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Mary Anne Marsh, Democratic strategist, and Brad Blakeman, former Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush, weigh in on if the government is pushi...
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Is never heard the government's campaign is working so well that one in every seven people are on the public dole can you believe that out.
But should the government be trying so hard to get people on food stamps rather than food stamps let's bring in just.
Strategist Julius -- Mary and marsh and former deputy assistant to president George W.
Bush Brad Blake -- -- hot you not to let you go first because I am you know still recovering.
From that radioactive what is not all of that and you why why -- -- trying to encourage more people to go on its -- Well look in tough.
Times people need that kind of assistance it's sad to hear that that -- people are using it.
-- be a surprise so.
It's like buying insurance you buy home insurance auto insurance you pay for all those things you hope you never need it but when -- -- you're glad you haven't the same -- in this case with a tough economy and food stamps.
Brad -- eat you know what any good insurance is always insurance.
-- I would point have been nearly five million dollars in cash benefits in California.
That were spent -- withdrawals from ATMs and casinos and poker rooms I mean there's cases in South Carolina and where one man and his son used four million dollars and food stamps to buy cigarettes I don't even know how that's possible it is just look at decades.
I mean -- it's rife with abuse I think this is a problem when -- I think you're actually right when 17 Americans aren't are on food stamps and encouraged by the government.
This is part of the Obama plan of cradle to grave government intrusion in our lives whether it's Obama care whether it's now taking the work component out of welfare.
-- now encouraging people to take a benefit they may not need or want.
This is -- this is a real national tragedy.
And certainly we can't be better off today than we were four years ago if we doubled the amount of people.
On food stamps and you know I would say god help you Maryann but unfortunately -- -- -- the platform.
Period that would be thinks it feels like we're extending it beyond people who actually when you talk about feeding children obviously this is something that everyone wants to do.
But we're extending it to people it feels like.
Who may or may not need it and some say that it's like buying votes do you disagree with our.
-- we're trying to make sure that people who do need these services get these services -- nearly half of the recipients of food stamps -- kids.
I think that's probably pretty tough to hard to argue against -- 10% of them are elderly and that's tough to -- to and the fact is people are getting -- -- for the first time.
Are -- them in ten months so the reality is we're still in one of the worst economies we've had.
We're giving assistance to people when they needed this is gonna end as the economy turns.
Fewer people we -- stance that they care when the economy's good and they seem to get more people on it when the economy is bad.
That's no surprise to anybody but -- adding when you listen to that at the implication is that this elderly woman is thinner and more fit -- plus better.
Because she's using food stamps and it I don't know what is that -- -- how is that -- top level what are what in the world are they talking about.
If you could use is seeing is believing they're trying to make it fashionable.
To be on food stamps.
It's not it's not as if it's an emergency or -- safety net.
That god forbid you go hungry in this country we shouldn't be having that by other hand we shouldn't be having the government being a pusher.
If you will a government benefits to people who may not need that kind of help.
-- last -- to you before we go.
But the fact is there a lot of people who are getting this kind of assistance for the first time they don't know it exists there and tough times better to help them now because it would cost more later -- Okay thanks to both of you for coming -- quickly --
