Hard times for former Tea Party darling UPDATED
Former Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill. | AP Photo
What happens to an ex-congressman and Tea Party denizen who’s thrown out of office by voters? Not much good, in the case of former Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill.
The fiery conservative everyman is out of work and out of luck when it comes to scoring a paycheck. His recent court pleading says he can no longer afford to pay child support (something that got him in the jackpot in the past, when he was “employed”).
From the Chicago Sun Times:
“Walsh, a flame-throwing Tea Party Republican who was trying to land a radio deal and last week announced he was forming a new conservative SuperPAC, filed court papers seeking to end his obligation to pay $2,134 per month in child support.
But once again, Walsh insists he’s no deadbeat.
Both he and his attorney say that since he is no longer employed as a congressman, they want to “modify” the previous agreement so that he pays 20 percent of his current salary.
Walsh is not currently employed and has no salary. But that could change, he said.”
Not exactly family values.
Get a job, Joe!
February 12, 2013 - 3:30 PM
A true Tea Party Republican!! Until he gets on his feet, can’t his kids wash dishes, shovel snow or something like that to support him? His ex-wife could also chip in since the kids don’t really need food or clothes.
It’s not difficult to understand why Joe hasn’t landed a job. He’s only been out of office a month, and he’s competing with the 8 million others that have disappeared from the work force since Obama took office. The average length of unemployment is at a all time record of 40 weeks, so it may be awhile before Mr Walsh returns to the land of the working. He would be fairing much better under a Bush economy where the average length of unemployment never went above 20 weeks, and he’d definitely be doing better during the Reagan years when the average was between 10 and 15 weeks.
And, calling him a deadbeat is unfair and in no way accurate. His ex-wife released a statement “having resolved these issues together and cleared up these mistakes in private, we now agree that Joe IS not and WAS not a deadbeat dad and DOES NOT owe child support.”
Can we shift our focus to real scandals now like Jesse “I’m insane” Jackson Jr and Robert “I like ‘em young and fresh” Menendez? Or how about the current most outrageous scandal – where the H-E double hockey sticks Dear Leader was the night 4 Americans were being massacred in Benghazi!
The family values candidate.
I am sure he could offer himself up as a part-time, barely compensated, non-insured employee at Papa Johns….or, wait…maybe Walmart?
Of course he would have to work alongside the “unwashed” 47%…
Tough crowd commenting here today…….
Another victim of the Obama economy of high unemployment and debt and another victim of the Democrat-run media smear machine.
Yeah, Menendez. Isn’t he still in office? Couldn’t you focus the light of truth on sitting members of Congress? Oh yeah, that’s right, you can’t. He’s a Democrat.
Can’t imagine that some likely employer hasn’t snatched this guy up. Just another deadbeat dad, screaming about “personal responsiblity”.
how about the out of luck state employees having their hours and benefits cut due to obama care. ( state to save $100 million a year ) no mention anywhere concerning the hard times ahead for these people. and by the way, the state of the union sucks and all you left wing darlings know it.
“Another victim of the Obama economy of high unemployment and debt and another victim of the Democrat-run media smear machine.”
–Henry
Wrong again. Joe Walsh is the victim of his own belief that he could find political success while toting the Tea Party line. His child is the victim of Walsh’s reluctance to own up to his obligation and pay child support.
You’d think a guy who screams “Liar” to the president during the SOTU would be VERY hireable. Even the Koch cabal doesn’t want him? Sad sad sad.
And the TP even feels the need to give its “own” SOTU response tomorrow night. Poor GOP…getting what they deserve for hopping in bed with these nuts.
@Hillary, it’s nothing new for the food service industry to retain a mostly part time force. It’s been that way for the 40 years I’ve been in the industry. Seldom are any employees in that market full time unless they are salaried. Those being chefs and management, and those folks normally put in a 60-80 work week at minimum. Papa John’s did nothing that every other operator has been doing for years, except no one else whined and made such a big deal out of it.
Kristen, that was Rep. Joe Wilson, R-SC, who screamed “you lie” at Obama during the SOTU — not Rep. Joe Walsh.
Oh sorry, Dan. Got my TP Joes confused.
“And the TP even feels the need to give its “own” SOTU response tomorrow night. Poor GOP…getting what they deserve for hopping in bed with these nuts.”
Have the networks actually agreed to air the TPer response? Or are they merely gonna put something up on YouTube, LOL. That should be a fun video!
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/02/09/rand-paul-to-deliver-tea-party-response-to-obama-state-union-speech/
Live on the Tea Party Express’s website. It’s a Fox site but it doesn’t say Fox will show it.
The fact that we have a TP response and a GOP response proves the civil war going on in the party. Who we survive? They should have a king of the GOTP reality show loosely based on “Kings of the Nerds”
Would make for great ratings.
