Brilliant trolling on the floor of Congress
Rep. Luis Gutierrez Destroys Newt Gingrich's Repeated "Food Stamp President" Claim About President Obama [VIDEO]Representative Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) led the charge against former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich’s recent statements on President Obama being the “Food Stamp President.”
Armed with graphs and statistics, Gutierrez laid down the facts about the “Food Stamp President.” Yes, he added 18 million recipients to the program; Yes, he increased the cost of spending in the program by $19 billion; Yes, he increased the amount per benefit by $27.38; But no, he wasn’t Barack Obama. In fact, the “Food Stamp President” that Rep. Gutierrez was referring to was former Republican President George W. Bush.
-Below is the text of Representative Gutierrez’s presentation as it was prepared in advance of the presentation-
I have to admit that when Newt Gingrich first used the phrase “the food stamp President,” I was outraged.
But then I started looking at the facts. I did my homework. I crunched the numbers.
And, I have to admit, “Food Stamp President” might be on target.
I think we have to be willing to understand the numbers and speak the truth, even when that truth might hurt.
So I’ve come to the floor today with some facts and figures - all sourced, all backed up - because I know that Newt Gingrich wouldn’t have it any other way.
Let’s learn about the “Food Stamp President.” [SLIDE 1]
Here’s fact one.
It shows clearly that the Food Stamp President increased spending on food stamps by more than $19 billion. Let me repeat that: under the food stamp President, the U.S. increased its spending on food stamps by more than 19 billion - with a “b.” The source is the U.S. Department of Agriculture. [SLIDE 2]
Here’s fact two:
Under the Food Stamp President, the number of people using the program increased by almost 11 million people. The source is the U.S.D.A. [SLIDE 3]
Here’s fact three:
Even the amount of the benefit has increased under the Food Stamp President. The amount per benefit increased by $27.38.
Not much? Well how about this fact - the twenty-seven bucks increase per benefit is the largest increase that occurred under any President in the last 30 years.
The source is the U.S.D.A. [SLIDE 4]
Let’s review - and let’s agree, Republicans and Democrats together - that the numbers don’t lie.
Under the food stamp President:
Spending increased by more than 19 billion.
The number of people using the program increased by nearly 11 million.
And the amount of the benefit increased by a historic amount.
We may not like the facts - but sometimes the truth hurts. [SLIDE 5]
George W. Bush is the Food Stamp President.
Under Food Stamp President George Bush, we spent more money, had more recipients and gave each recipient more money for food.
I know some of you are saying: Luis, you’re not being fair! Aren’t there other food stamp Presidents?
Yes, you’re right. [SLIDE 6]
Under yet another food stamp President, spending increased by more than nine billion dollars, the number of recipients increased by almost seven million and the amount of benefit increased by almost seventeen dollars. [SLIDE 7]
George Herbert Walker Bush was also the Food Stamp President.
It runs in the family.
Food Stamp President senior and junior. It’s hereditary - a rampant family disease that makes them want to give food to poor people.
Now, I have a confession to make today.
I support the food stamp program.
I think SNAP - the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - to call it by its actual name and not something that Newt Gingrich thinks is politically punchy - serves an important purpose.
The purpose - largely - is to prevent children and old people from going hungry. About half of recipients are children. About ten percent are elderly.
SNAP doesn’t provide them with some fancy perk from an out of control, free-spending government. It provides poor kids and the elderly with food.
You cannot redeem food stamps at Tiffany’s, which may be another reason I guess Newt Gingrich thinks they are bad.
But I think keeping Americans from being hungry is good.
And while I’ve never done it before on the floor of this house, I want to thank George Bush, junior and senior, for supporting a program that keeps Americans from going to bed hungry at night.
And just in case I’m wrong - and if Newt Gingrich meant a “Food Stamp President” other than one named George Bush… Then I want to thank Barack Obama today as well, because he has also invested in SNAP. He’s invested in nutrition for America’s most vulnerable.
And here’s another fact for Newt Gingrich, just in case his “food stamp president” name-calling was designed to make a political point that he wasn’t quite so willing to come right out and say:
Of recipients whose race we know, 22 percent of SNAP recipients are Black. And 34 percent are white. Because hunger knows no race, or religion, or age or political party. Hunger is color-blind.
