Fuzzy Math: MSNBC's Sharpton Wrongly Claims More Got Food Stamps Under Bush Than Obama
After Newt Gingrich recently proclaimed that "more people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any President in American history," presumably referring to the straightforward statistic that a record number of Americans now receive food stamp assistance, FactCheck.org set out to prove him wrong. (Video below)
In its analysis, FactCheck.org interpreted Gingrich's statement as if he were referring only to the number of additional people who have been added to the program during the Obama administration, and, after noting that 14.7 million people were added during the eight years of the Bush presidency, and that another 14.2 million have been added so far during the Obama administration, concluded that the GOP presidential candidate's statement is therefore wrong.
The site then followed up by noting that the total number of recipients at present is indeed at a record high total number, standing at over 46 million, which is most likely what Gingrich meant in the first place.
But MSNBC host Al Sharpton on Saturday night misstated the numbers during his network's coverage of the South Carolina Republican primary, as he incorrectly seemed to claim that the total number of food stamp recipients currently stands at 14.2 million, and that the number stood at a higher 14.7 million during the Bush administration.
As Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council appeared as a guest at about 9:55 p.m., Sharpton suggested that Gingrich has been "demonizing" the poor, and made his mathematical faux pas:
AL SHARPTON: You're right about forgiving personal character questions, but what about social policies? This whole demonizing of poor people and dealing with those that need help, isn't it really part of the Christian spirit and the evangelical community to really reach out, as Jesus did, to those that are underprivileged and that need help, rather than demonize them?
And when we hear Mr. Gingrich talk about food stamp people and "food stamp President" when there were 14.7 million food stamp people under Bush, only 14.2 under Mr. Obama, doesn't truth and being understanding of the poor also fit into the Christian spirit?
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Comments
Poor Al.
Submitted by HockeyKid on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 7:24am.
He never will get that whole "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but render unto God what is God's" thing.
"Beauty is only skin deep, but liberal's to the bone." - me
Doh!
Submitted by DontFeedTheTrolls on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 7:37am.
Pick one:
Congrats
Submitted by KornKing on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 9:41am.
You hit the daily trifecta
⇒ I pity da' foo!
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 7:52am.
No, it's not Sharpton I pity, but those whose Great-great-grandparents were denied the teaching of letters and numbers, who now bare their backsides to education in favor of spoonfed ear-ticklers like Sharpton.
Yeah, and since Spike Lee says G. Bush blew up the levees, it shall henceforth be so.
Levees?
Submitted by Tugboat Phil on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 11:05am.
Everyone knows that it was Cheney and Rumsfeld, in the Hurricane Generating Machine that planted the explosives on the levees.
Po Al.
Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 8:11am.
It wo' be reaaw hepfool if he cou axchally count, yo.
What can you say.
Submitted by Clemenza on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 8:18am.
An eggplant do what a eggplant gotta do.
Clemenza
Submitted by 26CX on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 8:23am.
I'm not exactly sure why, but that comment is really funny.
WWAD
Submitted by Franksam on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 8:22am.
I know that Al is a Reverend, but I find it amusing whenever Jesus is presented as a justification for socialism. Perhaps I've just not gone to the (W)right church.
8 years vs. 3 years
Submitted by Tjexcite on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 8:23am.
14.7 over 8 years is more then 14.2 over 3 years....
More liberal math, not just fuzzy. No mention that those are new people added.
If I went to my bank with their strategies..
Submitted by KornKing on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 9:44am.
Consider that Obamacare was presented with ten years of revenues* vs 7 years of expenditures#(sorry *contributions,#investments)
Yes, it is funny for the comparison
Submitted by merly1 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 10:09am.
Just like Owebama hasnt added more to the federal debt than Bush, only 4.5 T vs Bush's 4.8T----bbbbbbut it's only been 3 years ;o).
Hilarious. Plus, it is the totality of recipients, as noted in the story.
Bush had 32 million max on stamps, Owebama has 46 million. Who has more? More proof "fact-checking" depends
on one definition of the facts.
Will fact checkers now tell us Owebama's unemployment rate is ~2%--8.6% minus the 7% that he inherited?
Obama is averaging 4.7 per year if it is 14.2 over 3 years.
Submitted by humanzee on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:31pm.
By mid-year the fuzzy math won't work anymore. The people on food stamps may have grown by 16+ million.
double post
Submitted by humanzee on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:32pm.
double post
Al Sharpton has enough
Submitted by motherbelt on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 8:27am.
Al Sharpton has enough trouble speaking coherently. Expecting him to be factual too is just unfair.
