We all know them. People that abuse the system. People that work a few months of the year, just long enough to qualify for unemployment, and then jump on the unemployment bandwagon. Those that get food stamps to support their families despite being able bodied, often educated and capable of work. And, of course, the people that work “under the table” while receiving government aid intended for the truly needy.
One such image sticks in our minds from a visit last year to a local softball game. Across the street was a truck distributing food for the needy. A brand new Mercedes pulled up and out popped a couple that walked over and jumped in line. How someone driving a $60,000.00 car qualifies for free food is beyond our imagination, but somehow these people find any way they can to abuse the system.
During Obama’s campaign to promote his stimulus package, he staged an event with a woman, Henrietta Hughes, who, as it turns out, appears to be anything but truly needy. Henrietta was given an audience with Obama to beg for a home. When aid was provided via the offer of free rent by an opportunistic politician, the liberal press spouted that Henrietta was actually given a free home and implied it came from Obama. The lie has propagated through the liberal media and, quite honestly, it nauseated us because it was so obviously staged and such a distorted lie. Well, as it turns out, the lie didn’t end there.
As is often the case with such lies, more information seems to shortly rise up from the darkness to expose the truth. This situation is no different and new information about Henrietta has come to light. It appears that the desperate homeless woman owns real estate she shifted into the name of her son to avoid taxes and acquire government aid. Apparently, Henrietta is the teacher and Tom Daschle is just a student. Henrietta also apparently sold real estate at a significant profit in 2005. Henrietta has now become the poster child the Democrats wish to use to justify the massive expense of helping the chronically unemployed, not-so-needy and not-at-all-homeless.
In the spending package forced through by Democrats and signed into law by Obama, there are extensions of unemployment benefits. We believe that the government is better off extending unemployment only for those that are recently unemployed, not those unemployed annually for years, or decades. We also believe that if the government cannot properly verify actual need, they should stop programs intended for the needy until they can. That would save funds which can be used for programs that actually help America as a whole, not just the unscrupulous. We also believe that if Obama himself cannot discern between this woman and a real homeless person, he shouldn’t be expecting government will actually give our tax dollars to the truly needy when the not-so-needy will grab it first. So much for the myth of Robin Hood.
Nice try, no one is buying this. And so what if she did once sell real estate. She is homeless now like many people who were once comfortable and now hopeless and broke. Get over yourself. And shame on you for trying to slander this woman.
Some back up proof might be sweet here. How many propperties, whoes names are they in, you know facts?
That’s funny. I read about Hughes on the liberal Huffington Post and the article made sure to state that REPUBLICAN Chene Thompson, wife of state rep. Nick Thompson, was the person who gave Hughes a home to stay in.
So now that you’ve distorted that liberal media implied Obama did anything for Hughes, why should anyone believe what you’ve pieced together from her public records? It’s all conjecture. We simply do not know the complications of people’s personal lives. And to suggest a $124,000 house is any kind of wealth is typical from the greediest bunch of conservatives yet.
I think we should probe all of your closets a whole lot better and please none of the usual “I don’t have to answer that,” or not show up when subpeonaed, or when all else fails, destroy the trail so there can’t be any more questions.
One thing about the liberal media, Repubicans have sure been able to keep their dirt out it unless it’s so outrageous it can’t be contained like Haggard or Scooter. The public is screaming for probes into the past 8 years! Repugs have a lot of nerve even squeaking any longer because no one is listening.
Try reading the links. If you don’t know how links work, try google.
Owning 3 lots… and losing at least two… having last recieved any money from those two 4 years ago… makes her a real tycoon, eh?
A Republican loaned her an extra empty house they just had sittin around. Wonder how they could afford an extra house? Let’s get some dirt on them too! Hard-hittin journalism at it’s finest.
When the government gets more involved with the welfare of people in a moment of crisis, it can pick and chose who it deems worthy to receive assistance. In the case of this woman, the only reason she was given what she received was because of this public attention. Now, let’s say this never happened, would she have received anything?
