[JoeFromSidney]

The program was originally started to provide a "lifeline" for people too poor to afford a phone. They could communicate with police, doctors, emergency, etc. Unfortunately, the program has metastasized. Seems like that happens to all government programs that start out to "do good."

[1010RD]

These are on every major intersection in the south and west sides of Chicago. It’s bribery, pure and simple.

[Sacajaweau]

It’s ridiculous. The majority of these people have land lines so now they have 2 phones!!!

[arista]

Stupid Republicans just want to reform the program to eliminate fraud. Nonsense. The program should be eliminated entirely. Hardworking people having to pay an extra tax on their phone bills so that other people can get free phones is absurd.

A cell phone is not necessary to anyone's survival. People got along just fine without them 20 years ago.

[Gene Eric]

“the animated woman”

[a fool in paradise]

Discounted. Same kind of discount like those who pay no taxes getting a tax refund.

[rawcatslyentist]

[cripplecreek]

Conservatives would do well to stop calling them “Obama Phones” and push Obama to fess up and tell the truth. These phones are just one more out of control federal program and people were getting them long before Obama showed up on the scene and they’ll continue getting them long after he’s gone.

I’d be curious about the cost of this program compared to what it used to cost to maintain all the pay phones that are becoming extinct.

[yldstrk]

yeah one of the dads at my kid’s school made a couple of fortunes off the government providing the welfare class with free cell phones

[Menehune56]

You can get a prepaid cell phone for $5-10 a month with 100 minutes. Not much for unlimited texting but enough for important and emergency calls. It’s good enough for me. Why should we have to pay for these lowlifes?

[Bon mots]

[SamAdams76]

I'm the proud owner of a Romney phone. Cost me $399 and about $90 a month. I can do a lot more with my Romney phone than an Obama phone. Then again, I have a job, get paid good money and I can afford it. If the sad-sack Obama phone freeloaders voted for Romney, they too might be able to get good jobs and get a Romney phone for their very own. They can also get decent housing and switch from 40oz malt liquor to microbrews of their choice. They won't have to look like a loser jackass in a YouTube video. They can throw that Obama phone in the nearest trash can - along with Obama himself.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Bump......

[Robert357]

Has the program been declared as part of the political spending of the Obama political campaign? Of course not as it is a federal program. But how can it be a non-partisan federal program if the web site advertising the program has Obama’s name in it?

This is political corruption Chicago style. It needs to be exposed as the vote buying scheme it is.

What federal program that gives something away is named after Bush? Nixon? Eisenhower? Reagan?

I want me a Reagan flu shot, a Bush social security check, and a Nixon passport! Then way can people have Obama phones, Obama money, etc?

[La Lydia]

Yes. People who work and pay for their own cell phones (and land lines) all pay into Al Gore’s Universal Service Tax fund (look on your monthly bill). That fund is used to provide free cell phones to people who don’t work. What is wrong with this picture?

[09Patriot]

Obscure? What rock has this reporter been under

[trebb]

Watchd the video and noticed others available. One is about another forgery - pic of Obama’s “family” in an airport. Looks like mother airbrushed in - her arm ends in a black man’s hand...