Newt Gingrich: 'We've Had People Take Their Food Stamp Money And Use It To Go To Hawaii'

Newt Gingrich made the claim that some people who receive government aid through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program "take their food stamp money and use it to go to Hawaii."

"More Americans now get food stamps therefore and we now give it away as cash," Gingrich said. "You don't get food stamps. You get a credit card and the credit card can be used for anything. We've had people take their food stamp money and use it to go to Hawaii."

Gingrich -- who has recently led in the polls -- made the claim about the program during an appearance in Iowa on Wednesday, according to ThinkProgress.

The claim is false according to PolitiFact, which notes the food stamp program has "precise rules about what can and cannot be paid for." The site noted that the food stamp program does not allow funds to be used for restaurant meals and certain purchases like alcohol or vitamins.

This is not the first time Gingrich has commented on food stamps. In May, he called Barack Obama a "food stamp president," blaming him for the recession.

"President Obama is the most successful food stamp president in American history," Gingrich said. "I would like to be the most successful paycheck president in American history."

Comments

[carolo]

10:54 PM on 12/13/2011

And Newt is the same liar he has always been. I get $9600 on social security a year and pay my rent out of that. If I got $1200 a year, I would not be elgible for food benefits. That's the cut off point for one person. I can not even buy toilet paper with my EBT card much less go to Hawaii. Millionaires do NOT get food benefits and neither does anyone take trips to Hawaii.

[Eddy LeRoque]

12:44 PM on 12/08/2011

Underground economy, untaxed 2008-2011 $4,000,000,000,000
Wars for a great American Empire 2005-2011 3,000,000,000,000
Decline in tax revenues due to to recession 2009-2011 1,200,000,000,000
Decline in Tax revenue due to Bush Tax cuts 2000-2011 3,000,000,000,000
Total lost Tax Revenues 11,200,000,000,000
Total True out standing debt 10,000,000,000 intra governmental debt 5,000,000,000,000
Net Gain without Bush 1,200,000,000,000

Beating up the poor, priceless

[Activist Annie]

09:20 AM on 12/08/2011

...continued war against the poor.

[Activist Annie]

09:19 AM on 12/08/2011

Mr. G. the truth be told, you have no facts to back up you statement. Food Stamps CANNOT be sold. They are on an EBT card which is similar to a debit card.

[ronaldrealist66]

05:31 PM on 12/05/2011

Talking about people going to Hawaii on food stamps is small potatoes compaired to what the Democrats did in 2010 with money from the food stamp program. Democrats cut food stamp subsidy 12 billion dollars to bailout teachers. President Obama signed a jobs bill in August 2010 that costs $26 billion to keep teachers on the job. To pay for this bill 12 billion dollars was taken for the 2012 food stamp budget. Democrats were in control of both houses of congress in 2010. The bill passed in the House 247-161, with 2 republicans voting for it and 3 democrats voting against it. Teacher's work in 2010 and people starve in 2012.

[stoptalkingdosomething]

08:07 PM on 12/05/2011

I am for the poor and teachers, I get your point, but, I am just as angry with trillons in unfunded wars and tax cuts to the rich! What you are talking about is nickles and dimes compared to that! Look at food for the poor, teachers salaries, highways and bridges being bulit and repairs. 1 trillion is 100 million. Can you believe how many people has become rich in this country and around the world with all this tax payers money on wars? Let's raise some Hell about that!

[ronaldrealist66]

02:23 PM on 12/06/2011

My point was that the democrats in Washington, DC do what benefits their personal interest, not what is good for the country. I'm for teachers, just like I'm for all people that are willing too work. I'm against favoring one group over another to gain votes. Today the democrats in Washington are pushing for an increase and the extension of the one year temporary social security payroll tax cut which will cost social security $180 billion a year in lost revenue. This does nothing for cutting the hugh budget deficit and is not being honest and responsible for the future of this nation.

[mqracing]

03:06 PM on 12/05/2011

Newt's just checking to see if he could use food stamps to pay off his credit card bills at Tiffany's.

[mqracing]

04:30 PM on 12/05/2011

Newt was just thinking out loud, wondering if he could use a food stamp card to put a down payment on the Hope diamond for Callista.

[stoptalkingdosomething]

08:11 PM on 12/05/2011

This man should shut his mouth about food stamps or any other gov't monies, as much as he has taken. These damn repubs. make me sick always complaining about the poor getting anything when their pockets are lined with tax payers monies in the form of pay checks or passing bills for their friends, or insiders trade, take your pick. What's the matter they are afraid the poor with take away from their stealing from the gov't?

[oneofthebest]

11:51 PM on 12/05/2011

Yeah, all those Federal income taxes that you pay! If you want to indict him, you have to indict all the Democrats as well. They are absolutely no different. Just look at Nancy Pelosi!!

[3catwoman3]

02:56 PM on 12/05/2011

Time for us to borrow a favorite phrase from the other side of the aisle - YOU LIE!!!!!!

This is beyond infuiating. This man is like pornography - no redeeming social value.

[rich3324]

01:44 PM on 12/05/2011

Does newtie not think people will check when he says something?

[Activist Annie]

02:54 AM on 12/07/2011

I hope people do check what he says. I hope they check everything the Repubs/TP say and keep after the Dems to do their job for the American people.

[gladhart1]

10:50 AM on 12/05/2011

So lets starve everyone based on a few dishonest people. How very christian of you newt.

[notto]

11:18 AM on 12/05/2011

Um, he's lying...

[Sosyalis]

10:25 AM on 12/05/2011

He either lies intentionally or is uninformed on the subject, yet still misrepresented the facts in a major speech. Is this what we want as our President?

[oneofthebest]

11:55 PM on 12/05/2011

You really didn't say that, did you?? A book could be written about how many times Obama has intentionally misrepresented the facts. He did it just today when he said that almost every Republican had voted down the extension of the payroll tax cut when 20 had voted for it. Obama lies constantly and no one calls him out on it.

[frankcaprafan]

09:26 AM on 12/05/2011

Welfare Queens are solely responsible for the foreclosure on your house and your not having a job! Gosh, is it 1995 already?

[ZappaRules]

08:58 AM on 12/05/2011

Newt never let reality get in the way of a lie so... Why would he start now.

There is abuse in the system Newt - yes, that is true - but how about you ifentify the real abuse and real specific ways to address such - instead of just inciting folks agains what is an important and needed program.

[nancyalis]

02:31 AM on 12/05/2011

Hey, we've had people take our TAX money and go to Greece !!

[Elmgreen11]

02:14 AM on 12/05/2011

Mister 84 - count 'em - 84 proven ethics violations, resigned-in-disgrace House Speaker Gingrich ought to be barred from politics by his own party. Is there no accountability among Republicans?

[wordsalad12]

01:58 AM on 12/05/2011

Is Newt suffering a bout of prolonged exposure to Michele Bachmann? Not that he needs help in the nut business, mind you.