Rick Perry: Paul LePage Is 'Spot On' In Telling Welfare Recipients To 'Get Off The Couch' And Get A Job

Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) said Tuesday that he agrees with Maine Gov. Paul LePage's (R) suggestion earlier this week that any unemployed welfare recipient who is "able-bodied" needs to "get off the couch" and get a job.

"If folks are just, you know, on the welfare ride for the sake of [the] welfare ride, you bet. You know, Governor LePage has got it spot on," Perry told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren, after saying that governors needed to implement the proper policies to stimulate job growth in their states.

Asked by Van Susteren if such a suggestion might be insulting to the unemployed, considering the struggling economy in many areas of the United States, Perry accused the federal government and Obama administration of killing jobs and repeated his claim that governors could work to counter those losses. One way they could do this, Perry said, was by using LePage's brand of encouragement.

"But the idea that a governor is cajoling folks to, you know, get out there and get involved in the workforce -- you know, there may be some folks that are offended by that. I'm not."

While Perry was happy to applaud LePage's message -- and his own record of job creation, which has some serious blemishes of its own -- the reaction to it from some in Maine has been much less positive.

Christine Hastedt, public policy director at Maine Equal Justice Partners, said LePage's comments were "a gross insult to working people who get up every day and become discouraged by the end of the day, because there's not a job for them."

"We talk to people every day," Hastedt told The Huffington Post's Amanda Terkel. "There are not enough jobs for the people who want them. There aren't enough hours in the jobs for people who need them. These are jobs that don't provide health care, and certainly don't provide child care. Those are services that people need to get even the jobs that they could get. Nevertheless, he's cutting those safety net benefits that make it possible for people to work."

UPDATE: 5/10/12 -- LePage spokesman Adrienne Bennett contacted The Huffington Post to clarify that LePage was talking about unemployed welfare recipients, not all unemployed individuals. This article has been updated to reflect the distinction.

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[mzkitti]

09:09 PM on 07/07/2012

Houston Chronicle reported Friday 7/6/12 Texas health care ranks state worst in the nation for services provided. Dead last in the federal governments latest report card, falling short in areas ranging from acute hospital care to home treatment of the chronically ill. Texas scored 31.61 - less than half of top ranked Minnesota's 67.31, out of a possible 100 point in the agency of Healthcare Research and Quality annual rankings. Rated "weak" or "very weak " in nine of 12 health delivery categories. Texas joins W. Virginia and Arkansas at the bottom of the federal rankings. Texas was reported worse now than it was reported in 2007 and than was reported in 2005. At that time Texas was "near the bottom" not dead last. Dr. Ernest Moy, lead doctor in the scorecard project said they were not camparing Texas to some fantasy world, they were comparing Texas to all other states in this country. One of "very weak" scores resulted in diabetes care. Texas is worst of all states in caring for breast cancer patients. Other very weak services extended to respiratory diseases, urinary incontinence and pain relief. The report continued to say that insured or not Texans generally are not getting the quality of care they should.

*********RICK PERRY - YOU NEED TO SHUT UP AND SOLVE HUGE PROBLEMS IN THE STATE OF TEXAS. STOP ENCOURAGING OTHER IDIOTS LIKE YOU.

[noahmarder]

06:25 PM on 05/11/2012

To anyone who is uninformed enough to believe Perry or LePage's lies:

There are about seven U-6 unemployed people for every job opening. Even if EVERY unemployed person did everything possible to get work, most would still be unemployed.

Many unemployed people, especially older workers and women of childbearing age, aren't even considered for jobs.

Of the jobs that do exist, many don't pay enough for even a single person to live on without government assistance. Forget about raising kids or supporting an unemployed spouse.

The blame for the jobs crisis belongs with the corrupt politicians and their corporate overlords. The Republicans are worse than the Democrats, but neither party represents the American people, as the American people don't fill their campaign coffers.

[cetj98168]

08:54 PM on 05/10/2012

I'm over 60, been out of work for 5 years. Have sent out thousands of resumes, had maybe a dozen interviews, gone to businesses in person looking for work, registered with numerous job search companies, still no job for me... :(

[JoblessInJersey]

05:13 PM on 05/10/2012

Why is any able bodied person in Texas without a job?

If Rick Perry as governor has a Magic Job Wand, why hasn't he used it?

If Rick Perry doesn't have a Magic Job Wand, then maybe he should look at why he has so many unemployed.