So today I say thank you to President Obama.
From now on, my nickname for you, President Obama, is “The ‘In America, kids shouldn’t be hungry’ President.”
Armed with graphs and statistics, Gutierrez laid down the facts about the “Food Stamp President.” Yes, he added 18 million recipients to the program; Yes, he increased the cost of spending in the program by $19 billion; Yes, he increased the amount per benefit by $27.38; But no, he wasn’t Barack Obama. In fact, the “Food Stamp President” that Rep. Gutierrez was referring to was former Republican President George W. Bush.
-Below is the text of Representative Gutierrez’s presentation as it was prepared in advance of the presentation-
I have to admit that when Newt Gingrich first used the phrase “the food stamp President,” I was outraged.
But then I started looking at the facts. I did my homework. I crunched the numbers.
And, I have to admit, “Food Stamp President” might be on target.
I think we have to be willing to understand the numbers and speak the truth, even when that truth might hurt.
So I’ve come to the floor today with some facts and figures - all sourced, all backed up - because I know that Newt Gingrich wouldn’t have it any other way.
Let’s learn about the “Food Stamp President.” [SLIDE 1]
Here’s fact one.
It shows clearly that the Food Stamp President increased spending on food stamps by more than $19 billion. Let me repeat that: under the food stamp President, the U.S. increased its spending on food stamps by more than 19 billion - with a “b.” The source is the U.S. Department of Agriculture. [SLIDE 2]
Here’s fact two:
Under the Food Stamp President, the number of people using the program increased by almost 11 million people. The source is the U.S.D.A. [SLIDE 3]
Here’s fact three:
Even the amount of the benefit has increased under the Food Stamp President. The amount per benefit increased by $27.38.
Not much? Well how about this fact - the twenty-seven bucks increase per benefit is the largest increase that occurred under any President in the last 30 years.
The source is the U.S.D.A. [SLIDE 4]
Let’s review - and let’s agree, Republicans and Democrats together - that the numbers don’t lie.
Under the food stamp President:
Spending increased by more than 19 billion.
The number of people using the program increased by nearly 11 million.
And the amount of the benefit increased by a historic amount.
We may not like the facts - but sometimes the truth hurts. [SLIDE 5]
George W. Bush is the Food Stamp President.
Under Food Stamp President George Bush, we spent more money, had more recipients and gave each recipient more money for food.
I know some of you are saying: Luis, you’re not being fair! Aren’t there other food stamp Presidents?
Yes, you’re right. [SLIDE 6]
Under yet another food stamp President, spending increased by more than nine billion dollars, the number of recipients increased by almost seven million and the amount of benefit increased by almost seventeen dollars. [SLIDE 7]
George Herbert Walker Bush was also the Food Stamp President.
It runs in the family.
Food Stamp President senior and junior. It’s hereditary - a rampant family disease that makes them want to give food to poor people.
Now, I have a confession to make today.
I support the food stamp program.
I think SNAP - the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program - to call it by its actual name and not something that Newt Gingrich thinks is politically punchy - serves an important purpose.
The purpose - largely - is to prevent children and old people from going hungry. About half of recipients are children. About ten percent are elderly.
SNAP doesn’t provide them with some fancy perk from an out of control, free-spending government. It provides poor kids and the elderly with food.
You cannot redeem food stamps at Tiffany’s, which may be another reason I guess Newt Gingrich thinks they are bad.
But I think keeping Americans from being hungry is good.
And while I’ve never done it before on the floor of this house, I want to thank George Bush, junior and senior, for supporting a program that keeps Americans from going to bed hungry at night.
And just in case I’m wrong - and if Newt Gingrich meant a “Food Stamp President” other than one named George Bush… Then I want to thank Barack Obama today as well, because he has also invested in SNAP. He’s invested in nutrition for America’s most vulnerable.
And here’s another fact for Newt Gingrich, just in case his “food stamp president” name-calling was designed to make a political point that he wasn’t quite so willing to come right out and say:
Of recipients whose race we know, 22 percent of SNAP recipients are Black. And 34 percent are white. Because hunger knows no race, or religion, or age or political party. Hunger is color-blind.
So today I say thank you to President Obama.
From now on, my nickname for you, President Obama, is “The ‘In America, kids shouldn’t be hungry’ President.”