Let me see if I have this straight.

The unemployment rate in South Carolina has hit 10.4 percent – the second-highest in the nation. In Mississippi, the unemployment rate is at 9.2 percent. In Alabama, it’s almost 8 percent.

But the governors of these former states of the Old Confederacy, as well as Texas and Louisiana, don’t want to help their jobless citizens fight their misery with the relief contained in President Barack Obama’s stimulus package.

They’d rather conscript them to fight the Civil War instead.

Led by South Carolina governor Mark Sanford, the leaders of these states say they won’t accept the part of the stimulus package that expands unemployment benefits, such as covering part-time workers who lose their jobs. Among other things, they say it would force businesses to have to pay higher taxes once the federal money runs out.

Besides that, they say, they don’t appreciate Obama – outside agitator that he is – telling them that they have to change their laws to get federal money. No matter that for their jobless minions, that money could make the difference between someone living in their home or out of their car.

States’ rights, you know.

What Sanford and the other stimulus-shunning governors are doing is a disgrace. It’s also stupid and smacks of political opportunism.
It’s also bound to hurt a lot of black people –a disproportionate number of whom tend to work numerous part-time jobs to make ends meet – and are losing their jobs in this recession as much as those folks who are losing full-time work.

For example Sanford, as well as Texas governor Rick Perry, claim that if they accept the money and businesses wind up being saddled by higher taxes, that could hurt job creation in the long run.

What they don’t seem to get here is that the stimulus money isn’t about the long run. It’s about the short run.

It’s about relieving short term woes among the legions of unemployed people – a number that is likely to increase if nothing is done – so that leaders can see their way to do some long-term planning to deal with the economies of their states.

It’s emergency money. Turning it down is like a starving person turning down white rice because brown is more nutritious – when the white rice will sustain him until he’s able to get his hands on some brown.

Of course, Sanford claims that part of his problem with changing the law is that when people get used to something, it’s hard to change things back to the way they were.
But let’s be real here.

It’s obvious that Sanford and his cohorts aren’t listening to the people who are grappling with unemployment anyway. They’re listening to businesses. They’re listening to the business lobbyists who contribute to their campaigns.

I’m sure that when the stimulus money runs out, those business bigwigs will be there to make sure that they don’t wind up being stuck with higher taxes.

But then again, this issue isn’t really about Sanford and the other southern governors’ aversion to the stimulus package.

It’s about their aversion to Obama.

It’s about them trying to gain political capital among the ultra-conservative wing of their party by using their most needy citizens as pawns; pawns they’re enlisting in their fight to continue to otherize Obama. They’ve done this by comparing him to totalitarian dictators and lately, to Zimbabwe leader Robert Mugabe, whose controversial land reform policies have led to an 11 percent inflation rate there.

There’s just one problem. We don’t have an inflation problem. We have an unemployment problem.

But Sanford and the other stimulus-rejecting GOP governors don’t care about truth. They don’t care .....

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white racist southernors do want any negro telling them what to do. maybe obama should tell them not to commit suicide.

by   
Spercy
March 18, 2009, 1:57 pm
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Stormiej, you are wrong. Character and strength are built by self sufficiency...not taking a government handout. Has welfare not taught us a thing? Be strong and independent peeps, other races are.

by   
Jiggy5
March 18, 2009, 12:48 pm
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What do the citzens of these states have to say about this? Also, don't these govenors understand that once their citzens get to a certain level, they won't be spending money, so their economy continues to fall. The citzens of these states should make sure they spend their money in black businesses and so how the other businesses like it when no money is coming their way. They better speak up and help their states before that money goes to another state.

by   
Stormiej
March 18, 2009, 12:43 pm
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For example Sanford, as well as Texas governor Rick Perry, claim that if they accept the money and businesses wind up being saddled by higher taxes, that could hurt job creation in the long run.

Peeps has welfare not taught us anything about the evils of quick fixes. These Governers are actually taking a responsible long term view that will benefit the majority. Macro economics peeps...it's available at most community colleges.

by   
Jiggy5
March 18, 2009, 12:34 pm
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Great article Tonyaa!!!
Sanford and Perry and other Southern Republican governors want to hold onto Old Guard Republican policy and politics of racism and greed and separatism and hipocricy. In order to stay in good standing in the Republican party Sanford and Perry have to deliver votes. Sanford and Perry will keep their people ignorant and powerless. The people of those states must wake up and realize how much power the people have to elect governors who want to help the people. Sanford and Perry only want to help Sanford and Perry.

by   
Raefree
March 18, 2009, 11:19 am
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I totally agree with Quita32

by   
Donovant
March 18, 2009, 11:19 am
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well, i don't understand why the voters of s.c. elected this jackass..they knew he doesn't care about people losing their homes, jobs or healthcare.instead of complaining about this bonehead, get him out of office when his term is up and stop being quiet for once.start making noise and don't let this cycle continue as business as usual.

by   
Quita32
March 18, 2009, 10:08 am
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