The people who are getting upset are those who fall in the cracks of assistance, which are the ones who are working hard, and living pay check to pay check. Those of us who do not rely on the government for assistance, yet are having a hard time feeding our families or putting gas in our cars. We are not considered worthy in the government’s eyes, because we are working.
Those who cannot work, who cannot feed their families, and those who cannot afford shelter are the ones the government considers worthy of assistance. However, the government does not take into consideration the situation of the person who may or may not qualify for help and that is where the problem lies.
In the case of this woman, she may or may not have owned property…but that very issue is what strikes a cord with some of us. The fact that she even has property, and appearing as if she was trying to cut the corner on paying the taxes she rightfully owes, when the rest of us who fall in the cracks are barely able to afford rent, and do not qualify for a home…yet we pay taxes out the nose. This is an outrage. But, this is what the government is, an outrage.
I guess the bright side for those of us who are working hard, and barely staying afloat is that we are more free. We are what keep this country going, and those who are just waiting for handouts are the ones bringing it down. I am not talking about those who are disabled, I mean truly disabled, and those who have lost their jobs and trying to find something..I’m talking about those who are always asking for someone to help them..expecting it. Why do you think Obama won in the first place…he promised handouts..and by god that is one promise he is going to keep…unfortunately.
These handouts by the government to people who are undeserving (but who are we to judge, right? We are just the hard-working Americans supplying the taxes used for these handouts, what right do we have to decide who gets what) is just what the government is about. You think the economy was imbalanced before, just wait, now it’s going to be completely bass ackwards with government intervention. It’s an enabler..just like a parent who wants to make their drug-addicted child happy, it just keeps giving and enabling progression.
What is truly pathetic is all the consecutive lies.
1. Obama obviously stages an act to get the sympathy vote, basically lying to America.
2. The woman that is supposedly homeless had no reason to be “homeless” if she was at all.
3. The media printed the most disgusting lie, implying Obama gave the woman a house.
4. The politician and his wife lying like they would help any homeless person, but were waiting for Obama’s homeless person.
5. The fact the woman had taken all kinds of aid from numerous agencies and was even offered free rent prior to this offer.
This woman and her son don’t want to work. Did you miss this quote?
So he took the money and the food, and turned down the job. Typical.
Didn’t hear any right-wingers complaining too loudly about the billions of our (including your) tax dollars literally being given away to bail out millionaire bankers who not only got to keep their jobs, but their bonuses besides.
This type of hypocrisy is what lost the republicans the election in November. People aren’t stupid. As long as the right wing keeps pushing a bad position using propaganda trash like this, they might as well get ready for their third consecutive electoral bloodbath in 2010.
Hey, I have a great idea for Obama. I think he should give us all free houses. I want one too!!
Hey Obama, I will re-elect you and even vote to remove term limits if you give me a free house!
@Isabella Gucci – does she look disabled to you? did you see the interview where she said she turned down the 3 months free rent “:cause she could not afford 400 a month” after the 3 months were up, cause her car insurance and loans and her disability check is only 800 a month?
Here’s a Bright idea, sell the vehicle, pay rent, get a bus pass, have that 35yo son take the Job here was offered by the charity, get a job answering phones at a help desk, etc, etc…
@Basher72 – @Basher72 –
HEY BASHER!!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME? You didn’t hear us “right-wingers” because you chose not to listen. The majority was and is against any bailout.
@Basher72 – Actually most Republicans and Conservatives were against all of the stimulus bills because we believe in a free market. FAIL.
I live in a very expensive town where the average home price is five million. There is a guy who is building a house and the contract is for thirty million.
The guy makes his money from a contract he had in Iraq. I am sure he is a friend of Cheney’s. Now, does that make you more angry or this woman getting a house or food stamp? You people on the right have no conscience! You are sick.
It’s funny how the author wants to stop people who have been “collecting unemployment for years”–they seem to not only know that unemployment was pretty much always limited to 6 months and has recently been increased to 9 months–no one can “collect it for years”
As far as someone collecting free food from a decently nice car, uhm, how do you know they’d made the payment? How do you know they didn’t have hungry children at home?
