Newt Gingrich Doubles Down, Says We Should Replace Janitors With Five Year Olds

[Galraedia]

Source: Addicting Info

On Thursday during a forum with business leaders in South Carolina, Newt Gingrich doubled down on his call to end child labor laws. During the forum, Gingrich called for replacing New York City janitors with five year old children.

After explaining that working would give children an “education in life,” Gingrich told the audience all about his plan to replace hard working adults with kids that are easily manipulated.


“So, if you took the cost of the New York City janitors, the most expensive janitors in New York are paid more than the highest paid teachers. The entry level janitor is paid twice as much as an entry level teacher. It’s all because of the union. So, I say let’s keep two janitors who are adults who are professional. They do all the heavy stuff and the dangerous stuff. And let’s take all the other jobs and divide them up into part-time kids.”

Read more: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2011/12/09/newt-gingrich-doubles-down-says-we-should-replace-janitors-with-five-year-olds/

[limpyhobbler]

1. Hey Newt, Micro-manage much?

Telling a local school district how to get the toilets cleaned? Not the job you're applying for buddy. Butt out of our schools. thanks.

[Old and In the Way]

7. Newt is a nanny extrodinaire. He wants to reinvent our society in his own image

where government works for a small class of people, like Newt Gingrich, and doesn't work at all for everyone else.

[roguevalley]

22. i could punch his face for a month.

[mikekohr]

57. It's a big, puffy target, easy to hit and easy on your knuckles

[northoftheborder]

49. Newt of Tiffany: priceless label

What a turd.:grr: :thumbsdown: :banghead: :rant:

[FarLeftFist]

2. Newt, it takes ALOT more than 2 adults and some 5 yr olds to clean and sanitize 40 classrooms DAILY.

[SteelCityDem]

3. Holy shit I was expecting this to be from the Onion nt

[robbob]

33. the really sad thing....

try to find even ONE media outlet that will convey in even the smallest degree how totally INSANE the GOP hopefuls have been, and continue to be in this latest election cycle.

[donquijoterocket]

60. the onion

and a lot of the rest of us have run full speed into the operation of Poe's Law.
Poe's law condensed version: Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that SOMEONE won't mistake for the real thing.
Poe's Law slightly expanded version: Similar to Murphy's Law, Poe's Law concerns internet debates, particularly regarding religion or politics.

"Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that SOMEONE won't mistake for the real thing."

In other words, No matter how bizarre, outrageous, or just plain idiotic a parody of a Fundamentalist may seem, there will always be someone who cannot tell that it is a parody, having seen similar REAL ideas from real religious/political Fundamentalists.
Good satire and parody have always been difficult and required lots of talent but they're even more difficult when your intended target is so unconsciously gifted at self-parody.
Among other things this accounts for the high number of mis calibrated snark and BS meters.It's just so hard to tell when they're earnest and deadly serious and in some cases I mean literally deadly.
I won't often say this but I think the Newt is among those whom the world and universe would be much better without.

[24601]

4. Unrec for piss-poor reporting. Network news carried the interview

and it's not even close.

[creeksneakers2]

8. It sounds unbelievable

Stories like these deserve more scrutiny before they are believed.

[The Genealogist]

14. What did you hear?

I guess I missed this on the news this evening.

[uncle ray]

28. feel free to set the record straight.

[muriel_volestrangler]

51. It wasn't an 'interview'; it was a 'forum with business leaders in South Carolina'

so maybe you saw something else. There's not much reporting of a business forum in SC on Thursday in the media; I suggest it was this one:

Newt Gingrich referenced credit cards, the Wright brothers, UPS package services and Abraham Lincoln on Thursday in Greenville, but somehow threaded those elements together for a common theme — that he, not President Barack Obama, can create a "world that works."

