Perino Confirms White House Won’t Extend Jobless Benefits, Says People Should Just Find A Job
Perino Confirms White House Won’t Extend Jobless Benefits, Says People Should Just Find A Job
During today’s press briefing, White House press secretary Dana Perino suggested the Bush administration would oppose any effort to extend jobless benefits — a stance the White House has taken before. She explained their position by saying, “we want people to be able to return to the workplace as soon as possible.” The suggestion was that extending benefits somehow prevents people from returning to work.
She concluded by saying that “the best way to help” the economy and unemployed people is for unemployed people to simply “get back to work.” Watch it:
It is both insulting and naive to suggest that people aren’t working because jobless benefits are somehow too generous and they’re too lazy to look for work again. People aren’t working because Bushonomics have hemorrhaged jobs and slashed the safety nets for laid off workers:
– The Department of Labor reported last week that the country shed 159,000 jobs in September, and the unemployment rate has increased to its highest level in five years.
– The Washington Post reported yesterday that “unemployment claims are at a seven-year high, and factory orders are sharply down. … Small businesses can’t get financing.”
– According to a July survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures, states are being forced to slash spending and cut jobs “in order to close a projected $40 billion shortfall in the current fiscal year,” more than triple the size of the previous year’s.
– State jobless funds are drying out. According to the National Employment Law Project, at least 11 states are facing financial challenges paying their jobless benefits.
The Bush administration’s refusal to extend a helping hand to those punished by the economy it created is nothing new: Last month, the White House threatened to veto a second stimulus package over opposition to an expansion of food stamps benefits.
Transcript:
Q You mentioned earlier about the pain everybody is feeling as a result of all this. Well, the House passed an unemployment extension bill, which would extend unemployment for all states for seven weeks, and for those that have high unemployment, above six percent, for an additional 13. Would the White House support this bill?
MS. PERINO: Well, Paula, I don’t even think — Congress is not even in session, so there’s no legislation moving through Congress. We have supported unemployment benefit extensions in the past, although we wanted a shorter period of time than many had wanted. I don’t know if there’s some people recommending a 26-week extension. We cut that back to 13 weeks back in June. One of the reasons that we did that is because we want people to be able to return to the workplace as soon as possible.
So unless legislation starts moving that I’m not aware of when Congress isn’t here, I don’t know how we could support it.
Q The Senate comes back in November — November 17th –
MS. PERINO: Well, let’s take it up then, Paula. I mean, it’s October 8th; there’s a long way to go between now and then.
Q I know, but in the meantime, there are people that won’t have unemployment checks between October 15th –
MS. PERINO: Well, my point is, Paula, that one of the things that we want is we want people to be able to return to work. We understand that there are people that are hurting, but we’ve already extended the unemployment benefits. But if legislation isn’t moving between now and November 17th, if then, there’s not a lot that we can do in terms of getting a law passed.
Q So you assume that in states that have high unemployment that those people will be able to find jobs between October and –
MS. PERINO: I hope that everybody who wants to find a job is able to find a job. I can only imagine the anxiety for people who are looking for a job and can’t find one. And it’s hard to put myself in their shoes because I haven’t been in that situation. But obviously states — and there are many of them — that have high unemployment rates have a lot of people who are suffering. But getting back to work would be the best way to help all of us, collectively, them individually, and then us as a country.
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Memo to Barbie Perino: Take a look at the economy and National Debt, twit. If jobs are so easy to find, why is the government bailing out Wall Street and Main Street?
October 8th, 2008 at 8:11 pmAppalling statement in the face of todays realities.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:21 pmHey! Just saw an ad on MSNBC during Olbermann’s show, and it references thingprogress.org as it’s fact check! Ad is about healthcare, and was funded by SEIU.org
PEACE
October 8th, 2008 at 8:21 pmBush will be offering exit visas so Americans can find their old jobs in their new home, China. Then again, China could just take over the US and hire Americans at even lower wages than paid on their own homeland.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:22 pmDon’t be so quick to make judgments Ms Perino. We need to be cutting back on the bloated federal work force, especially the lame duck entourage of the Bush administration. It may just be that you are the next Alberto Gonzalez, nobody will hire you… Think about that.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:26 pmGet a job, you lazy bums! Or let ‘em eat cake.
