To his supporters, Newt Gingrich is the voice of angry America, lashing out at President Obama and the American "left" for trying to stop the Republicans conservative agenda. To his detractors, Gingrich is, what the late Gorilla Monsoon used to say, a "fountain of misinformation." One of the reasons why Gingrich has been so effective is that he isn't always completely dishonest. Gingrich takes a point that he wants to make, twist the facts around to fit his ideology, and at the same time uses it against his opponent.
One of the biggest statements that Newt Gingrich has made lately is the one involving President Obama and food stamps. Newt Gingrich has stated that President Obama is the greatest "Food Stamp president" in US history and uses this claim during debates, speeches and interviews. The problem with Newt's claim is that it technically isn't true. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, under President Bush, 14.7 million Americans joined the food stamp program. For Gingrich to state that President Obama has been the president that is responsible for the most new food stamp recipients is wrong.
Now, Newt's claim isn't 100% false either. According to the same report from the Department of Agriculture, it was noted that under President Bush, 14.7 million Americans joined the food stamp program compared to the 14.2 million that have joined under the Obama administration. The facts are just that, facts. The numbers are 100% true, but they are misleading. The number gathered together under Bush was over an eight year period, compared to only three years under President Obama. Those who want to validate the Gingrich claim that President Obama is the greatest "food stamp president" can't do so when the facts are right in front of them. However, those that don't want to put any blame on President Obama can't do that either because the numbers don't lie whether they are used on the left of the right. In his defense, President Obama inherited a mess that no other president has had to deal with since possibly President Franklin Roosevelt when he took office in 1933. Last month the number of food stamps actually declined bringing the number down.
President Obama has improved the country in many ways, 22 straight months of private sector job growth, an unemployment rate that is falling and a housing market that is improving. Food stamps are needed throughout the country because not everyone in America is fortunate enough to live a fortunate life. President Obama is far from perfect and has not done everything many people wanted him to do, but to simply place the blame on him for this issue and many others is not fair or accurate. However, to let President Obama take no responsibility is just as inaccurate because he is the president of the United States. President Bush, following the model of former President Ronald Reagan and supply side economics, set the United States up for an economic falilure and it will take more than a few years to turn things around completely. There are many places you can point your finger and place blame, but to blame President Obama like Newt Gingrich has is wrong and is playing to the party line. As the economy moves in the right direction, we can only hope that the number of those in or around the poverty level drops because it's good for the country, not a party.
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