The author is lacking any shred of human dignity…
So Julie, let me see if I understand your argument.
1. You live in a neighborhood where everyone has multimillion dollar homes and you fully understand the plight of the poor because you identify with them so.
2. Your neighbor confided in you that he made all his money in an unscrupulous way because you are so very trustworthy and honest.
3. All people that are rich are friends of the Bush Administration, except you of course.
4. Because rich people exist that you think don’t deserve to be rich as much as you, you believe that justifies Obama lying to America and people that steal aid intended for the poor.
5. You are making a choice for America. You think that people should be angry at the rich (including you) and not the people that steal money in the name of unemployment and need, even though those people are stealing it from the people that really need it.
6. You are a multi-millionaire that believes everyone should be helped with middle class dollars so long as it isn’t you that has to do it while sitting in your multi-million dollar home.
Do I have that correct?
Rich people do exactly what she did all the time. It’s called end-of-life planning. They give all their assets to a trust so that they can then qualify for medicare, etc. It’s COMMON and you’d be hard pressed to find an upper-middle-class and upper-class person who wasn’t doing it.
So, when Joe the Plumber is investigated (after McCain used him as a prop) and it’s determined that he’s a total fraud (neither a plumber, nor negatively affected by Obama’s plan as he claimed)…the right wingers get all upset about invading his privacy, attacking a citizen, etc…
But, it’s fine to do it to this woman?
$125k house is really nothing. And, she did estate planning just like rich people do ALL THE TIME. Seriously, this is what rich people do. They transfer their money to trusts so they can avoid taxes, qualify for government programs, etc.
@V. Rogers –
That is nonsense. This woman does not deserve a free home any more than most of the people in the country. If you have made the decision to be blind and ignorant about that fact fine. Any situation she was in was due to her own decisions just like everyone else. The government should NOT spend my tax dollars to buy ANYONE a house. Period. The fact that this is an obvious set up, solely to play on the emotions of people like you who refuse to think for yourself make it even worse.
@adam – In 1975 unemployment benefits lasted for 13 weeks, or 3 months. Greater unemployment benefits only encourage greater unemployment.
@Basher72 – You heard nothing BUT complaints from the right over the bank and other bailouts. Look at the ballot counts in congress. Bailouts only extend the duration of economic recessions. Bohica!
@V. Rogers –
That’s what I heard too.
@adam –
Adam, don’t be so naive!
I have section 8 neighbors living next door to me driving nicer cars than we did and we paid for our home, they got a free handout from the Federal goverment, in other words, US, you included!
@tWrex – TWrex – what “free market?” Madeoff? Stanford? Free of honesty and Greed? What about the cons (con men) who designed the mortgage market where the only free thing was the collapse of the USA economy. Free for whom? What is free about a system that destroys the market it creates? God must really have been laughing when he invented humans – so self-destructive. Please God, do we deserve these voracious crooks?
Where will all the money come from to support bailouts, free houses, etc?
If there is no incentive to start a new business or succeed because anyone can claim they ‘deserve’ a house or a wage, how will the United States compete in a global economy?
What values and principles will the new party in 2010 possess to compete with the Dems and Reps? Can I suggest Honesty, Integrity, and Free Market? (these were the three things both Dems and Reps always promise but have yet to show as a Congress the last 5 years.)
@V. Rogers –
Hey, V Rogers. you can probe my closet when I stick my hand out and beg for help… oh Mr.Obama…….I just an needen a kitchen of my own. How sickening!!!!
@Basher72 – You didn’t hear because you had your head up your rear. COnservatives disagreed with that bailout as well and just as loudly. It was’nt news because the liberals wanted that money to flow. True conservatives are no more in favor of corporate bailouts than private bailouts. Bush was not a fiscal conservative and I disagree with him on those policies. Get out of the party line and think for yourself. Have an opinion that is not given to you by someone else.