Up against the wall, Dana Perino. The guillotine blade has been freshly sharpened.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:28 pmFortunately, we can all rest easy in the knowledge that Dana Bimborino will be out of a job in about three months and I doubt that President Obama will be offering her an extension of employment. We’ll never know if she has a different answer to offer next summer when her own unemployment benefits run out.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:35 pmI really do hope that Congress passes a law to extend jobless benefits NOW. I’m betting that a lot of Republicans (especially those who are up for re-election) will go along with it even to the point of being a veto proof majority. They all know that American workers are hurting and very angry. The Democrats need to capitalize on that anger by introducing this law NOW.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:36 pm“LET THEM EAT CAKE”
October 8th, 2008 at 8:37 pmI listened to the entire clip, and I’m pretty sure she didn’t mean it in the sense that it’s being framed here.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:39 pmBoy, I hope someone makes a viral ad with this sub-human saying these things. Do you think that this talking point came right from the top? I don’t know how anyone could stand in front of the press, knowing that the cameras are recording every word, and spout this insulting rhetoric.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:43 pmAnonymouse Says:
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I listened to the entire clip, and I’m pretty sure she didn’t mean it in the sense that it’s being framed here.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:39 pm
Based upon what ?
Purina making brilliant , compassionate statements throughout her tenure as White House press secretary ?
That’s a real sharp and applicable assessment you’ve certainly made there………
October 8th, 2008 at 8:48 pmOT, but i just heard something i’m curious about…
a tv commercial for QWEST (sp?), part of the pitch – they provided communications for the REPUBLICAN CONVENTION…
wasn’t it qwest that did NOT cave to the phone spying?
back to olberman…
October 8th, 2008 at 8:51 pm“Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”
Hell, Dana has a job and she’s dumber than roadkill. Obviously, anyone can find work if they just try.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:51 pmThat’s compassionate conservatism for you. What it really is is compassionless conservatism. Perino has proven to be a heartless spokesperson for a heartless administration.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:53 pmAlso, Bushco’s been cooking the unemployment numbers for years. Apparently the real rate, including people who’ve given up looking for work and the long-term unemployed, may be 10%.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:53 pmWay OT, but I thought this story on a whistleblower was worth passing around:
http://openleft.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=5B05FA0B5C7D1D69F7A2C166414E9B13?diaryId=8557
She said ‘collectively’, and she’s wearing pink!
Uh Oh!
October 8th, 2008 at 8:57 pmDana will be the one looking for a job as this Administration leaves. At lease Dana will no what it’s like to be a stay at home housewife with a dog to raise. Time for Dana to give a call to Martha Stewart for cooking classes and knitting.
October 8th, 2008 at 8:59 pmAnonymouse Says:
I listened to the entire clip, and I’m pretty sure she didn’t mean it in the sense that it’s being framed here.
Then you need to clean the wax out of your ears. Twice she says that the White House “wants people to be able to go back to work” as though unemployment benefits were an impediment to that. “Well, hell, yes, I’m making such good money on the unemployment that I’m not even looking for work. A’course, I’ve had to pimp out my old lady and my kids to pay the rent, and we ain’t got no heat, but I can’t very well work while I’m getting a check!”
October 8th, 2008 at 9:01 pmThe Repugnants think everybody thinks like they do!
October 8th, 2008 at 9:05 pmthe people who work at my nearest Taco Bell seem nicer and smarter than Dana Perino and a hell of a lot better at the social graces.
how in the world did she get that job? what were her qualifications. do people in the Adminstration wince when she talks the way normal people do?
October 8th, 2008 at 9:10 pmTwice she says that the White House “wants people to be able to go back to work” as though unemployment benefits were an impediment to that.
I suppose we should look at the bright side of things. What with the credit crisis and all, at least she didn’t say “the White House wants people to go out and shop”.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:12 pmThis is all the proof Americans need on whose side the republic Party is on….and it ain’t the middle class and poor.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:16 pmWell gee! There ya go! The Palin robotic verbal confetti sound byte has made it to the White House already.
Were not jobless benefits created for a crisis like this?
October 8th, 2008 at 9:19 pmdana please take your arrogant self to the welfare office Jan.21st.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:19 pmThen millions of people across the country smacked themselves on the forehead saying “Why didn’t I think of that?”.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:21 pmkaty Says:
OT, but i just heard something i’m curious about…
a tv commercial for QWEST (sp?), part of the pitch – they provided communications for the REPUBLICAN CONVENTION…
wasn’t it qwest that did NOT cave to the phone spying?
