Big Idea Man Paul Ryan Brown-Bagging It

Media darling and Big Idea Man Rep. Paul Lyin' Ryan (Objectivist-WI) had a story to tell at CPAC today. It was about one of those poor kids Ryan and Republicans loathe care so much about and a brown bag (no, not one that's burning on the front porch).  See if you can spot where Big Idea Man's logic train goes off the tracks:

Ryan insisted that liberals were only offering people “a full stomach and an empty soul.” 

He then told a story of a “young boy from a very poor family” who received free lunches at school “from a government program.” 

“He didn’t want a free lunch,” Ryan insisted. “He wanted his own lunch, one in a brown paper bag, just like the other kids.” 

“He wanted one, he said, because he knew a kid with a brown paper bag had someone who cared for him. This is what the left does not understand.”

Hmmm.  So, the kid's "very poor family" must not love him because they chose to take part in a school lunch program...  because they couldn't afford otherwise?  Ryan's solution:  let's take the kid's "free" lunch away!   Maybe discontinue mom or dad's unemployment benefits, too!  Then the kids will have an empty soul and an empty stomach!  Incentives!

Also:  Are there no workhouses?!

UPDATE:  Of course, it turns out Lyin' Ryan's story was bullshit.

Today''s Cartoons - Cuts to Food Stamps

News item:  Republican base approves of cuts to Food Stamp program.  Because... moochers.  They're such sweethearts, aren't they?

(click to enlarge)

(Rob Rogers, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Constitution)

Today's Cartoon - Starvation Diet Edition

(click to enlarge)

(Nick Anderson, Houston Chronicle, via gocomics.com)

Lest we forget in the midst of the Rethuglican fever-drama currently playing on Capitol Hill, these callous cretins are also trying to cut $39 billion in food stamps -- because POOR!

Let Them Eat Tax Breaks

House Rethuglicans -- never shy about cutting programs for the vulnerable and powerless -- recently voted to slash the food stamp program (the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) which provides assistance to some 50 million Americans.  The Senate is now looking at restoring some or all of the House cuts.  Paul Krugman had this observation in the New York Times today:

"Look, I understand the supposed rationale: We’re becoming a nation of takers, and doing stuff like feeding poor children and giving them adequate health care are just creating a culture of dependency — and that culture of dependency, not runaway bankers, somehow caused our economic crisis. But I wonder whether even Republicans really believe that story — or at least are confident enough in their diagnosis to justify policies that more or less literally take food from the mouths of hungry children. As I said, there are times when cynicism just doesn’t cut it; this is a time to get really, really angry."

As pure obstruction is the goal of the tea bagger-dominated Rethuglican Party, it's unlikely that the food stamp program will stay whole, along with other programs aiding the working poor and middle class.  But watch them all get on board when they vote for corporate tax cuts or new loopholes for their wealthy benefactors.