Gingrich, whose rise in both national and South Carolina polls has only escalated in recent weeks, was introduced by Greenville Mayor Knox White at the Global Trading Consortium near Laurens Road and Interstate 85 in Greenville.

http://easley.patch.com/articles/harnessing-power-as-frontrunner-gingrich-calls-for-broader-coalition

[Raine1967]

53. here is the video:

http://videocafe.crooksandliars.com/david/gingrich-5-year-olds-working-education-life

Not piss poor reporting at all. this is indeed what he is advocating.

[Frances]

72. Thanks for the link

Newt was speaking to a South Carolina audience in this video clip when he talked about kids earning money. The first example was of a man paying his son to wash the car and other chores so he could save up to buy a toy. Then Newt said that in New York there are a lot of kids from broken homes with no role model to learn how to work (I have lots of white relatives in South Carolina and I can guarantee you that these relatives are thinking BLACK kids). So, what the white South Carolina audience is hearing is that white parents teach their kids financial responsibility by paying them to do household chores, but black parents do not. Therefore, if the government pays black kids to work as janitors, the government will just be doing what black parents should have done.

Newt is appealing to racism.

Reagan won over white racist voters by talking about welfare queens riding in Cadillacs. Newt is doing the same thing with his example.

By the way, does anyone remember how speaker of the house Newt suggested that orphanages are a good thing?

[bluestateguy]

5. Obviously this idea is complete bullshit

But never mind that.

I thought conservatives favored local control of schools and no busybody meddling from Washington. Why are the custodial policies of public schools a concern for the president of the United States?

[TheDebbieDee]

10. Newt knows that he can get lots of (free) attention by saying

outrageous things.........I'm sure he learned it from Rush Limbaugh.

Newt is obviously trolling - don't feed him.

[cottage10]

43. This is why Newt is bad news for the GOP

This is the undisciplined Newt coming out, feeding red meat to the base but revolting everyone else. Newt will get a lot of attention for this, but it will point out how unelectable he is in the general election. My prediction--this statement is the beginning of Newt's decline in the polls, Ron Paul will win in Iowa and Romney in NH. Newt will go back to single-digits in the polls (and no money in his coffers).

[Journeyman]

6. Me? I avoid pissing off the people who clean the places where I eat . . .

[Moonwalk]

9. Certainly would make for interesting kindergarden classes....

A is for "ammonia," B is for "Bleach," which should never be mixed with ammonia....

Now I'm wondering what else they'd teach :eyes:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. I love addicting info!

:loveya:

[Bryn]

12. Good Luck with that, Newt

Your waiters, cooks, janitors are going to spit in your food in restaurants.

[SoapBox]

13. The guy is sick...and, what is this obsession with kids?

Hey Newty Pervo...you are REALLY creep'n me out...even more than usual.

Leave the kids alone...is it the Catholic in you or what? Projecting Sandusky??

LEAVE...THE...KIDS...ALONE!

[olegramps]

38. Now I know the reason that he converted to Catholicism!!!!

[JEB]

15. I'm sure a 5 year old

could do a masterful job of replacing Newt. Any 5 year old would bring more honest and natural compassion than Newt has.

[defendandprotect]

16. We should tell "Newt of Tiffany" that Senators/Reps should be cleaning Congress -- !!!

and that he should be cleaning toilet bowls as penance for what he's

done to the nation!!


:puke:

[SoapBox]

24. Hilarious...

Sir Newt of Tiffany.

:rofl:

[Oldtimeralso]

30. And all this time...

I thought is Lord Newt, Duke of Tiffany, Defender of Divorce, and Count of Cheaters!

[liberal from boston]

64. "Newt of Tiffany"

Loved your post defendandprotect!!!! 

[DissedByBush]

17. Child labor laws don't cover just working

They also cover working in hazardous environments and with hazardous materials.

Janitors must work with possibly contaminated bodily fluids and dangerous cleaning materials every day.

There is no way in hell a child should be allowed to be a school janitor.

Gingrich obviously didn't think this through. But then that meme characterizes his career anyway.

