Right-wing media are using the firing of fictional cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants to attack the social safety net and those who rely on it.

The New York Post reported on October 30 that in an upcoming episode of the Nickelodeon cartoon, SpongeBob is fired from his job working in the underwater fast food restaurant “the Krusty Krab” after his boss discovers he can save a whole nickel by eliminating SpongeBob from the payroll.

The Post used the cartoon's plot development to attack people who rely on government assistance, referring to individuals who rely on food stamps as “mooching off the social services” and applauding SpongeBob for instead quickly returning to “gainful employment” :

So what's a hardworking sea sponge to do? Lest he sit around idly, mooching off the social services of Bikini Bottom, a depressed SpongeBob sets out to return to gainful employment wherever he can find it. No spoilers -- but it's safe to say that our hero doesn't end up on food stamps, as his patty-making skills turn out to be in high demand.

Fox News parroted the Post's attack, with Fox & Friends' Heather Nauert claiming that “the harsh economic climate has hit the underwater community,” but “instead of mooching off social services at Bikini Bottom, that's the town, SpongeBob sets out to return to the work force.”

Previously, Fox News repeatedly criticized a SpongeBob SquarePants book and video about manmade global warming, claiming the program based on scientific evidence was “pushing a global warming agenda” and “indoctrinating children.”

Right-wing media have a long history of attacking the social safety net. Recently, Fox attacked low-wage workers in the fast food industry who have to rely on necessary federal benefit programs because they earn below subsistence wages.