Also I believe Texas and another state come tied for state with the most workers making minimum wage. How far is $7.25 a hour going to go towards keeping a roof over one person's head, much less a family?

[MiddleMolly]

06:50 PM on 05/12/2012

I just saw a chart a couple of days ago comparing what minimum wage bought back in the 60's vs. what minimum wage buys now. You could actually feed and house yourself on minimum wage way back when. No so anymore. I will try to find that link.

[builder101]

02:07 PM on 05/10/2012

I live in Houston, Texas - Rick Perry has been on our states payroll for most of his adult live, yet some how he is a millionaire - Without inheriting a cent.

He may be the biggest fraud in Texas history. He needs to find a Real job him self and get off the Texas tax payers dole.

[SBTABfan]

11:57 AM on 05/10/2012

Well, at least it is a positive sign that Rick Perry feels Obama's stimulus plan was a success and that jobs are now abundant. He certainly can't say the jobs plan "was a failure" anymore if he's bragging about how there are lots of places to work now.

[pcwag33]

11:20 AM on 05/10/2012

The first step to getting a job is wanting one. That's the point.

[artgurrl]

02:39 AM on 05/12/2012

No, the real point is that people are looking for jobs but there aren't any that people qualify for. THAT'S the POINT.

[pcwag33]

09:53 AM on 05/12/2012

Sure. I'd pin the no jobs thing on Obama and his wasted/stolen bailout trillions. Texas has jobs if you want them, but they may not be your dream job. You qualify if you show up ready to work.

[PrincessAnnie]

11:18 AM on 05/10/2012

Oh Father/Mother God,

Please give Rick Perry and Paul LePage back what they send out many times over for their own good and betterment. I think they should experience unemployment for themselves. It's disconcerting to see Rick Perry break his silence after several blissful months of quiet here in the great state of TX. For us, 2014 isn't coming fast enough.

[Cindy Howell]

09:49 AM on 05/10/2012

You need to get a job too! Not living off the welfare tax roll! How dare you take these jobs and send them over seas and then tell someone to get off the couch when you guys put the 99ers their! YOU GET A JOB!

[Michael Charles]

09:36 AM on 05/10/2012

Sometimes getting a job isn't as easy as it looks. Surely Rick Perry knows about that first hand after his embarrassing defeat for the job of President. LOL

[Stanley Bonk]

08:40 AM on 05/10/2012

When thinking about the antics of all these Republican governors, there's a line from Shakespeare that comes to mind. I think it was from Othello. As I recall, it goes something like:
"Oh God! That Thould'st place in every honest hand a whip to lash such rascals naked through the world, even from th'east to the west!"

[chito bautista]

08:26 AM on 05/10/2012

This might be sage advice for the Tearrorists. Get off the couch and quit bellyaching about not having jobs and the economy. I got laid off in 2000, didn't complain about Bush. got further education (contrary to Santorum's advice) to make myself more marketable. I found a job as a systems engineer after 8 months with a salary that was more than I ever made in my life. I'm still getting all kinds of training to keep myself marketable. I just finished my Project Management Certification. Next I'm going study for an Information Security certification then re-certify as a CCNA. My advice to the Tearrists would be to train for a different career if there are no more openings for PLUMBERS (yeah, you, Joe).

[MiddleMolly]

06:54 PM on 05/12/2012

Just curious, but how old are you?

[chito bautista]

08:34 PM on 05/12/2012

I'm 57 and never finished college BUT I never stopped getting educated for my line of work whether it be self-study or certification training. I have a Top Secret, which federal contractors seek because when they bid on federal or military contract, it may require submitting a staffing plan with TS clearances and specific certifications. So, that, along with several IT certifications, I have managed to earn more than someone with a TS and a Master's Degree, according to ClearanceJobs.com latest salary survey. Not bad for someone who thought it was fine to just be a journeyman grocery clerk at Safeway. I did things to improve my life for my wife and later for my daughters also.

[Stanley Bonk]

08:23 AM on 05/10/2012

The arrogance of LePaige's comment is appalling and uncharitable. Why doesn't he just supply every unemployed person in his state with a fistful of pencils, a tin cup and a hearty slap on the back? What goes on in the minds of the people in these states that they put people such as these into their states executive mansions?

[Utopian Sky]

06:20 PM on 05/09/2012

Rick Perry and Paul LePage need to be unemployed.
NOW.

[Six Mill]

05:39 PM on 05/09/2012

I don't like this dude...but the message has to be constantly pounded. Not enough believers yet.