Personally I want an exception. My daughter wants to work in a coffee house desperately because she loves everything about it, but she can't for two years because of the labor laws. Poor girl.

[libodem]

18. Are the janitors not insulted?

Shit oh dear. Do they just sign up for unemployment? How many millions more will be out of work? Newt needs a real job. Stupid fuckwitz.

[PatSeg]

46. I was thinking the same thing

and was surprised no one on television brought up the janitors. Not only is Newt's plan abusive to children, it would put janitors out of work. What about their children?

His attitude is demeaning to the people who do this work, which is about a lot more than mopping floors and cleaning bathrooms.

[AlbertCat]

56. Are the janitors not insulted?

Really! A janitor does work no one wants to do. It ain't easy and it is labor intensive and dirty. They should get paid a lot for cleaning up our foul messes.

Newty thinks "janitor" is a skilless, easy job. That's because Newty has never cleaned up after himself in his entire life. He's looking down from his lofty heights on the lowly scullery maids.

In his megalomaniac fantasy world all his ideas are genius.... even though they have zilch to do with reality. He'll be a great prez! :crazy: :eyes:

[Sanity Claws]

59. All working people should be insulted

It shows Newt's utter contempt for people who do physical labor. Let him do it for a month and see how he survives.

[Lugnut]

19. WTF is wrong with this ass carrot?

Does he even listen to the shit he says? :grr:

[nxylas]

77. Megalomania

At least according to this article:

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/the_big_idea/2011/12/is_newt_gingrich_nuts_consider_the_symptoms_.html

(Edit: the slide show of Newt's doodles, which look like the work of a psychiatric patient, is particularly illuminating).

[Kablooie]

20. Ladies and Gentlemen, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! YEAH!

[AllyCat]

21. How come he only wants them to be janitors? I'd like to elect a 5 year old

to do your job Newt. They would show greater compassion and work ethic than you do.

[Hugabear]

23. Hyperbole, but there is a nugget of truth - rethugs do not like labor laws!

If given the chance, they would repeal just about every single labor law in existence. You might not see 5yr old kids working as janitors, but you sure as shit would see 13- and 14-yr old children working in dangerous factory jobs.

[Initech]

25. Gingrich is the biggest piece of shit in a party full of turds.

[Plucketeer]

62. Speaking of turds and toilet bowls....

It's occurred to me that Newt's mane is the same shade as our toilet brush! I say we save on toilet brushes for the House and just use Newts head and some Tidy Bowl!

Or - or - or.... how's about we arrange for some 6 year old to dress in janitors togs and have him emerge from one of the two bathrooms at Newts next hotel stop? Gotta be a kid with dark complexion. After all, it was NEwt who alluded to poor neighborhoods as the spawing grounds of janitorial careers. Rehearse the kid so's he sounds like one of those subservients of the step-n-fetchit movies of the '30s : "Yassir mistuh Ging-rich. Dat batrooms shinin' like a new silvuh dollah. Purfict fo yo impo'tant, lily white backside!"

Think Newt'd flip the kid a quarter??? I doubt it.

[Booster]

69. Newt's head wouldn't fit in a toilet bowl.

[Plucketeer]

76. I'll bet we could make it fit

But I'll also bet we'd agree he was "birthed" into one. :rofl:

[burrowowl]

26. % years wielding

heavy mops and buckets, dealing with caustic cleaning fluids at the proper portions, able to check out boilers, etc,!
Newt is an IDIOT!

[saras]

27. Next: Newt wants bullies to clean toilets with hair of weak students

[JDPriestly]

29. So, what are the kids supposed to do in their janitorial roles?

Move furniture?

You can get a work permit at 14 already. Don't need to change the child labor laws for that.

And most kids aren't big enough or strong enough to be of much use as school janitors before age 14.

Newt is a bloviating fool just like he was when he was in Congress.