Of course, those Repugs aren’t as stupid as you think. There wasn’t any telecom spying on their convention communications.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:33 pmGeorge Bush just wants to see dead and dying people in the streets from starvation. He’s already had the ‘pleasure’ of watching our fellow Americans drowning down in New Orleans, was thrilled when the WTCs collapsed on the morning of 9/11, and had the best night of his life with the live feed of Saddam Hussein’s hanging (just guessing here, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Naked King did have a live feed), so why not add some starving men, women, and children on the streets of America!
Spit. I hate him with all my heart.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:35 pmDubya and his tribe. What a bunch of stupid vicious insects.
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October 8th, 2008 at 9:43 pmMore unemployed keeps wages low, meaning more profits for McCain’s base—the plutocracy.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:43 pmCause I’m a blonde yeah, yeah, yeah!- Dana Perino, originally sung by West coast Julie Brown
October 8th, 2008 at 9:47 pm“Let the stupid little workers out there in Television Land eat snake…!”
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October 8th, 2008 at 9:53 pmDana Perino. Nose job? And bleach blonde? Too perky to take for long.
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October 8th, 2008 at 9:55 pmWorse than Fleischer and Snow put together.
October 8th, 2008 at 9:58 pmThe Bush (Putsch-Chicanery) Regime. Evil clowns. They’ve enriched themselves at the public trough and presided over the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans at home and abroad, and non-Americans alike. Vampiric cannibals. McCain and Palin are part of the same club. Vicious insects.
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October 8th, 2008 at 10:00 pmPerhaps we should tell the Wall Streeters to FIND A JOB!
October 8th, 2008 at 10:06 pmDana, you evil, condescending b!tch.
My son had a job. He got laid off of that job. He’s looking for another f ucking job, and he’s getting no end of bullshit in his attempt to collect unemployment benefits HE PAID FOR.
Shut the f uck up.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:08 pmThe rich get hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars (borrowed from future taxpayers).
The unemployed get flipped off. I wonder how many of them will be voting Republican?
October 8th, 2008 at 10:10 pmJust remember, if it gets bad enough, Bush can declare martial law…..
October 8th, 2008 at 10:12 pmCompassionate conservatism in action.
These ghouls need to be banished for good.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:14 pmThis is typical republican bs. These people steal their way to the postions they are incompetent in and care nothing about the nation. Bush should realize that there is a nice fire awaiting him in hell.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:31 pmMaybe Dana should take some of her own advice. If she really had a real boss and real standards on job performance, she would have been jobless months ago!
Lets face facts here…after the Bush administration and accompanying Republican-for-hire hand-me-down jobs are gone Nov. 5, Regent, Oral Roberts and Liberty University graduates among others are totally screwed.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:32 pmPerino needs to find a new job a Walmart. So do all the CEOs who are losing their mansions after ripping off this country. Sorry, no quarter–half of them need to be in jail and half of them need to get real jobs. Not that they can do anything useful.
October 8th, 2008 at 10:34 pmThis is akin to eliminating the requirement for handicapped access in buildings and elsewhere because “this administration wants people to be able to walk.”
Perino probably doesn’t understand that unemployment benefits are designed to help people get by while they look for employment. First, in order to get it, one has to actively look for work (and give proof of that). And second, unemployment benefits aren’t as much as one’s regular paycheck. It will keep someone from starving, but it won’t provide any luxuries. Anyone who has ever been on unemployment (and I am included in that group) will tell you there is still plenty of motivation to find a job.
Ronald Reagan once famously made a big show of holding up a copy of a newspaper’s want ads and read through them — claiming that there were “plenty of jobs” available. He neglected to mention that most of the jobs in that paper were for specific skills (such as computer tech, medical, or engineering), and that almost every job advertised would receive a couple hundred applicants.
I guess being completely out of touch is truly a Republican thing.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:16 pmHigh unemployment, crashing stock market and inflation! These guys are brilliant!!!
Sh*t–I’m gonna go out and get TWO jobs! Just need to learn Japanese.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:23 pmI hear there are a lot of openings in “Hedge Fund Manager.”
October 8th, 2008 at 11:27 pmI can’t wait until January 20th when that vacuous bimbo will have to go look for a job.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:28 pmThe suggestion was that extending benefits somehow prevents people from returning to work.
I believe you are a bit wrong, Ali.