I wish I could get the liberals and knotheads in this country to understand that freedom means you have the ability to try and the ability to fail. You have the right to the pursuit of happiness not a right to happiness. You have a right to life and lberty but those rights don’t gurantee you equal results. A system that gurantees equal results has a name, socialism. When you prop up someone or bail them out in the name of fairness you necessarily treat someone else unfairly. The government does not produce wealth, it only redistrubutes it. Why should a sucessful person be penalized for sucess and a a failure rewarded for failing. Tell me how that is fair. Where is my right to pursue happiness. How can I pursue my dreams of sucess under a system that promises I will be penalized if I realize my dream (as of now I’m still toiling away in the lower middle class). Government has no right, no place and no constitutional authority to do the things it does. Please don’t encourage or enable the government to take anymore of my freedom away.
The writer needs to understand part of Chicago politics is setting up scenerios to make themselves look good. Obamam put her up to it.
@Julie –
You mean Obama couldn’t find an actual homeless woman in Chicago if he wanted to? LOL. You must really hate Obama or be really dumb…or both. No politician is going to plant a demonstrably wealthy woman when he has access to thousands of the real thing.
Ah, but Jeff, I am always amazed at how you illiberates (illiterate liberals) look at things. So let me answer your question.
1. It is true there are homeless women Obama could have found that are really homeless had he and his staff put in the effort. But that is not the point at all.
2. You think it was because Obama was dumb. Maybe you are right. He should have clearly been more cautious in his selection. The records do not lie, she owns real estate and her son does as well. Her son turned down work training and jobs. She did indeed sell real estate for a significant profit in 2005. If she squandered the profits, is that our problem?
3. You think that the article claimed she was demonstrably wealthy? I think you should try reading it again. It never said that.
Some questions.
1. Do you think that everyone that invests in real estate is wealthy?
2. Do you feel that every person that fails at real estate investment deserves help from the government? Even if they turn down other job opportunities?
3. If you do believe anyone should get help that asks for it whether they need it or not, should we give them all free homes? If so, where do I sign up?
4. Did the article ever say she was wealthy?
5. Do you think that McCain should have verified his information before he used Joe The Plumber as a plant?
Well done in digging up this information. I find it most interesting that liberals are demanding facts, yet they blindly acceptaed any negative information about Samuel Wurzelbacher. Let’s use the same laybook boys and girls.
The more sinister part of the liberal agenda is to create racial tension by implying that minorities are the only ones in need of handouts. I am getting sick of them creating black and hispanic poverty poster children in attempt to appease a small few. Barry Soetoro is a communist who employs ingenius marxist tactics. These efforts only work on the feeble minded.
To the author of this article, thank you for a well researched, informative piece. It is my prayer that the blood gushing out of the liberals’ hearts will instead reach their brains and they will see the big picture of the marxist agenda.
Really? Do you know how to read? Republicain members of Congress voted at a much lower percentage for TARP than Dems. No, people are not stupid, but you must be if you cannot read simple statistics.
You don’t have to transfer wealth to be on medicare. Anyone the right age is qualified.
I knew she was a scammer from the git go. When they announced the questioneers were randomally selected that was the tip off right there.
Evidently Larry and Oprah knew it was fake or she would have been on their shows. Guess Bill Clinton didn’t as he said on L.K. when talking about it that it was a beautiful thing.
I don’t know the truth about Henrietta. What I have read suggests that she is having trouble holding things together. Most homeless CANT take care of themselves due to serious mental illness or substance abuse, usually both. There is a nationwide coordinated effort which is actually reducing homeless ranks for the first time. The mayor of Denver has a corps of volunteer mentors and homelesses has dropped 30%.
@Basher72 –
basher It was a Democartic Congress that shoved this garbage out. Now it continues with the destruction of American by the Obama Socialistic party.
Last business left in America please turn out the lights.
Isabella
Slander???? shes the one who put all she owns in her sons name to get federal aid…..why???? She didnt want to pay taxes!!!!!! thats a liberal thing….and to leech off the goverment….she made a signifacant income…why does she need aid???
