Cenk Uygur did an excellent rebuttal of John Stossel's panhandling stunt in which he suggested that because he got money from people who reflexively gave to him, that was some kind of proof that panhandlers and other street people were just scammers too lazy to get a real job. Mediaite's Tommy Christopher wrote up Uygur's commentary and added some terrific points of his own.
We've posted many times about Fox's war on poor people. As Uygur said,
This is the channel that claims that they’re in favor of Christian values. Is that what Jesus Christ would have done? A segment how you shouldn’t help the poor or homeless?
Mediaite's Tommy Christopher also noted that not many poor, homeless people have jobs:
During my forst (sic) trip to Washington, DC, I spent some time with homeless people, and discovered that they’re not all swordfish-eating, cellphone-gabbing layabouts getting fat on their rich panhandling proceeds and food stamp “loot.”
In fact, one of the people I met was Tanonnah Tyson, a Gulf War veteran who works a full time, 40 hour per week job, yet still has to live in a homeless shelter. She told me that about twenty of the 94 women at her shelter had jobs, but couldn’t afford to get out of the shelter. Having a job wasn’t a complete waste, however. Tanonnah told me that the shelter is open 7pm to 7am, and that everyone had to leave at 7am carrying all of their belongings. She, and the 20 or so other women who have jobs, don’t have to do this. That’s the “privilege” a hard day’s work earns them.
Don't hold your breath waiting for Fox News to spend much time focusing on the working poor any time soon - unless they can be used as ammunition against President Obama.
Video available at Mediaite.
Oh, what am I saying? The police barely lift a finger when it’s Fox News. They only arrest someone from there under heavy pressure.