Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Mr. Scorpio
Mr. Scorpio's Journal
Mr. Scorpio's Journal
October 1, 2015
Halloween is coming #2…
October 1, 2015
Halloween is coming…
September 28, 2015
Why Jeb Bush’s ‘free stuff’ argument about black voters is so off-the-mark
By Philip Bump September 25
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush made a weird comment during a town hall meeting in South Carolina on Thursday night. Responding to a question about how the Republican Party could win black votes, Bush said that "[o]ur message is one of hope and aspiration. It isn't one of division and get in line and we'll take care of you with free stuff."
The comment was odd in part because it echoed remarks made by Mitt Romney in 2012 that prompted a strong backlash. It's similar to Romney's famous "47 percent" remarks, but also, as our Sean Sullivan notes, is precisely the language Romney used at a separate fundraising event that year. Even if Bush thinks that the Democrats win votes by giving "free stuff" to black voters, it's not a smart thing to say.
But he also shouldn't think that, because there's no evidence that it's true.
1. More whites than blacks receive food stamps
It's not clear what "free stuff" Bush was referring to, but it's safe to assume that food stamps, properly known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is one of them. According to 2012 data, the plurality of SNAP households are white.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/09/25/why-jeb-bushs-free-stuff-argument-about-black-voters-is-so-off-the-mark/
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush made a weird comment during a town hall meeting in South Carolina on Thursday night. Responding to a question about how the Republican Party could win black votes, Bush said that "[o]ur message is one of hope and aspiration. It isn't one of division and get in line and we'll take care of you with free stuff."
The comment was odd in part because it echoed remarks made by Mitt Romney in 2012 that prompted a strong backlash. It's similar to Romney's famous "47 percent" remarks, but also, as our Sean Sullivan notes, is precisely the language Romney used at a separate fundraising event that year. Even if Bush thinks that the Democrats win votes by giving "free stuff" to black voters, it's not a smart thing to say.
But he also shouldn't think that, because there's no evidence that it's true.
1. More whites than blacks receive food stamps
It's not clear what "free stuff" Bush was referring to, but it's safe to assume that food stamps, properly known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), is one of them. According to 2012 data, the plurality of SNAP households are white.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/09/25/why-jeb-bushs-free-stuff-argument-about-black-voters-is-so-off-the-mark/
September 28, 2015
24 Questions Black People Have For White People
September 28, 2015
Edit: The Simpson episode is NOT from 2000, it's recent: http://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/Trumptastic_Voyage
Oh well, it was good while it lasted.
Once again, The Simpsons predicted the future…
Edit: The Simpson episode is NOT from 2000, it's recent: http://simpsonswiki.com/wiki/Trumptastic_Voyage
Oh well, it was good while it lasted.
September 27, 2015
10 CC - I'm Not In Love
September 27, 2015
America - Tin Man
September 27, 2015
Cream - Sunshine of Your Love
Profile Information
Member since: 2002Number of posts: 73,631