C’mon, kids — click the hyperlink “to avoid taxes and acquire government aid.” to see Henrietta’s hide-the-assets-to-stay-on-the-government-dole game plan laid out.
I don’t give a rats ass about her. She is a dirtbag just like the POS president. He is the most corrupt marxist politician in our lifetime. He will destroy our country if he is not stopped. He needs to fail at everything and get his ass out of the WH….
@Yulia –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEnaAZrYqQI
Let me help some of you out:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=RNWE,RNWE:2005-01,RNWE:en&q=henrietta+hughes+property+records
http://sweetness-light.com/archive/henrietta-hughes-has-gotten-past-help
One commenter asked a good question… She noticed her tithes were prominently displayed at the top of expenses, what has her church done for her?
Notice after you watch the video with Ms. Hughes response, you go to the last video out of vids that pop up on the bottom re: Julio (the McDonald’s guy), looking like a deer in headlights when the tv host asked if he spoke Spanish (after his lack of response to a Spanish phrase). Also an interesting bottom comment at that site, re: How could Julio work there for 4 1/2 years if he was in his first semester and that age?
After you watch that, go to the vid box Olbermann interview with him and tell me what you guys think (I think he has a few special issues, would explain his years of work without getting to management). At the start of the video into his internship news, he’s clearly reading something… DA/maybe he was just nervous. (cough)
It also confirmed my first observation that he had a New York accent to me.
Then watch the Julio after the Town Hall video (outdoor setting, face centered).
See a difference between the Olbermann interview? This is also where the infamous (in some circles), comment of he hadn’t been as happy except when he received his Playstation 3.
Also, that property records link at the same site after this story had loads more info on three lots of additional property flipped in 2006, not 2005.
If I find the link I saw when this began regarding all the states and property, I will post it. It’s a load of properties, not just a couple houses.
Reading some of the comments here reminds you of the description of one of the four legs of the liberal (cough) stool. “The sincere desire to do good and noble deeds ……………. with somebody else’s money”.
How many homeless you got living at your house Clyde?
@Claire Solt PhD –
You mean that JFK’s Community Mental Health Services Act of 1963 isn’t helping this woman and others like her?
Ref: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=9546
What a bunch of self-righteous pompous asses you all are. To honestly think Obama set this up. If you’ll take a moment and look, you’ll see it was a GOP’er that jumped up and offered her a place to live.
If you can’t tell the truth, put a lid on it. We’re tired of the BS.
@defiant –
I felt the same way about your president.
you’re not only a moron, but a heartless one at that. You don’t even qualify to be a human being, so please just slink away with your tail between your legs you animal.
Hey allthelies, here are some lies for you. All within the first 30 days in office!
7 Broken Promises in Record Time
1. Make government open and transparent.
2. Make it “impossible” for Congressmen to slip in pork barrel projects.
3. Meetings where laws are written will be more open to the public. (Even Congressional Republicans shut out.)
4. No more secrecy.
5. Public will have 5 days to look at a bill.
6. You’ll know what’s in it.
7. We will put every pork barrel project online.
And all concerning the most expensive spending bill in history! Your change is coming!!!
Hi Mickey,
I wanted to respond because I just don’t understand your post. Most likely it is because you are an illiberate (an illiterate liberal). But let’s see if I get you.
1. You don’t think politicians set things up? So you agree with Joe The Plumber and that he was totally righteous? OK.
2. Because it took a GOP Person to stand up and actually help the woman over the Democratic president or other liberals in Congress somehow makes it better for you?
3. You believe the real estate records in the states where Henrietta or her son own property are mistaken?
4. You think the fact that she and her son took money and food aid and turned down work and job training makes her a model for how you want your kids to grow up.
And gee, what was your argument again?
Right winger here.. and yes we did complain and quite loudly! If you didn’t hear it, you’re not listening!!
Yep.. a GOP.. Not your wonderful president who lives in his own 1.9 million dollar home.. of course he’s just generous w/the money I earn, not his own.
tryreading: what is the name of the GOP politician that offered her the house?
Just because someone says something, does not make it true.