Kids already help out in the classroom -- for free. Clean bulletin boards? Kids and teachers do that. Distribute books? Kids and teachers do that.

Janitors in schools do the jobs that take strength or judgment or an understanding of safety procedures.

I can't think of any task that school janitors do that a kid under 14 could do efficiently enough to be of use.

[DRoseDARs]

31. DRoseDARs Doubles Down, Says We Should Replace Newt Gingrich With Five Year Olds

America can save millions of dollars a year by having a group of small children dribble complete nonsense at Newt Gingrich book signings, campaign stops, and speaking engagements.

[TomClash]

32. It's the perfect thought for the season

"Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?"

Newt Scrouge.

[PuffedMica]

34. What a freak show these Republican candidates are

Palin, Paul, Perry are all caustic mental cases.

I can't wait to get past the election and turn off the horror show.

[HowHeThinks]

35. Yet another...........

Republican who's too stupid to be President. :+

Do they have special right-wing farms where they raise these idiots from birth? I know they appeal to the typical education hating right-winger, but COME ON!

There's not a doubt in my mind that Newt will get his dick caught in a big wringer before the Republican primary. THEN who will the low information GOP voters move to the head of the special-ed class of Republican nominees? :shrug: They're running out of "front runners".

[blkmusclmachine]

36. "Christian" Dominionism.

Look it up. 'Nuff said.

[Hotler]

39. +1 n/t

[Citizen Worker]

37. It strikes me that this pudgy hush puppy is saying that janitors have the intellect of a five year

old. What a despicable puke!

[Mosaic]

40. Hey loser!

Newt "The Fascist" Gingrick you know where you and your evil grin can go, straight to hell!

[radhika]

41. Newt is milking this meme for all the sensational coverage he can

His base loves that he's pulling the chain of the 'librul press'.

Stop giving him all this attention!!

[dotymed]

42. I am surprised that he didn't include the "overpaid" Union

teachers as janitors. They could use their education to at least oversee (no extra money of course) the 5 year olds while they are performing their duties. No worries, they are privatizing "public education" so that there will be no Union teachers, only profiteering, well connected, owners of schools making big bucks. This child janitor answer will greatly improve their bottom line.

Seriously, how do we allow the MSM to pick these "candidates?" If you cannot produce million$ to show that you are a "serious" candidate, you have no hope of being a candidate.

We must publicly finance elections.

Go OWS!

[sulphurdunn]

44. In a just society, Newt

would have performing janitorial duties in a federal prison years ago.

[Faygo Kid]

45. Have them scrub the floors at Tiffany's, too.

Helps keep costs down for those with a $500,000 line of credit there like Newt.

[athenasatanjesus]

47. We should replace republicans with 5 year old.

Better policies,more responsible for their own mistakes,and more reasonable debaters.

[SaintPete]

48. Wait...what? This isn't from The Onion?

this is real?

wrapping brain around the pain....can't ...do...it...

[cherish44]

52. My thoughts exactly!

nt

[zogofzorkon]

66. Inspired by a Dilbert strip. Newt does'nt understand it was black humor.

http://dilbert.com/strips/comic/1993-05-29/" title="Dilbert.com"><img src="http://dilbert.com" border="0" alt="Dilbert.com" /></a>

[Thav]

50. To hell with that

when they're old enough to CRAWL they're old enough to pull coal carts. When they can stand up, they can load the coal carts. Until then they're just FREELOADERS on society, and they interfere with profit.

Newt is more proof that republicans only care about children before they're born, and after they're 18. I guess they're now trying to figure out how to exploit them more between those ages.

[Doc Holliday]

54. I must have missed something...

I didn't see any reference to five year-olds anywhere in the remarks quoted. :shrug:

Stipulated-- what Newt is proposing is ridiculous...but so is a lot of exaggerated hyperbole about it. It's like "death panels." :puke:

I'd welcome being corrected if I did, in fact, miss something. :dunce:


At least Newt is apparently enjoying his turn at the wheel of the clown car. :party:

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

55. Let's have 5 year olds sell hedge funds

I think they'd do a more honest day's work than the parasites we now have who are bleeding the world dry.