Comment by Scott A — February 12, 2013 @ 12:50 pm “Papa John’s did nothing that every other operator has been doing for years, except no one else whined and made such a big deal out of it.”
Sorry Scott A, not everyone feels the same as you about Papa John’s comments regarding the ACA …actually quite a few customers and stockholders “whined and made such a big deal out of it” that “Shortly after making his statement to cut employee hours, an online petition was started and garnered “more than 21,000 up-votes and 4,500 comments. A host of Facebook groups with the same idea have cropped up in the past 48 hours.”
“”Meanwhile, shares in Papa John’s International have been tumbling since last Thursday, falling from $51.70 at market close Wednesday to $49.22 on Monday, a 4.2% drop.”
Evidently many saw an unfairnes when “Schnatter has further claimed some employers will cut employee hours to avoid providing them with healthcare.”
And what would “Obamacares” cost the company? [The] “new regulation translates into a .4% to .7% (yes, fractions of a percent) expense increase.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/2012/11/12/breaking-down-centi-millionaire-papa-john-schnatters-obamacare-math/
state of the union DOES suck and EVERYONE knows it..bammy cant get over that one, he will always be responsible for this, it is HIS fault, HE is the one spending like a drunkard on payday, fool idiot commieboy
@Hillary, Sorry, but I work for an multi-billion dollar company that has gone through the same senerio and shares have not dropped. You really don’t think it’s due to him spewing his thoughts on a national podium? He’s his own worst enemy in that regard. I for one stopped buying his product as direct result of his comments. Think I’m alone? Think again…
“Bammy” pammy!!! Sold your “businesses” yet? Sounds like they must be going down the toilet in this terrible time.
I suppose we are just lucky that only a portion of this nation thinks like pammala.
Pamalalas like the groundhog. She pops up sporadically, declares…something, and goes back in the hole.
“what would “Obamacares” cost the company? [The] “new regulation translates into a .4% to .7% (yes, fractions of a percent) expense increase.”
http://www.forbes.com/sites/calebmelby/2012/11/12/breaking-down-centi-millionaire-papa-john-schnatters-obamacare-math/
Comment by Hillary — February 12, 2013 @ 2:18 pm
Hillary,
I know this is quoted from the article and not your words, however the author tries downplay the increase in expenses by stating it is “fractions of a percent”
If the author truly knows business, then he would know changes in expenses, gross profit, etc are typically measured in basis points, not 10ths or full percents.
For a large, mature publicly traded company a 40-70 basis point increase in expenses can be significant.
Dow Jones near record today. As opposed to the end of 2008 when our whole economic system was near collapse. Just sayin…
Gee, where is all the deep liberal/progressive concern for this poor unemployed man?
With quotes like “can’t his kids wash dishes, shovel snow or something”; “… he could offer himself up as a part-time… employee at Papa John…maybe Walmart”; “Just another deadbeat dad, screaming about “personal responsibility”; “Joe Walsh is the victim of his own belief”; one might think liberals believe he should stand on his own two feet and take care of himself and his family.
I have “warped” into the “opposite reality” Dan Casey blog….
If he wins the lawsuit he’s filed, he won’t have to get a job. Slacker, or the American way?
#25 Nope, not deadbeat Dads, especially those who were in it before when they were working. They are as bad as they come. This guy has established a pretty lousy record as a responsible parent. Is that your type of guy mikeo?
I really don’t care what party he’s from and I’ve never heard of the guy before.
Poor Papa John, living under a bridge and all.
Comment by Kristen — February 12, 2013 @ 4:43 pm
Maybe she saw her shadow this time and we’ll not see her again for 6 weeks.
Dow Jones near record today. As opposed to the end of 2008 when our whole economic system was near collapse. Just sayin…
Comment by Old blue — February 12, 2013 @ 5:53 pm
It’s Obama’s fault Old Blue!!
Gee, where is all the deep liberal/progressive concern for this poor unemployed man?
Comment by mike o — February 12, 2013 @ 5:55 pm
It is pretty much his own fault, after all. Being a man of personal responsibility and high morals, he surely would have planned ahead for the possibility that he would lose the election, right? You know, in the interest of the welfare of his children, if not of himself? Does he not have an education of any kind? At the very least, being a responsible father and public figure, he surely wouldn’t be above working any job for their welfare. I hardly know of any town anywhere that doesn’t have at least one fast food place hiring. A good, just, moral, responsible man wouldn’t be above that.
In most states, you can’t even lower your child support until you already have another job. I’m sure the rules don’t and won’t apply to him, though. He’s special… and he’ll sue you if you dare say otherwise.
