In shocking news, a whopping 46.7 million Americans are enrolled for food stamps, which is a record high. This equates to 15 percent of the U.S. population.
The June numbers were up slightly from the May numbers of 46.5 million, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The GOP is faulting President Obama for the record numbers, as only 32 million Americans were on food stamps when he took office in January 2009.
Democrats are blaming the economic state on the massive increase, as people have lost their jobs and cannot pay for food. Republican New Gingrich referred to Obama as “the best food stamp President” back in January.
“First of all, I don’t put people on food stamps,” President Obama told ABC News in response to Mr Gingrich’s remark.
“People become eligible for food stamps. Second of all, the initial expansion of food-stamp eligibility happened under my Republican predecessor, not under me. No. 3, when you have a disastrous economic crash that results in 8 million people losing their jobs, more people are going to need more support from government,” he added.
Former U.S. President George W. Bush expanded the food supplement program as part of the 2002 farm bill, which was further expanded in 2008 by a Congressional vote.
Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney dumbed the numbers down by merely stating, “Forty-seven million now on food stamps. When [Obama] came to office there were 32 million. He’s added 15 million people.”
It is impossible to have the President foot the blame, as the entire economy is not his responsibility. Regardless, people will spin any data into whatever they want it to be.
Elite.