A popular conservative talking point that is sure garnering attention is the belief of the poor being essentially, lazy. The unemployed being a product of the greatest "food stamp" President of all time. The fact that Occupy WS is relevant is because people are just whining and not pursuing.
All of this is gaining popularity and is attempting, amongst other things, to make the liberals look like the ones who are the problem. That the view of progressivism is essentially European and thus awful.
But then Newt Gingrich, as he is apt to doing quite often, opened his mouth and vile came out.
Usually I like to do a little series I created called "Sparknotes of Insanity" which I try to type up as humorous recap of the GOP race. I am huge into polling so I like to guess what happens next. I'm still rooting for someone to give Mitt Romney a small hurdle to clear.
But I am no longer rooting for Newt Gingrich as I can't openly do this.
Newt Gingrich, in the midst of a small back-and-forth with debate moderator Juan Williams, brought up how he thinks children should be janitors as it would be cheaper and instill work ethic amongst our youth.
Besides the fact that he's essentially agreeing to forcing children in labor, this comment hurt me hard.
My father worked as a service director for a local Pontiac-GMC dealership in South Jersey for over 20 years. It was awesomely convenient for us as it was literally two blocks away from our suburban house and he got off work in time for dinner.
It might not have been a six-figure job but we lived comfortably. I was able to be somewhat spoiled as a child and have the latest Phillies jersey that I would want for Christmas. I could get the new Louisville Slugger baseball bat or the new pair of track spikes later on.
Then the economy started not looking so good and Pontiac dealerships were hit hard (with the brand discontinuing even). The dealership made it through the beginning but it was getting clear that money had to be getting tight. Nonetheless, we made it through a few months until one November day when I was informed that my Dad would be unemployed starting in early May.
For someone like me, who constantly worries about major things, this was scary. We still, thankfully unlike others (hint: Bain Capital), had room to prepare for the future which would see me choose a college that I was freaking out I wouldn't be able to attend.
When the dealership finally closed for good, my Dad was lucky to have a contact in Central Jersey that scooped him up right away for the same title. "Awesome!" we thought though my Dad would be home slightly later, it was a job which no one had.
By the end of the summer however, the owner of the dealership had to cut ties with some of the newer workers to save money. My Dad was again a victim.
But my Dad always had contacts and was able to land a job with a local maintenance company which was less paying but a job still. However, my Dad is a janitor with odd hours now. He usually starts work after 5pm and is back by 2-3am. It isn't easy but we are still living quite OK and better than others who were in worse situations.
However, it's sad seeing my Dad have to work the next AM at 8 or 9 without getting a dinner in him nor a decent night's sleep all the time.
I'm lucky to have a Dad like mine but when I see Newt Gingrich's comments, I interpret it as an attack on us. The suburban family trying to save money to continue to live. I see Mr. Gingrich as someone who is calling jobs such as the one's my father and his co-workers have as easily replaceable.
It's quite funny these comments when seen through a twisted viewpoint. This GOP is trying to paint Mitt Romney, correctly I might add, as an elitist who doesn't know anything about jobs. Yet, Mr. Gingrich, who is all for people "making their own way" wants to get rid of those jobs to poor children who might have parents who can't work so in a weird osmosis way, will be lazy.
Mr. Gingrich, you got your applause and you might have a chance to win South Carolina for your own vanity. However, you are picking the wrong fight when it comes to the general election or the candidacy of the person you support. You are showing that jobs aren't a thing to be happy about, but a thing to be replaced. Not everyone will advance at their job, no matter how much they want to, but they still have a job.
In your view however, those people don't matter. The common folk, contrary to your talking points, are easily thrown away.
I might be wrong with the way I interpreted your comments, but I assure you that you aren't as down-to-Earth as you may think you are. You might not have the "pious baloney" as your chief rival, but you are certainly full of it.
EDIT: Thank you all for your comments and recs and such. Great community we have here and everyone makes it that way.