Gary Johnson Draws Laughs With 'Shovel-Ready' Line At GOP Debate (VIDEO)

Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson drew laughs from the audience at Thursday night's Republican presidential debate with a colorful criticism he leveled at the White House.

"My next door neighbor's two dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than this current administration," said the White House contender toward the end of the event.

Johnson, a libertarian and lesser-known candidate for the GOP presidential nomination, said in a statement following the debate, "Tonight, a great many people had their first opportunity to see that there is a candidate who will actually focus like a laser on the task of reducing government, eliminating deficits, and freeing the economy to create real jobs. As Republicans, we need to face the reality that today’s out-of-control spending is as much a Republican problem as it is a Barack Obama problem, and simply paying lip service to bringing it under control won’t fly with the American people."

He continued, "Likewise, Republicans deserve to have a candidate who will challenge the notion of foreign intervention and unjustified, undeclared wars we cannot afford. I am gratified to offer that alternative."

Not long after the culmination of the debate, Johnson's name was among the top searches on Google Trends.

Comments

[ronp121]

09:09 AM on 09/24/2011

Ever since the republican party stood on the floor of the house yelling were are the Jobs Mr President what seems to be a long long time ago. I haven't seen them making any jobs just making the rich richer. Guess they were talking about the rich so what are they complaining about seems to be working for them.

[kamachanda]

09:00 AM on 09/24/2011

No GOP candidate can differentiate himself from the field if they all just engage in spouting party line talking points at each other.

[Botany5000]

08:46 AM on 09/24/2011

The only one with his shovel ready is Obama so he can pile it higher and deeper.

[kamachanda]

08:29 AM on 09/24/2011

With dogs, the excrement comes out of the end nature intended. You can't say the same for the present field of GOP Presidential candidates.

[bobbythompson3333]

08:24 AM on 09/24/2011

This is like Obama's administration......a joke.

[Maarten Wentink]

06:36 PM on 09/23/2011

Gary Johnson had a pretty good interview on MSNBC with Al Sharpton. I don't agree with a many of his positions but it sounds like he is the most sane candidate amongst the Republican bunch.

[JBDenver]

06:13 PM on 09/23/2011

The more I read about Gary Johnson the more I like him.

I disagree with some of his positions, but he is so libertarian that I could take the good with the bad. I especially like the fact that he says what he thinks and if you don't like it, too bad - but he says those things without being condescending or being a pr*ck.

I hope he sticks around.

This guy is worth a google search. The extreme right will hate him, the Ron Paul right should love him. The pro-pot, antiwar crowd will find much to like about this guy as well.

[ron10]

06:10 AM on 09/24/2011

i am not a republican or a democrat just an americian. but i did like what he had to say

[exhale09]

05:34 PM on 09/23/2011

I gotta admit, his "shovel ready" line was hilarious!

[RobtBrock]

08:36 PM on 09/23/2011

He "borrowed" that line from comments made the same day by Rush Limbaugh.

[jgeurian21]

04:22 PM on 09/23/2011

I have a 4 lane, 30+ mile highway being built between my home town and a neighboring town of equal size that is funded by the Stimulus package. Also there is a new 100+ mile rail spur being built near me that is also being funded by the Stimulus package. Also Siemens built a huge plant in my home town, Hutchinson, KS, that also got tax breaks for green industry. I am in the middle of no where Kansas. Kind of flies in the face of what this guy is saying.

[JoeTheProgrammer]

05:48 PM on 09/23/2011

A highway to nowhere. That's nice.

[Sean 6399]

08:12 PM on 09/23/2011

You found the important point in the post. Well done.

[drwtsn]

01:58 AM on 09/24/2011

So now Kansas is "nowhere"? They are predominately Republican, so may not be too bright, but they are still as worthy of good roads as the rest of America.

[mislz7]

04:06 PM on 09/23/2011

Only candidate that is truthful is Ron Paul. Republicans can nominate Ron Paul or go home.

[exhale09]

05:36 PM on 09/23/2011

Since when does Truth telling have ANYTHING to do with who Republican support?

[kamachanda]

08:31 AM on 09/24/2011

Sticking to a delusional world view is not the same as telling the truth.

[Winkandanod]

02:38 PM on 09/23/2011

Uhm...the joke is funny and all but, did he offer anything substantive that suggests he is better equiped than his neighbor's dogs to lead the country? No?

[jsmit]

04:24 PM on 09/23/2011

He has more experience than Barak Obama having run a state and certainly could do no worse.

[Issa]

05:29 PM on 09/23/2011

(cough) George W. Bush

[kamachanda]

08:31 AM on 09/24/2011

Geez, how old is that dog?

[Winkandanod]

02:24 PM on 09/23/2011

That's funny. What else you got?

Jobs plan? No?

I didn't think so.

[JoeTheProgrammer]

05:49 PM on 09/23/2011

Fair tax = Jobs.

[Winkandanod]

05:54 PM on 09/23/2011

That's it? Fair tax = Jobs?

Don't hold your breath waiting for the Nobel prize.

[Andman0121]

06:52 PM on 09/23/2011

...sigh...
I swear, you fake conservatives truly believe its that simple too. Grow up and realize that a fair tax won't solve your problems.

[George Global]

02:22 PM on 09/23/2011

The only thing really shovel-ready is Obama's presidency.

Squandered opportunities masquerading as "compromise" have doomed us to a future ruled by half-wits and cranks.
We have lost the battle.

[stunsitfel]

03:51 PM on 09/23/2011

Indeed George. #1363.

[Flower Power 68]

02:07 PM on 09/23/2011

"My next door neighbor's two dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than this current administration."

And the GOP should know too. Nobody shovels it better than THEY do, although I believe theirs tends to be more bovine than canine in origin.

[MisterCharles]

02:01 PM on 09/23/2011

The Republican Party along with their little brat the Tea-Party have become stand-up comedians. They joke and laugh and have no solutions to the current unemployment crisis in America. When will our sleeping country finally wake up and realize that we've been had?

[stunsitfel]

02:05 PM on 09/23/2011

Pssttt. You own the White House. You own the Senate. Up to last year you owned the House.

You own it.

[JoeTheProgrammer]

05:51 PM on 09/23/2011

I think we are waking up. The current administration has been a real eye opener. A re-awakening of America is happening. Much like what happened after Carter.