Hey Al,
Submitted by Boudin on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 8:41am.
No-one was demonizing poor folks, he was disappointed on the creation of poor people. You understand the difference Al?
Al Sharpton is about as smart as a box of rocks
Submitted by John21 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 9:54am.
Al Sharpton is about as smart as a box of rocks.
Can anyone remember the last time he got a story right?
He is an old school far left race baiter if he can't use the race card at least once an interview he is lost. His arguments are simplistic and often foolish without merit. The idea that you would get accurate numbers and statistic from his programs is Ludacris. He would be an embarrassment on any reputable news network but being on MSDNC all he has to be is reliably liberal and follows the talking point (which he also does badly). Calling this man a journalist or even commentator is like comparing a 12 year old to a PHD but, with his race baiting credentials and his liberal slant he has a long career at that network.
At least
Submitted by KornKing on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 11:34am.
The Rocks are smart enough to shut up, rather than remove all doubt....
He has to apply the KISS
Submitted by texasborngranny on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 1:12pm.
principal in order for his target audience to understand him. Truth is irrelevant to him, his audience and his bosses at MSNBC.
"Resist we much we must and
Submitted by cristo on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 10:12am.
"Resist we much we must and we will much about that be committed."
AHH Troof, it is an elusive word for RevAL
Submitted by trahantg on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:33pm.
And when we hear Mr. Gingrich talk about food stamp people and "food stamp President" when there were 14.7 million food stamp people under Bush, only 14.2 under Mr. Obama, doesn't truth and being understanding of the poor also fit into the Christian spirit?
food stamps
Submitted by angelann1 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:36pm.
That liberal mental midget not -so- sharpton doesn't say that obama did it in three years
Anyone who relies on Sharpton
Submitted by swenk22 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:52pm.
for their news/opinion is getting what they deserve... confusion
the Rev. Racist
Submitted by ohio granny on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:59pm.
Can he be both stupid and a liar. Yeah, I think he can and I think he is.
Not only
Submitted by Joe W. on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 1:07pm.
Not only is he wrong with his premise and his numbers, he fails to note that Mr. Bush added 14.7 million recipients over an EIGHT year period of time. Barack has added 14.3 million in just over THREE years. The Lord only knows how many more millions will be added if this incompetent golfer succeeds in defrauding the people into another 4 years of his "fundamental transformation" of America.
Al never heard a lie he
Submitted by Willis_Leon_Johnson on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 1:21pm.
Al never heard a lie he couldn't expound on and try to make more unbelievable.
His entire life has been using blatant lies as stepping stones to the next level, and the race based MSM works hard to enable him in his quest for the unachievable goal.... CREDIBILITY.
End 'gun violence in America' - Require training and MANDATORY "Shall Carry" by every Citizen.
If harry reid is the best person to lead the senate, what does that say about the other 99 senators?
Fuzzy Math? Or Fuzzy Justifications?
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 2:40pm.
"In its analysis, FactCheck.org interpreted Gingrich's statement as if he were referring only to the number of additional people who have been added to the program during the Obama administration, and, after noting that 14.7 million people were added during the eight years of the Bush presidency, and that another 14.2 million have been added so far during the Obama administration, concluded that the GOP presidential candidate's statement is therefore wrong."
It's the correct analysis, unless Gingrich's definitions of "put on" and "by" are different than everyone else's.
Let's be totally honest, shall we? Newt was WRONG in his claim that "more people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any President in American history." He should admit he made an error, and move on. As soon as he admits his mistake, that "mistake" will no longer be an issue. Conversely, the longer it takes him to admit that mistake, the more of an issue it will become. So, the smartest thing he can do is to admit his mistake. For if he does, a month from now, few of the general population will care. If he doesn't people will wonder why he's so arrogant that he can't even admit he made a mistake. That's not an image, that of arrogance, that he should be displaying as it is a negative character "flaw". He should be displaying humbleness, a positive character "flaw." The best way to display humbleness is to admit a mistake.
Americans are, by far and large, sick and tired of arrogant politicians. Just look at how "popular" Congress is, which is full of arrogant politicians, and you'll understand that We, The People, don't want someone who's arrogant as our elected leader, especially as our President. We want someone who's humble, who's willing to admit they, yes, they made a mistake. For it is the Humble President who become one of the "greatest Presidents in History." The arrogant ones are relegated to the "who's that?" (Willard Filmore, who's that?)" or "not anyone like him ever again!" (another Richard Nixon? Not in a million years!) categories.
And, please, let's not be hypocritical and resort to "this is what he meant" arguments instead of using "this is what he said" definitives.
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.