# Stupid Republican idea of the day **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897 "2009-03-26T18:48:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 665
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13281 "2014-03-06T21:51:14Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > So … What, exactly are you saying, Paul? That kids will be better off without lunch because then they’ll think that someone cares? I just love his overall theme about this, that free school lunch programs give kids “full bellies, but empty souls”. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13282 "2014-03-06T21:59:24Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > [Paul Ryan: Free School Lunch Means Poor Parents Don’t Care About Kids - TPM – Talking Points Memo](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul_ryan_free_lunch_means_parents_dont_care_for_kids) > > Paul Ryan : The left doesn’t understand that what happens when you give a free lunch to a kid is that he thinks that his parents don’t care for him. > > So … What, exactly are you saying, Paul? That kids will be better off without lunch because then they’ll think that someone cares? …and [it looks like Paul Ryan stole the story from a book called _An Invisible Thread_](http://wonkette.com/543369/somebody-is-stealing-children-to-put-in-paul-ryan-speeches). Curiously, the book is about the experience someone had when they stopped to talk to a child who was panhandling and how they subsequently became friends and got the child the help he needed to become a happy, healthy adult; it’s a terrific story. Paul Ryan’s apparent plagiarism is, um, something less than terrific, much like the man himself. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13283 "2014-03-06T22:25:03Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > …and [it looks like Paul Ryan stole the story from a book called _An Invisible Thread_](http://wonkette.com/543369/somebody-is-stealing-children-to-put-in-paul-ryan-speeches). According to that link, Ryan says he got the story from a woman in Scott Walker’s administration. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13284 "2014-03-06T22:33:04Z")
Please, sir, may I have my soul in a brown paper bag? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13285 "2014-03-06T22:33:41Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > …and [it looks like Paul Ryan stole the story from a book called _An Invisible Thread_](http://wonkette.com/543369/somebody-is-stealing-children-to-put-in-paul-ryan-speeches). Curiously, the book is about the experience someone had when they stopped to talk to a child who was panhandling and how they subsequently became friends and got the child the help he needed to become a happy, healthy adult; it’s a terrific story. Paul Ryan’s apparent plagiarism is, um, something less than terrific, much like the man himself. 😕 Somehow I don’t see how that story would be a moral lesson in individual self-reliance or the corrupting evils of handouts. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13286 "2014-03-06T22:35:19Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Please, sir, may I have my soul in a brown paper bag? In your case, I’d better double-bag it! [rimshot] ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13287 "2014-03-06T22:37:08Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > In your case, I’d better double-bag it! [rimshot] Nah, my soul is so light you’d think the bag was empty. Oh wait… ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13288 "2014-03-06T22:37:23Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Please, sir, may I have my soul in a brown paper bag? Certainly, ma’am. Would you prefer Wild Irish Rose or Night Train? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2014, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13289 "2014-03-06T22:50:03Z")
> [@Punoqllads](#): > > Certainly, ma’am. Would you prefer Wild Irish Rose or Night Train? I drink AND drive Thunderbird! ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13290 "2014-03-07T00:26:49Z")
John Boehner says Issa was just doing his job. I don’t know if this is a Republican stupidity or a Conservative stupidity, but: [http://aattp.org/right-wing-journalist-angry-that-12-years-a-slave-doesnt-depict-happy-slaves/](http://aattp.org/right-wing-journalist-angry-that-12-years-a-slave-doesnt-depict-happy-slaves/) _12 Years a Slave_ is missing all of the happy slaves. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13291 "2014-03-07T00:36:34Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > [Paul Ryan: Free School Lunch Means Poor Parents Don’t Care About Kids - TPM – Talking Points Memo](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul_ryan_free_lunch_means_parents_dont_care_for_kids) > > Paul Ryan : The left doesn’t understand that what happens when you give a free lunch to a kid is that he thinks that his parents don’t care for him. > > So … What, exactly are you saying, Paul? That kids will be better off without lunch because then they’ll think that someone cares? I always figured that the GOP is against feeding kids primarily because kids that grow up undernourished tend to have lower IQs, and hence are more likely to become Republicans. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13292 "2014-03-07T00:44:34Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > [Paul Ryan: Free School Lunch Means Poor Parents Don’t Care About Kids - TPM – Talking Points Memo](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul_ryan_free_lunch_means_parents_dont_care_for_kids) > > Paul Ryan : The left doesn’t understand that what happens when you give a free lunch to a kid is that he thinks that his parents don’t care for him. > > So … What, exactly are you saying, Paul? That kids will be better off without lunch because then they’ll think that someone cares? As a child who grew up on the free lunch program, I was personally happy that I didn’t have to starve all day as opposed to questioning whether my parents cared about me (which I assumed they DID, since they took the time to make sure I’d get to eat lunch and all). I’m beginning to think that to Paul Ryan, poor people are just some mythical entities like elves and fairies and gnomes. