Posted on 02/08/2005 1:15:37 PM PST by Hand em their arse
Last Friday when promoting social security reform with 'regular' citizens in Omaha, Nebraska, President Bush walked into an awkward unscripted moment in which he stated that carrying three jobs at a time is 'uniquely American.'
While talking with audience participants, the president met Mary Mornin, a woman in her late fifties who told the president she was a divorced mother of three, including a 'mentally challenged' son.
The President comforted Mornin on the security of social security stating that 'the promises made will be kept by the government.'
But without prompting Mornin began to elaborate on her life circumstances.
Begin transcript:
MS. MORNIN: That's good, because I work three jobs and I feel like I contribute.
THE PRESIDENT: You work three jobs?
MS. MORNIN: Three jobs, yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that. (Applause.) Get any sleep? (Laughter.)
Developing...
Filed By Matt Drudge...
The conservative spin is that
1) it is great that there are 3 jobs for you to work, in other countries, sometimes there is not even 1.
2) would you still be willing to work that much if we increased your taxes ?
3) it is great that you don't have to use mass transit to get to work (no way in hell does someone work 3 jobs by taking mass transit because it takes a lot longer by bus than by car)
With the baby on the airplane?
You can tell how many girlfriends a cop has by the number of jobs he has. Somebody told me that once.
Kinda hard to find moonlight jobs with all the illegals, Mr. President.
I've worked one job, though for several years I worked over 3000 hours a year at those jobs. It happens, and on balance I think it is 'uniquely american.'
That being said, I'm sure editors and producers are giddy over the quote...
That's a good point, and is why the Pres sometimes sounds so damn milquetoast when we all know he isn't. But it seems like as he's grown into the job he's learned how the world hangs on every word he utters into a microphone, trying to screw him on it.
I'm kind of proud of the fact that we work our butts off compared to the Europeons.
The Daily Show did a great correspondent bit on multiple jobs, making fun of liberals (yes, they poked at the Dims on the Daily Show.)
They featured this lunchlady who had won the lottery and still kept her job as a lunchlady and her weekend job (whatever it was), and the correspondent was (sarcastically) lambasting her: "You should be ashamed of yourself! You just won the lottery and you're preventing two people from having jobs in this horrible economy. Two families are starving because you're a job-grubber."
It basically summed up how the Dims feel.
That was a great bit and exactly what I thought of when I first read this...shame on me.
TOTAL AGREEMENT!
Let's all relax. Could be she has three part-time jobs.
I am too - that being said, I'd rather work 300 hours a year, rather than 3000. :-)
This aint funny.
If she is holding one full time job as well as having to hold two other part time jobs to make ends meet then it is a shame. One full time and one part time is OK IMO, but having to hold all three is a disgrace upon our system of government. It tells me that becuase this lady has to work all these jobs the system has become so FAT that it requires ALL of us to work ALL the time so they can collect the tax revenues from us to feed their fat pork budgets. Then they turn around and flim flam us on the issue of morality and all. How the hell you gonna raise kids when both parents have to work 70 to 80 hours a week to pay the dam local, state and federal taxes? Then they wonder why todays kids are running afoul of the law?
On the other hand. If she is working three part time jobs, then she might not be working much over 40 or 50 hours a week.
Now I know..there is gonna be this "so you want a 35 hours work week like the French" BS coming. NO, but I would like to see it so parents can be home when the kids get out of school and swat their little behinds when they act up! Isnt that a unique idea? I wonder how anyone could come up with such an idea. Mom works a part time job and is home to make supper at night and be there when the kids get home from school and have the table set for when Dad gets home.
And they wonder why the divorce rate is so high? Hell..the parents never see each other as they are working to support this miserable money pit of a guberment. So what the heck..why stay married! Divorce and let the freaking guberment raise the kids at school.
sure, a work ethic is something to be proud of. but what about chinese labor working in manufacturing? if we are "proud", what should they say? at what point does "pride" really mean slavery? much of the world used to have a feudal system, were the serfs "proud"?
its a fine line, and for many americans who work hard, but are feeling the effect of global labor and unrestrained immigration driving down wages - the line has been crossed.
People work more than one job for different reasons. I work fulltime in Payroll and Human Resources, and am well compensated. However I have worked extra jobs for years, as an usher in a Theatre (not movie), and in Guest services for two local sports teams. I enjoy the second (third and fourth)jobs, plus the money helps pay for some of the extras I like to do for my kids and grandkids. I think the president is right that it is uniquely American that we can provide enough jobs for people to do this if that's what they choose. I realize many people hold extra jobs to be able to meet basic needs, but in most cases that I see it's because they are trying to better their position in life.
good post - way too many freepers miss the mark on economic arguments, I am glad you posted that, maybe the flames can be split between you and me!
Given that she is a divorced mother of three including a mentally challenged child, I doubt she is working three jobs for any other reason than to support her family. Working three jobs (unless they were all part-time) would leave little time with her children.
But was it a Dutch coffee shop?
Only a matter of time.... I try to, and for the most part am able to be of the "hey, here's the cards i'm dealt" thinking. Though, I'm human and occasionally visit the pity pot, but for the most part don't. And this is the first thought that came to my mind when reading about this woman and her circumstances.
Now Griz, you may be right in your #31 post but I just love the way most "right thinking" Americans (and I mean "right" in a couple of ways) say "This is my situation, I can piss and moan or do what I have to for my family".
This is such a great country to live in!
didn't SNL or Mad TV run a skit with Jamacans who had something like 20 different jobs.
Americans are ambitious.
How many countries in the EU have mandatory "siesta time"?
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