I hope he wins his defamation suit, by the way. And I hope the entire amount is awarded by a sensible judge to a trust fund for his child support. That would be justice, my friend.
Scott,
Nope, not my “type of guy”
Maybe the same question should be asked to all the “progressives” here; as they spout that this “type of guy” should receive taxpayer benefits (umm.. unless he was a tp person).
You nailed the point. Tks
“I have ‘warped’ into the ‘opposite reality’ ”
–mikeO
Nah, that happened a long time ago. But apparently you’ve figured it out!
Mike O has a valid point, look at “us” sounding like “them”…
If I understand the latest news on this correctly, Joe Walsh is saying that he can afford lawyers to sue the Sun-Times — but he can’t afford to make child support payments for his kids.
Now there’s some values!
Never heard of this Walsh guy, don’t know much about him and don’t really care about his politics.
But if I haven’t learned anything else in my 48 years of living worth sharing with others, here’s one…….be careful how you kick a man when he’s down boys and girls! Karma can be such a bitch! Just saying……
Don’t worry , be happy. Working people just got hit by 2% tax increase. Now the representatives of our state want to hit you for 8 cents more on gasoline and higher DMV fees. How much more will they need when the working people need to provide food, housing, and medical care for 12 million illegal aliens? Yes, our representatives pledged to take care of the citizens of the U.S. Don”t you think they are doing a great job?
That is an excellent point Huntersdad, but Joe Wilson is a jackanapes who has not been shy in that effort. That does make people hesitate to reach out. Maybe it was Karma who paid him a visit…
He can take Dick Morris job a faux. They need a fresh fire breathing dragon. Pay is good so I hear.
That 2% increase was temporary while we were digging out from under the Bush Regime economic collapse. With the recovery underway, it’s a good idea to restore this 2% to our safety net programs.
8% gas tax? I haven’t heard that exact number, but not to argue a relative point. It’s simple, don’t use the roads and you won’t have to pay to tax. If in fact you do, then pay up, you need to pay for what you use. The gas tax is a good idea. a lot of that money comes from out of state travelers. Raising the sales tax is infantile. More smoke and mirrors from the worst governor in Virginia history. This extra money comes on the back of folks who may NOT use the roads and gives through drivers a pass on helping with our infrastructure.
And this is a White guy? A conservative, God fearing, All-America-real- American, Tea Party Republican? I thought this sort of thing only happened to NBA ball players, rappers and brothas from ‘da hood. Guess I was wrong. My bad.
hey Jeff Artis,
How ’bout that Menendez character? Is he a lib? Is he a latino??
I think ge’s an esteemed (by libs) SITTING lib-democrat senator. and, he’s found himself in the middle of some dastardly tea-party trap where-by they set him up to take free private plane trips (given by a big lib-dem-donor) to exotic off-shore locals, and then that dastardly tea-party trapped him into falling into a harem of young and under-age …exotic …girls… to which he could ply his, ah, …charms. Sheesh!
That darned Tea-party!
hey old blue,
Are you saying that Bush was responsible for the financial collapse?
#42 Look, Frank, if you keep it up with posts this stupid, even your girlfriend, troll suzie, is going to quit rushing in to prop you up.
hey gdad,
So, what’s your take on Menendez?
Did he, or didn’t he?
THAT is the question.
“hey gdad,
So, what’s your take on Menendez?
Did he, or didn’t he?
THAT is the question.”
–Frank
Frank, do you understand the difference between opinion and fact?
Opinions mean nothing here and facts mean everything. There are NO credible facts at all that suggest Menendez has violated any law. If those ever arise, he should be prosecuted. But until then, opinions are total BS.
45.hey gdad,
So, what’s your take on Menendez?
Did he, or didn’t he?
THAT is the question.
Comment by Frank — February 14, 2013 @ 3:38 pm
No hayfrank, that is not the question. The question is whether these unsubstantiated rumors have any credibility and whether or not the people who started them have any facts to back them up or any ulterior motives.
#45 See, Frank, now you’ve driven suzie away for Lent.
We appreciate it.
Hey folks,
Good for Suzie to give you libs a break for a little while.
You folks need to rest up, plan your strategy, and get prepared to get you butts handed to you again, and again, and again, upon Suzie’s return.
hey dan, sandi, gdud, and wayne,
The NYTs had an interesting editorial on menendez on February 8, 2013.
Now, I’m not a firm believer in much of anything that the NYTs writes about a republican or a right-winger….but I do take notice when the NYTs smacks the heck out of one of their own kind, and a powerful minority one at that.
He’s toast, and he’s still cooking.
#49 We have no need for any such preparation, Frank, ‘cos silly Suzie does a fine job getting her butt kicked all by herself.