In November, Republicans were apoplectic when they thought President Obama called Americans "a little bit lazy." In reality, the smear was absurd -- Obama had said U.S. policymakers have been "a little bit lazy" when it comes to attracting businesses to American soil, but for many on the right, who consider context irrelevant, the president was attacking the populace.
Looking back, it was an ironic attack -- generally, it's Republicans who argue that Americans are lazy. Mitt Romney, for example, has complained that Americans "have tended to avoid the hard work that overcoming challenges requires." House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Americans have a "culture of people just having no work ethic."
And now New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is warning against a nation filled with "a bunch of people sittin' on a couch waiting for their next government check."
"I've never seen a less optimistic time in my lifetime in this country and people wonder why," Christie said at the Bush Institute Conference on Taxes and Economic Growth, adding, "I think it's really simple: it's because government's now telling them 'stop dreaming, stop striving, we'll take care of you.' We're turning into a paternalistic entitlement society."
So, in Christie's mind, we're all lazy, but it's government's fault for making us this way.
I'm curious, does anyone have idea what in the world the governor is talking about?
Who are these government officials telling Americans to stop dreaming and stop striving? Where is this alleged agenda in which the government sends free money to lazy people? Who, exactly, is Christie complaining about?
It certainly isn't Democrats. I caught President Obama's speech in Florida yesterday, and he wasn't just presenting an optimistic vision, he was challenging Americans and their elected officials to aim high and do more.
This need not be a rhetorical question. Can Chris Christie name anyone, anywhere who wants to reward those "people sittin' on a couch waiting for their next government check"?
And can all of those Republicans who were outraged by the notion of Americans being lazy let us know if they found the governor's comments offensive?
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thirty years of republican treason is enough.
I'd sooner take criticism for laziness from a contestant on Dancing with the Stars than a future contestant on The Biggest Loser.
Steve, you of all people do not understand Christi speak? The govener was on his best behavior while fawning over GWB. What Christie is really saying is....
"Cause a dem woking clazz bums da country iz goin'down da tubes. Dey want tings like like dere entitled to um. When dey don even work. An dem unions. Pow! To da moon. Dere killin' us wit dem pensions. Talk about a baseball bat, hey. New Jersey's gonna pay fa dem tax breaks one way or da odda."
a lazy fat ass knows a lazy fat ass so maybe the llazy fat ass is right
The governor is working to become the new Reagan with tough rhetoric about entitlements by equating them with "welfare queens." A lot of Republicans are working the same angle, but it isn't going to sell when you have millions of people who are unemployed or underemployed. There are a lot of people who are receiving government assistance because they have no job or a job that does not pay a living wage. Christie has never set foot inside an unemployment office or welfare office and talked to the people seeking assistance. He needs to expand is horizons.
But Mike he has expanded his 'horizon' the one on his waistline.
Take your couch outside and listen to nature for hours. You'll discover that you'll want to lay on the soft grass for hours and listen to Mother Nature for she wants to communicate with you. You'll discover the value of caring for the Earth and her living beings.
then the gov will realize what he really needs is a decent bowel movement. that's all natural.
More blame damage from the republican goober. If people were just born rich they wouldn't have to work.
New game of Monopoly now starting...everyone turn in their holdings and cash. Who will roll first. (Not any worse than repub fantasy land of welfare Queens in the land of entitlements)
When are Democrats going to start calling out Republicans for the Fascists they really are?
Indeed! Watch the right-wing media call Democrats traitors and communists (Alan West) and Stalinists and everything else they think of and the Democrats sit back and take it. Millions of Americans actually believe that nonsense because they do not know what the words mean. Meanwhile Republicans are fascist in every way, if you know what the word means.
Even Romney called Obama a terrorist sympathizer. There is literally no limit to the despicable slime Republicans spew.
...and isn't he living in "government housing"?