HuffPost's Alex Wagner spoke with Cenk Uygur Wednesday night on MSNBC to discuss claims about the economy made by Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio).
Countering Boehner's argument that the stimulus package hurt the economy rather than helped it, Wagner said, "private business is actually doing pretty well in some sectors, you look at the Fortune 500 list that came out last week. You know, the top 500 companies in America saw a soaring 81% increase in profits. I mean, it's the largest profit increase since the index was created."
Wagner also addressed recent comments from some Catholic academics stating that Boehner's "record in support of legislation to address the desperate needs of the poor is among the worst in Congress." Wagner explained, "I think what we're seeing is this argument that the White House has long wanted, which is a fundamental sort of debate about the compact that the government should and can have with the American public." She continued, "it's this idea of should the government be accountable to the poor, and the uninsured, and those that are at a disadvantage in society. And I think you're beginning to see some real blowback from certain corners with regards to the GOP's policies on some of this stuff."
She concluded, "I think that there is a larger argument here, and one that both sides are going to have to address: what is the role of government in public life?"
WATCH (via MSNBC):
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