[mikekohr]

58. 5 Year olds have morals and are uncorrupted. They are unqualified to sell hedge funds.

[truthisfreedom]

61. Root for Newt!

What an easy target! What an easy win!

[NewJeffCT]

63. When I saw the headline, I thought for sure it was The Onion

how sad & pathetic that it's not.

[Quixote1818]

65. A lot of Custodians are also Maintenance workers. Can Five year olds do electrical work? nt

[krucial]

67. Going to the Dogs

When Americans view Low lives like Gingrich of Worthy has being President of America,it shows that America has really gone to the Dogs,and sinking even lower than ever day by day

[Dutchmaster]

68. Newt just want's out of the race. he has never been a serious candidate.

He is a professional candidate. He's made his money, now he just want's to disappear. Statements like this should help him, but apparently newt forgot that the party he remade in his image has gone even more insane, and they really want to do this kind of shit.

[classof56]

70. Awesome idea, Newt! Now if you could just find a job for my teenage grandsons...

And their unemployed father, you'd have my vote!

:sarcasm:

Geez, what a blithering idiot...and there are those who say he's smart? God help us all!

[begin_within]

71. A five-year-old could do Newt's job, whatever that is.

[SoapBox]

73. I really am thinking that this perv would be into child abuse...

This whole thing is just WEIRD...and kinda sicko.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

74. Two birds, one stone. Put more people out of work and abuse young children.

I actually think he's now trying to throw this thing just like Brother Cain.

[ThoughtCriminal]

75. Making a case for teacher unions

Republicans just want to pay EVERYONE else less. It's why they exist.

[WhatsNext]

78. Newt, have you heard that kids are at risk these days?

Priests, Sanduski, and NAMBLA

Most children are abused by someone they know and trust, although boys are more likely than girls to be abused outside of the family.2,5 A study in three states found 96 percent of reported rape survivors under age 12 knew the attacker.
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=410&Itemid=336

Kids alone after school with unsupervised adults. And the aftermath of the first "issue" will be

Gee, who could have foreseen?

[greiner3]

79. I unreced this;

Because the OP's claim seemed too outrageous. I checked news for this item and there are no listings for this EXCEPT the source, DU boards and other liberal media sites. Not to take away from the above but it seems as though somenoe is pulling an early April fools joke on us. Be careful!

[wakemewhenitsover]

80. It seems that there is unnecessary distortion; the truth is bad enough.

Rawstory posts a video of the event: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/08/gingrich-5-year-olds-working-is-an-education-in-life/

After enduring the agony of listening to Newt's distortions regarding Social Security (also on the tape), and inanities regarding child labor (a simultaneous assault on labor unions), I believe that the headline from the OP's link (addictinginfo) is not accurate. Newt discusses 5- and 6-year-old kids doing chores for relatives for money: not the same as recommending they replace janitors. The truth, that he recommends that kids replace janitors, is bad enough.

Furthermore, I believe Newt's "facts" on janitors in New York are wrong. The information I located indicates that the mean annual income of New York janitors is $28,100, whereas but the average starting salary of New York teachers is $37,321.

In conclusion, Newt is a major-league schmuck.

[blackspade]

81. A breath-taking endorsment of child abuse.

What an asshole.

[No Elephants]

82. One of an infinite number of reasons Newt should never have any power.

Regressive is nowhere near strong enough a word for him, but I can't think of one more apt right now.

Bolding leading America into the uglier parts of its past.

[ElMuertoMonkey]

83. Gingrich cannot grasp he's out of touch

Gingrich cannot grasp he's out of touch with the main stream. Which GOP canidate is crazier? Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry, Herman Cain or Ron Paul , Gingrich ??