As Tennesseans Desperately Search For Work, Wamp Suggests Unemployed Are ‘Just Sitting Back Waiting’

[Joanne98]

This past Tuesday, Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN), who is also a leading candidate for the GOP nomination for governor, joined a conference call with the right-wing National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). When the subject of extending unemployment benefits arose, Wamp complained that giving people unemployment insurance was “creating a culture of dependence which we do not need.” He then said that he wants “people out there scraping and clawing and looking for work and not just sitting back waiting”:

Wamp <...> said small business, the NFIB and he as governor “must resist… any more mandates to small business to help the unemployed — that we have continued to extend on a federal level, I think, unemployment compensation so long that there’s disincentives for people to actually re-enter the workforce or go out and look for a job.

“And this is creating a culture of dependence which we do not need. We want people out there scraping and clawing and looking for work and not just sitting back waiting. And so we’ve got to not allow any more mandates.”

Of course, the promise of a meager unemployment check that provides barely enough support to get by does not have Tennesseans “just sitting back waiting,” and it is offensive for Wamp to paint all the unemployed with such a broad brush. Throughout the recession, people from across the Republican congressman’s state have desperately sought work, going to any lengths to get employed again

http://thinkprogress.org/2010/07/29/tennesseans-desperate-wamp-unemployed/

[Angry Dragon]

1. Perhaps he should give up his cushy government job

so he can scrap and claw.

[ck4829]

2. They are waiting for your friends in the NFIB to actually stop whining and start hiring

[mrcheerful]

3. Got to remember the cons have been repeating the tired old Reagan crap on

employment problems......pack your bags and move to where the jobs are because out west theirs golden job states where everyone has a job. Though they never exactualy say what state/s these jobs are in but hey it sounds good don't it?

[Blue Owl]

4. Maybe he and Ben Stein can souse up and wank each other off

seeing how they share a deep love of contempt for the unemployed and all.

[mgc1961]

5. Wamp is a prick.

I'm voting for one of his opponents in the Republican primary in an attempt to keep him away from the governors seat.

[Tsiyu]

6. He's really trying to alienate half the state

Hope that doesn't work for him.

Create some jobs, Wamp, you asswipe.


When I see his priviliged white ass "scratching and clawing" to do ANYTHING for the people of Tennessee, then he MIGHT have a leg to stand on.