Perino is suggesting that people will dishonestly file for unemployment benefits, rather than find a job -you know, poor people being welfare queens and all…
Perhaps Perino thinks upeople on unemployment will use the money to buy pedicures, and fancy dinners, like the AIG Execujerks…
October 8th, 2008 at 11:41 pmcompassionate conservatism = oxymoron
October 8th, 2008 at 11:42 pmPerino can kiss my ass. Earlier this year I did go back to work instead of feeding off the government; Dana should be so proud. I am now working for a shi**y company at which I pay $580 per month for health and dental coverage, and the company punishes its workers by refusing to excuse an absence even if you have a doctor’s excuse. If you are sick they automatically take your PTO time and give you a “point” for each occurrence. If you have to go to the doctor for any reason, and cannot schedule PTO time for it (there is no sick time offered, and you must request PTO 10 days in advance), then you receive a point. Get 5 points and you receive a final warning. 6 points and you are outta there. There are people who have to choose between their health and keeping their jobs. The points you have accrued roll off at the rate of 1/2 a point every pay period. However, if you reach 5 points twice, the points no longer roll off and from that point forward you cannot miss for ANY reason for 1 full year, or your are immediately fired.
Needless to say, I am looking for work elsewhere.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:49 pmWhat a touching sentiment. As if the unemployed, potential employees actually had anything at all to do with job creation.
She’s as dumb as a box of rocks, I swear!
October 8th, 2008 at 11:51 pmYep, that,s it. Take care of the wealthiest investment bankers and let the working folks fiend for themselves. The only “trickle-down” we feel is the sweat trickling down our body parts because we are working so hard to, or are worried about how to, make ends meet.
October 8th, 2008 at 11:55 pmThe republican party is evil darkside and satanic.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:22 amDana Perino will be out of a job soon enough. Hope she can find a new one:)What a stupid,vile statement to make from a stupid, clueless Administration. The days can’t go by fast enough!
October 9th, 2008 at 12:22 am.
And come January, Barbie can take her own advice…
… I wish her well.
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October 9th, 2008 at 12:23 amAnyone else throwing a Bush departure party in January? I’m going to have friends over and just have a gargantuan celebration. I truly think New Year’s 2009 is going to be partied about twenty days later than normal.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:23 amOk, you conservative phucks, I have never, ever been unemployed my entire life, age 55, I did 4 years in the vietnam war, I have never applied for compensation at all, and now you say that after 39 years of work that I should just get a phucking tent and grind it out, phuck you, you bunch of assmunching pukes….but really I have always survived by my own get down to itness, and will continue to do so, but come freakin’ on this is sick.
October 9th, 2008 at 12:37 amSomehow I don’t think we’re going to end up with big credit unions.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:36 amNext this administration will be calling for also be calling for Iraq war Vets, who happen to be amputees, to grow new limbs.
October 9th, 2008 at 4:01 amNext this administration will be calling for Iraq war Vets, who have become amputees, to grow new limbs.
October 9th, 2008 at 4:02 amOuch.
October 9th, 2008 at 4:11 amthe good thing about this is that soon she and her boss will be unemployed. i hope they have trouble finding a job.
October 9th, 2008 at 4:48 amlike a true little fascist, defend sticking it to the working man while your boss bleeds the coffers of the treasury with his program of corporate welfare. she makes me sick
October 9th, 2008 at 5:42 amI guess they forgot about the thousands of retiree’s having to rejoin the workforce due to the 2 trillion dollar loss in retirement values over the last few weeks.
That and all the GM plant closures etc.
October 9th, 2008 at 6:07 amLushInterior Says:
Man I cant wait until January…..when I get my 26 week extension, free health care, new mortgage, tax cuts, tax credits and all the love I would ever need. Its going to be GREAT!
A citizen who’s going to spend his tax refund on hookers doesn’t really help the economy much. Try thinking with the big head.
October 9th, 2008 at 7:51 amunemployeed people are to blame for all of bush’s problems
October 9th, 2008 at 8:29 amYah, you lazy twits, go get a job as a mortgage broker!
October 9th, 2008 at 8:58 amMichigan’s jobless are moving away from the state by the thousands in the hopes of finding jobs elsewhere. What choice do they have? Even McDonalds isn’t hiring in my town right now. There are no jobs ANYWHERE. I know people who are in their 40’s with kids and higher educations who are having to move in with other family members. It ridiculous. And it’s getting uglier by the day. People with TWO jobs can barely make ends meet. And with the economic crisis what places can afford to hire more employees?
Someone needs to get a club and beat some sense into her.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:15 amEdmund S. Phelps says we can expect a return to normal rates of unemployment. Planning and expectations concerning unemployment should return to normal models, not full employment models.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:33 amPerino: “It’s hard for me to put myself in their shoes”
Wait until January 20, 2009.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:35 amGet back to work? The administration you happily speak for isn’t creating any jobs, bimbo. What would this administration know about creating jobs anyway, seeing that more jobs are typically created under democratic administrations?
