Newt Gingrich Says He Would Urge Blacks To Demand Paychecks, Not Food Stamps In Front Of NAACP

WASHINGTON -- Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich said Thursday he is willing to go before the NAACP and urge blacks to demand paychecks, not food stamps.

Gingrich told a town hall meeting at a senior center in Plymouth, N.H., that if the NAACP invites him to its annual convention this year, he'd go there and talk about "why the African-American community should demand paychecks and not be satisfied with food stamps."

He also said he'd pitch a new Social Security program aimed at helping young people, particularly African-American males, who he said get the smallest return on Social Security.

Gingrich routinely lambasts President Barack Obama as the "best food stamp president in American history." He also has spoken previously about welcoming an invitation from the NAACP to speak and has been critical of GOP candidates who have not accepted such an invitation.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People had no immediate comment on Gingrich's remarks. His campaign spokesman, R.C. Hammond, said the former Georgia congressman has often said the GOP needs to be inclusive of all Americans.

"He has said since he became a presidential candidate that any Republican should always accept an invitation to speak to the NAACP on any topic," Hammond said.

Gingrich's comments follow those by rival candidate Rick Santorum, a former senator from Pennsylvania who said Sunday that he did not want to "make black people's lives better by giving them somebody else's money. I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn the money."

Santorum's comments were criticized by National Urban League President Marc H. Morial as pandering to racist elements within the GOP. Morial also said that 70 percent of people on food stamps are white. The Agriculture Department does not break down food stamp participation rates by race.

NAACP President Ben Jealous also criticized Santorum's remarks.

Food stamp participation and costs have risen under Obama, from 28.2 million participants at a cost of $37.6 billion in 2008 to 44.7 million participants at a cost of $75.3 billion last year, according to federal data of what is officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The increases followed the steep economic downturn that began in 2008.

Gingrich said if he has a chance to go before the NAACP, he would explain a "brand-new Social Security opportunity" for young people, "which would be particularly good for African-American males, because they are the group that gets the smallest return on Social Security."

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Comments

[Johnny L Duncan]

07:42 AM on 01/19/2012

Again, Gingrich has told the truth. Methinks he needs to do more than demand. Too many of us have become ingratiated with the institutionalized, "GENERATIONAL CURSE" of welfare and other social programs.

[wisdomchase]

11:03 AM on 01/12/2012

Newt Gingrich shouldn't have even mentioned food stamps at the NAACP meeting. Why because you're speaking to a Black audience? It was out of line. Does he mention food stamps when he speaks to other ethnic groups like whites and Hispanics and Native Americans? Seriously, some of us realize that Blacks aren't the only recipients of food stamps. Black people want jobs and training/education to acquire jobs? this isn't rocket science...blacks want the same things Newt wants.
There is a way to phrase and say everything...it's obvious he's a miserable failure at speaking engagements. I can proudly say I haven't and no one I know receives food stamp assistance,but there are millions of Americans dependent on them.

[Johnny L Duncan]

07:48 AM on 01/19/2012

My problem with this and other comments such as it is that Black are spoken of as a monolithic entity. Nothing could be further from the truth. What applies to some does not apply to all. Facts cannot be denied because the truth is stated. I am repulsed by many of the accounts of lynchings in Milton Metzer's triology, "In Their Own Words", but I do not shy from reading the books, nor do I repudiate their contents, for stated reasons!

[wisdomchase]

04:06 PM on 01/19/2012

I agree! I'm sticking with the OBAMA'S!

[gakabani]

02:12 PM on 01/08/2012

A clear signal to Newt. Stop the rhetoric and stick to the facts. Using such tactics is pathetic. A true conservative proposes solutions to a problem not statistics.

[AlbanyConservative]

11:25 AM on 01/08/2012

Here are the statistics:

Percentage of White Americans on Food stamps...11.5%
Percentage of Black Americans on Food stamps...35%

That is over 300% higher for blacks than whites. Why the NAACP continues to live in denial and pretend that there isn't a problem inside the black community astounds me. Just like alcaholism, admitting that you have a problem is the first step to a cure.