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13293 "2014-03-07T00:50:30Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > …and [it looks like Paul Ryan stole the story from a book called _An Invisible Thread_](http://wonkette.com/543369/somebody-is-stealing-children-to-put-in-paul-ryan-speeches). Curiously, the book is about the experience someone had when they stopped to talk to a child who was panhandling and how they subsequently became friends and got the child the help he needed to become a happy, healthy adult; it’s a terrific story. Paul Ryan’s apparent plagiarism is, um, something less than terrific, much like the man himself. I don’t think we can call it plagiarism. Just a mistaken and bumbling mis-attribution? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13294 "2014-03-07T01:18:33Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > I just love his overall theme about this, that free school lunch programs give kids “full bellies, but empty souls”. Paul Ryan can go fuck himself. At least we can prove that bellies exist. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13295 "2014-03-07T01:32:37Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > [Paul Ryan: Free School Lunch Means Poor Parents Don’t Care About Kids - TPM – Talking Points Memo](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul_ryan_free_lunch_means_parents_dont_care_for_kids) > > Paul Ryan : The left doesn’t understand that what happens when you give a free lunch to a kid is that he thinks that his parents don’t care for him. > > So … What, exactly are you saying, Paul? That kids will be better off without lunch because then they’ll think that someone cares? Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) said Thursday that liberals don’t understand disadvantaged students would rather have parents who care for them than a free lunch at school. What a pointy-haired-right-in-the-middle-of-his-forehead genius this man is! Wisconsin, ya hey 'dere! ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13296 "2014-03-07T03:00:34Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > John Boehner says Issa was just doing his job. > > I don’t know if this is a Republican stupidity or a Conservative stupidity, but: > [http://aattp.org/right-wing-journalist-angry-that-12-years-a-slave-doesnt-depict-happy-slaves/](http://aattp.org/right-wing-journalist-angry-that-12-years-a-slave-doesnt-depict-happy-slaves/) > > _12 Years a Slave_ is missing all of the happy slaves. Some hilarious comments from the original site: > [@](#): > > So true. I also get really irked when Holocaust movies fail to include a positive Nazi character. Yes, a handful of them were murderers hell bent on the extermination of millions, but I’m sure many respected and even loved Jews. Why do we never see them? > [@](#): > > Thank GOODNESS. Finally, someone speaking good sense for a change. I applaud you Mr. Bowman, and hope that your article changes many minds. > > By the way, I was wondering how much you’d charge me to buy your grandchild. I promise he will be content. And I will be most kind to him. > > If you have a sale coming up, please let me know. I don’t like auctions. > [@](#): > > I can’t wait to see Bowman’s defense of Darth Vader. Just kidding, Vader’s black. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13297 "2014-03-07T04:37:54Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > [Paul Ryan: Free School Lunch Means Poor Parents Don’t Care About Kids - TPM – Talking Points Memo](http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/paul_ryan_free_lunch_means_parents_dont_care_for_kids) > > Paul Ryan : The left doesn’t understand that what happens when you give a free lunch to a kid is that he thinks that his parents don’t care for him. > > So … What, exactly are you saying, Paul? That kids will be better off without lunch because then they’ll think that someone cares? > [@](#): > > Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Ryan said Republicans offer their constituents “ideas” while Democrats offer a “full stomach and an empty soul.” So, to paraphrase, “Let them eat slogans.”. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13298 "2014-03-07T04:39:15Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > He also might not because Colbert is not Bill Maher, the guy actually doing the “flip a district” thing… 😉 Oops. Got my comedians mixed up. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13299 "2014-03-07T09:37:56Z")
Re: That story about Paul Ryan telling the story of a school kid who would rather have a brown paper bag lunch than a soulless school lunch: Washington Post Fact-Checker gives it Four Pinocchios. It seems he was just relating a story he had heard from Eloise Anderson, Secretary of Wisconsin Dept. of Children and Families, which she had told in testimony to Congress last year. Anderson had told the story as a first-person incident, when in fact she had heard it or read it in a book that was actually promoting food stamps and school lunches as anti-poverty programs. So, WaPo gives Anderson Four Pinocchios for, first, reporting the story as her own and, second, for taking it entirely out of context. Ryan, in turn, gets Four Pinocchios for repeating such a story, so important to the point he was trying to make, without fact-checking it first. WaPo calls it the “story too good to fact-check”. ETA: Oops! Almost forgot the link. Here 'tis: > **[Analysis | A story too good to check: Paul Ryan and the tale of the brown...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2014/03/06/a-story-too-good-to-check-paul-ryan-and-the-story-of-the-brown-paper-bag/)** > > Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) told a tale about a brown paper bag that was apparently too good to check. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2014, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897/13300 "2014-03-07T20:11:18Z")
Repubs are quick to [turn on losers](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/03/07/1282907/-National-Republicans-say-their-nominee-in-Florida-special-election-is-an-incompetent-cradle-robber?detail=hide). CYA all the way when you are going to lose, right fellas? BTW, in a two-fer - According to [Michael Medved](http://www.salon.com/2014/03/07/conservative_radio_host_its_a_liberal_lie_to_say_some_states_ban_gay_marriage/), no states prohibit SSM. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=664) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stupid-republican-idea-of-the-day/490897.md?page=666)