Bizarre, Politics, Society

S.C. Lt. Governor Bauer Compares Poor People to Stray Cats

South Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer is being ridiculed for a recent speech where he appears to compare poor people to stray cats and connect having “ample food supply” to increasing welfare demand.

Here is the key quote:

“My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed. You’re facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don’t think too much further than that. And so what you’ve got to do is you’ve got to curtail that type of behavior. They don’t know any better.”

Perhaps his grandma should have also told him not to quote her on this one.

Almost sixty percent of kids in South Carolina participate in free or reduced cost lunches. Bauer insists that those free lunches appear to be driving down test scores:

“I can show you a bar graph where free and reduced lunch has the worst test scores in the state of South Carolina,” adding, “You show me the school that has the highest free and reduced lunch, and I’ll show you the worst test scores, folks. It’s there, period.” … “You go to a school where there’s an active participation of parents, and guess what? They have the highest test scores. So what do you do? You say, ‘Look folks, if you receive goods or services from the government and you don’t attend a parent-teacher conference, bam, you lose your benefits.’”

I just hope that he does not read this blog and see the availability of haggis in a can for lunchroom cafeterias, here.

By the way, have you noticed that the number of truly moronic statements goes up dramatically with the free availability of microphones. I can show you a bar graph where politicians near free mics have the worst ideas in any state.

For the story, click here and
here.

212 thoughts on “S.C. Lt. Governor Bauer Compares Poor People to Stray Cats”

  1. “Thanks for letting me know where you fall.”

    Gyges,

    I’m going to tell you the same thing I told AY. Please refrain from personal attacks. There is no need for it.

    You said “Well then I suggest you don’t give speeches at Town Hall meetings while running for office.

    I reserve the right to hold public figures speaking at a planned public event to a higher standard.”

    What’s good for the moose is good for the sandpaper. Or something like that.

  2. Duh,

    There’s a difference between saying something wrong and saying something that is wrong.

    Personally, I think the teleprompter thing is a great way to sort out the people rooting for their team from the people with philosophical differences. Because the people with philosophical differences generally admit that at least the last six Presidents on used a teleprompter, not to mention Johnny Carson and Lucille Ball.

    Thanks for letting me know where you fall.

  3. Byron:

    “1. lack of education
    2. lack of a work ethic
    3. low intelligence”

    I understand the point that you are trying to make but I think the numbers would look this way.3-1-2.
    Also how about:

    1.Lack of motovation
    2.Lack of Oppurtunity
    3.Low self esteem.
    As far as the Goverment is concerned I think a lot of people in those situations are forced to turn to the goverment.

    I have yet to me a’man or a woman” who dosen’t want to contribute to their and their familys own destiny,regadless of status.

  4. As the video above clearly demonstrates, no one is above saying the wrong thing. If you need fuel for your partisan fire, you’ll pick up the twigs.

  6. Swathmore Mom

    Obama is clearly highly intelligent.

    Thats what they keep tellin us. Sure would like to see his test scores though, GPA too for that matter.

  7. The comments left at the links provided by the Professor show extreme partisanship. Those left at “ThinkProgress” chastize the Lt. Governor, and those left at “AugustaChronicle” applaud the Lt. Governor for being honest.

    Is it a difference in the interpretation of the words?

  9. bdaman Obama is clearly highly intelligent. He was president of the Harvard Law Review. Did he benefit from a little affirmative action along the way? Probably. He was not boosted anywhere close to the amount that Bush was when he assumed his legacy at Yale.

  11. rcampbell:

    fortunately/unfortunately I will never evolve to the point where I think big government is a good which has the betterment of mankind as it’s moral imperative. A large government usurps individual freedom/rights. For whatever reason it appears, with historical examples, that is all it can do.

    And that is why I am a capitalist, capitalism and large government are inimical by nature. I see capitalism as a restraint on big government, it gives people the freedom to choose. Although what mostly ends up happening is government subverts capitalism and capitalists go crawling to government for protection from competition and like magic you have fascism. Or maybe the weak capitalists subvert government and you end up with fascism. I guess how you see it depends on your outlook, but actually the steamship competition which involved Vanderbilt and an Atlantic passage supports the subversion of government by weak capitalists.

    Vanderbilt competed against a line that was subsidized by government and won.

  12. Duh,

    Well then I suggest you don’t give speeches at Town Hall meetings while running for office.

    I reserve the right to hold public figures speaking at a planned public event to a higher standard. Call me an elitist.

  13. bdaman,

    Please stay on topic. One post, to bring attention to something that is notable, is not considered intrusive. Three posts, and you’re just stirring the pot.

    Obama uses a teleprompter very often. “Duh”

  17. Gyges,

    You’re right. It was a dumb statement. We all make them. Some do it while the camera is rolling. I’d hate to have everything I say disected by an unfriendly press.

  18. Swarthmore mom,

    I think the Head Start Program is a great idea that needs some fine tuning. Those from a “successful pack” would provide the best influence. Unfortunately, those are not the same people who volunteer most often. The desire to help, though honorable, is not enough to provide the best influence, and therefore, does not provide the desired result.

    I fully support Head Start. The problem is staffing it with the right people.

  19. Not true about Head Start. The studies I have read show early intervention for high risk children is effective.

  20. Byron

    I don’t agree with all of this more recent post (e.g. “…governmental policies that repress individual incentive…), but neither do I disagree with all of it. Perhaps you’ve evolved more than either of us has given you credit for.

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