they believe the unemployed are unemployed because they, too, are getting what they deserve. 
 
 
 

[SingingGuy]

01:24 PM on 12/07/2010

This is an idea which dates back to the time of Charles Dickens. It is an idea that calms the guilt reflex (if they have any) among the wealthy to help them sleep at night.

[Maezeppa]

03:18 PM on 12/07/2010

Yes.  For some time it puzzled me why the conservatives hate the middle class so much.  I mean, a healthy, productive, educated, innovative middle class made them richer than they were pre-FDR.  So what gives?  I think they are terrified of a strong middle class for somewhat the same reasons they are terrified of "barbarians at the gate" (immigrants, terrorists, outsiders).  They reflexively see every "other" as a threat to themselves.   I guess they sleep at night, but not soundly.

[MadamRoma]

10:20 AM on 12/06/2010

Juan Williams, is there any level to which you won't stoop to keep your job at FOX,......I guess that question's been answered.

[Anthony OReilly]

10:06 AM on 12/06/2010

I can't even get myself to think of a sarcastic comment. Fox News idiocy speaks for itself.

[Peter Noble 2]

10:02 AM on 12/06/2010

Unemployment benefits allow the unfortunate citizen to pay for food, a crap cell phone, polish for their shoes, laundered shirt, dry cleaned suite and a roof over their head...though frankly when I was unemployed in Britain, where there was no benefit limits, most of my jobs never needed me to sit an interview wearing a suite. Cleaning offices, executive toilets..really horrid by the way at 4am. Menial clerical jobs had no dress code other than clean clothes.

The unemployed I know will do anything to earn a living. A former analyst support staff member with Goldman Sachs washed dishes in a kitchen, bussed tables, worked as a bouncer. Yes he needed a suite for that job! However that job went under and he now faces the holidays in a dark apartment fearing for his existence.
The unemployed rarely want to stay unemployed. America is one of the most cruel of developed nations in regards the unemployed and working poor.

I still have nightmares about my years of unemployment and eating rotten meat, trying to hide my threadbare shirt collars and hoping no one would see the hole in my shoe as the unemployment benefits did not cover shoe repairs. Where I lived the local charity shops were too expensive. The idea that the unemployed like being so poor is offensive.

America has been good to me but it was luck and the compassion of others, not talent alone.