[Ron Simmons]

12:12 AM on 01/09/2012

Not only your "facts" are incorrect, you obviously don't know how to spell. You are throwing statistics that doesn't exist. Where is the source of your information? I will never say that 90% of child molesters are from another race or 80% of serial killers are from another race. Do you understand my point? If you don't,100% of your comments are idiotic.

[kwash]

07:08 AM on 01/24/2012

Food stamp recipients are 37.2 percent Black and 46.2 percent White. Medicaid benefits are paid to 27.5 percent Black recipients compared to 48.5 percent White clients.
Some 61 percent of welfare recipients are White, while 33 percent are Black, according to 1990 Census Bureau statistics, the latest figures available.

Get you facts straight!!!

[Stephen Stafford]

03:55 PM on 01/07/2012

Interesting that this story was recast and filed under Black Voices. I know there were thousands of comments when it was originally run in the political section. With the exception of a few comments by the NAACP officials, there seems to be nothing new here.

I think we need a fresh strategy. It is clear these losing politician are going to the tried and true attack Black people strategy. I think as these thing happen, we need to start showing up on the campaign trail and hold them accountable for what they are saying. Somebody can be present at all Gingrich's talks from now on, putting it to him every step of the way.

Ask questions at the events. Get him on his way in, and on his way out. Go to his wife's french horn and choir events. Go to the book signings. Get him when he is going into the TV studio. Make him pay for using us in such a foul and wrong way.

Don't get arrested. Just come equipped with the truth and firm, unstuttering confrontation. OK, stuttering allowed.

The same attention must be shown Santorum as well. Except for him, make sure you spell out the lying part in clarity and quite vividly.

[Andrea in the City]

12:58 AM on 01/08/2012

Great post. Also, he needs to be held to the fire and answer the question 'Ok Newt, so how do you plan to create jobs for anyone of any race to actually demand a paycheck from??!!!!"

[AlbanyConservative]

11:30 AM on 01/08/2012

Do you deny that 35% of blacks receive food stamps and only 11.5% of whites receive food stamps. Apparently, there is something that needs to be addressed. The facts fo not lie. Just because people do not like what they hear, it does not mean that it isn't true.
There are some issues in the black community that are helping to keep black americans down, for lack of a better word. Fatherless families, unemployment, and government reliance and dependancies are some of the problems that need to be addressed.

Love him or hate him, Newt Gingrich is correct. Just as Bill Cosby was correct when he admonished the black youth of America for their behavior and attitudes.

[CarolinaSistah]

11:00 PM on 01/08/2012

Well, if numbers don't lie, let's deal with unemployment dropping to 8.5% last month. Good yes? But for blacks it went up from 15.2% to 15.8%. Why such a disparity? Black fathers and mothers need and want to feed their children too. Yet even our children are poorer and hungrier than whites.

Do you want to guess at the reasons we find it even more difficult to find gainful employment? The numbers don't lie!

[Ron Simmons]

03:48 PM on 01/24/2012

Who cares which race has the most on welfare ? The problem is that their are people in need . Bible Belt Albany Georgia, Jesus said at Matthew 26:11 That the poor will always be here. Someone will be poor and someone will be rich.

You know the black people started out as slaves in this country and many are still suffering because of it. There has been hundred of thousands through education although many in your state and other southern states barred blacks from getting a decent education. More than likely you yourself has benefited from segregation. Millions of African Americans left your state because of Jim Crow before World War l then before World War ll, that period was called the great migration or diaspora. Your history book didn't teach you these things. A college or university schooling or extensive research would help you to understand what went wrong? Why both sides Democratic and Republicans have major faults. Food stamps is an aid for those to get on their feet. However there are some blacks, whites, Latino and others these programs makes them lazy, laziness has no color. Talking about percentages only divides people and there is no progress. The better question should be why do a person needs food stamps? What efficient program can help people for training to obtain a better job? How can I help others who are less fortunate than myself?

If one can't help, why talk about it?