Let me get this straight: It’s wrong to pay people while they’re looking for work, but it’s A-OK to fit executives with golden parachutes and therefore creating rich bums. This is in addition to cutting taxes for the wealthiest and refusing to give shareholders the vote on compensation to reign in on the massive executive/rank-and-file pay gap.
Why don’t you get back to work, Perino? You’ve been lounging around your entire life — and picking up a taxpayer-funded six-figure salary doing so. Your ride is about to end and you will face public scorn. Your gated lifestyle will be transferred over to the Obama administration.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:35 amWhy am I not surprised that the mouthpiece for the Bush Administration would say something so callous and thoughtless. Yes being on employment is a party! It has been great for my self esteem, paying bills, cutting back on things like going to a movie, hoping that my car won’t need repairs while I look for those jobs that don’t exist. Life is great on employment, I enjoy the pity party and that party is getting bigger. The website that handles processing claims, continues to crash due to high volume. Bush can go to hell and that clueless tool Perino can go right there with him!
October 9th, 2008 at 9:36 amWill someone please tell that cow I’ve been looking for work for three years now under the Bush economy. If she’s got a job for me, I’ll take it.
October 9th, 2008 at 9:43 amThe essence of compassionate conservatism–in other words, heartless BS.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:05 amYep, the time is very near.
October 9th, 2008 at 10:43 amIf we’re going to be put in the position of our families starving, it’s time to kick some fu[king a$$.
National Stike to protest bailouts
How about you, me and 200 million others strike for one day? How about blocking every road, highway, airport and train track? Let the politicians and corporate big shots know we won’t stand for any more looting of our treasury!
October 9th, 2008 at 10:56 amHey, Dana, you cheap whore, I got $20, $10 more than you’re worth, but you’ll get the whole $29 when you get to work and blow me…
October 9th, 2008 at 11:20 amIt is great that Obama is so in tuned in the poverty of this nation and world. The Borgen Project is as well. According to The Borgen Project:
October 9th, 2008 at 11:46 am$30 billion: Annual shortfall to end world hunger.
$540 billion: Annual U.S. Defense Budget. Go to borgenproject.org to find out more!
I assume no one’s surprised that this is the Bush administration’s attitude about unemployment.
October 9th, 2008 at 11:49 amObviously Perino has not tried to exist on unemployment, aside from the usual living costs, there are additional gas spent, even mailing out resumes if anyone still does that. It is more costly to be unemployed. Try even temp working and scheduling job interviews lots of luck.
October 9th, 2008 at 1:02 pmPerino is the only one willing to shill out the White House BS that is the only reason she is working.
However, check out your Fox commentators typical mean looks while they try to smear Obama on what he did or might do.
Of course, we have a $trillion to bail out the misbegotten bankers and brokers who created this mess….but a few measly bucks to help Joe Blow pay the rent? No effing way!
Man, if this doesn’t get the torches lit, nothing will!
It is of great comfort to me that Ms Perino herself will be out of a job—one hopes, permanently—-in January 2009.
October 10th, 2008 at 8:33 pmI am one of the very lucky few who is recently employed, after being out of work for three months.
October 11th, 2008 at 2:07 amI certainly can’t live on unemployment – about $310 a week? When my half of the mortgage payment alone is $1450 a month? It is not easy.
Also, the people they have doing the phone interviews for the EDD are all evil. They choose them for their ability to insult, annoy and irritate – I assume partly to keep people from receiving benefits, and partly because they are sadists.
I look forward to Dana Perino having to negotiate that system… cute and perky will get you absolutely nowhere. Better, she should be prosecuted as she is a knowing liar and propagandist. And if she’s in jail, she won’t have to hunt for a job!
Of course you don’t know my “anxiety” you have a paycheck coming in each week and it is a “lot” more than my unemployment benefit ( less taxes also). After working for 26 years, my company downsized and laid off the higher paid employees with the most benefits…..lost Paycheck, Health Ins.,( have 2 minor children) Dental Ins ( one daughter with braces) Vision Ins. ( one daughter with glasses).
I look for a job everyday, sent out 40 + resumes and 5 interviews. Due too downsizing, cutting out the position from the budget, or just giving the extra work to another employee, nothing has developed…….and you don’t know “My Anxiety!!
October 14th, 2008 at 12:41 pmif you bush bashers would look at the article it says that the democratic controlled congress makes the laws and it is not in session. why did they not pass it before they went on vacation?
October 16th, 2008 at 7:33 am