Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh Has Another "Insert Foot In Mouth" Moment [UPDATED]

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 1, 2012 3:00PM



Eighth District Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Illinois)

We're beginning to think Congressman Joe Walsh (R-IL8) may have a problem with non-whites. At least that's the impression we're getting from his latest comments.

Walsh, who isn't the most nuanced public speaker, told constituents at a town hall meeting in Schaumburg, Ill. that the Democratic Party targets African American and Hispanic voters because they want them to be "dependent upon government" and that the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. would "be out of a job" if blacks were self-sufficient. The CREDO SuperPAC, a political action committee dedicated to voting out Walsh and nine other members of Congress they dubbed the "Tea Party Ten," videotaped the town hall meeting and posted the money quotes.

"We have so many people dependent upon government. So many people want handouts. The Democratic Party promises groups of people everything. They want the Hispanic vote; they want Hispanics to be dependent upon government. Just like they got African Americans dependent upon government. That's their game. Jesse Jackson would be out of work if they weren't dependent upon government. There'd be no work for him."

This isn't the first time Walsh has dipped his toes into this in-need-of-skimming pool. He previously stated that the media will protect President Obama because he's black, skipped Obama's jobs speech to Congress last year because he didn't want to be used as a "prop," said Obama is "not Israel's friend," defended last year's House Committee on Homeland Security hearings on Muslim radicalization as "clinical and focused," yelled at his own constituents at a previous town hall meeting (which he later blamed on having too much coffee on an empty stomach), said congressional hearings on birth control weren't about women, and has had well-publicized issues with back child support payments to his ex-wife.

At the rate Walsh is going we wouldn't be surprised to see a photograph of him picking up his morning paper and being served with another summons for back child support while going commando under a Klansman's robe pop up by August.

Walsh's challenger for his seat, Tammy Duckworth, said his comments were "not only offensive, they are especially irresponsible coming from a sitting member of Congress." Rev. Jackson told the Associated Press Walsh's comments were an attempt to "incite and polarize" voters, that his life's work has been to "gain for all vulnerable Americans equal protection under the law," and that the majority of those receiving government aid are not non-whites.

“For the rich, it’s called a subsidy. For the poor, it is welfare,” Jackson said.

Update 10:40 a.m. CST: Rep. Walsh appeared on the "Big John and Amy" radio show on WIND 560-AM this morning to explain his comments. He said he was trying to make a larger point about all people being dependent on government.