[Eric Daniels]

01:00 PM on 01/07/2012

I will a deal with white conservatives like Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, don't bring up the African- Americans unless there is a question about issues in the African- American community and that person is knows about out the issues that concern us. All this is race- baiting and throwing red meat at their white working- class supporters who think the worse racist thoughts about African- Americans and hate President Obama and his family for being in the "WHITE HOUSE". It's obvious when Newt had the chance and power to say his racial peace when he was "Speaker of the House" he was unavailable to speak with the NAACP.

[Andrea in the City]

12:59 AM on 01/08/2012

All this imcompatent politicians love to talk sounds bites but where is the action?! If Newt really cared oh so much about AA why hasn't he done anything will in congress to help the community??

[rosegarten]

08:08 AM on 01/07/2012

To Newt:

(KJV) Psalms 10:2
The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

[AlbanyConservative]

11:31 AM on 01/08/2012

blah, blah blah. He is correct. Dela with it.

[rosegarten]

08:08 AM on 01/07/2012

To you, Newt:

(KJV) Psalms 10:2
The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor: let them be t

[rosegarten]

07:16 AM on 01/07/2012

I don't get it with these republicans. Are their hearts so twisted that they feel free to make blanket statements like this about anybody and particularly the African American group. What is so stuck in their craw that perversion comes out of their mouths. Newt Gingrich has lived off the public trough most of his adult life. He shold be the first to get off public welfare and get himself a real job and stop bilking the American populace with his false label of historian and get off welfare. Look in the mirror Newt and give yourself the message you so want to deliver to African Americans.

[ChoppyBob]

12:46 PM on 01/07/2012

Don't take it personally.

He's just rallying his base.

[Califishing]

06:07 AM on 01/07/2012

Reality check for Newt: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/need-to-know/video/need-to-know-january-6-2012-help-wanted-new-hampshire/12759/

[Queen Cassandra]

04:33 AM on 01/07/2012

Don't worry...., Ol' Newt does not matter.

But the facts are that more of his people are on food stamps.

Trust me.

[Teachdword]

02:02 AM on 01/07/2012

I am black and I have been working for the same company for twenty years! And I'm not on food stamps.

[jamtrin1995]

01:33 PM on 01/07/2012

1/5 of the people on food stamps are black, and 0.1% are illegal in this country so you do the math "Da Gringo" and see where "your people stand" Take a look in the mirror! Ignorance surely is bliss!!

[amd02148]

10:07 PM on 01/07/2012

Since white people receive more food stamps than anyone else in the countr, Da gringo, too bad there aren't more of "your people" like you.

[gyoudumb]

08:55 PM on 01/06/2012

I have been saying this for years my brother works for a big delivery company and he deliver packages to the food stamp office and i sometime go with him to help him out.I would swear on a stack of bible to any white person out there,i have seen more white people in the welfare office then any other race,just like at soup kitchens and thrift store.I have seen this over thousand times in different state.Wht man want the world to believe his lies that we are the only welfare users and we are the savages that kill people and rob etc while they are portray as innocent never do wrong race and pray this false god that they claim told them they are superior.America the beautiful

[Heather Riggs Hindle]

07:59 PM on 01/06/2012

What an ignorant thing to say. As a white person who has been on food stamps, I can tell you that plenty of white people receive food stamps and most of the non-elderly, non-disabled adults who receive food stamps WORK full time. They just don't make enough to live on because wages in this country are so low. Since Clinton's welfare reform, some (if not all) states require you to work or participate in a job training program in order to receive aid. I'm ashamed to be the same race as Newt.

[Agent2k38]

07:23 PM on 01/06/2012

If there were no black men in prison, every black man and woman had a PHD, and a 100,000 salary, White America would still complain and/or create negative images of us. So I am telling my people to live their life to the fullest and pay absolutely no attention to them.... Literally, live as if they do not even exist.

[Da gringo]

11:33 AM on 01/07/2012

It would be nice if it was possible to pay no attention to "you people".

[ChoppyBob]

11:54 AM on 01/07/2012

If you would keep those teabags out of your throat, you could think a little more clearly.

*gulp*