Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum accused of racially insentive remarks.

Rick Santorum                   Newt Gingrich

Presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum are fending off accusations that they made racially insensitive remarks at a New Hampshire town hall meeting last week regarding blacks and the nation's public assistance program. Newt Gingrich says that the media is taking the remarks he made regarding what he would say to the NAACP if invited to speak completely out of context.

 "The African-American community should demand paychecks, and not be satisfied with food stamps. Now there's no neighborhood I know of in America where if you went around and asked people, 'Would you rather your children had food stamps or paychecks?' you wouldn't end up with a majority saying they'd rather have a paycheck, and so, I'm prepared, if the NAACP invites me, I'll go to their convention and talk about why the African-American community should demand paychecks, and not be satisfied with food stamps."

Gingrich responded to his critics saying that his remarks were far from insensitive.

"I think you'd have to be nuts to read those two paragraphs and conclude anything except that I was saying that every young American deserves the right to pursue happiness," he said. "Every neighborhood in America deserves a chance to have paychecks instead of food stamps. And I was saying something which I thought for a Republican candidate would come as a refreshing positive, which is why I would be happy to go to the NAACP convention and talk about creating greater opportunities for all Americans."

Rick Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator came under fire for remarks he made in Sioux City, Iowa. 

 "I don't want to make black people's lives better by giving them somebody else's money. I want to give them the opportunity to go out and earn the money and provide for themselves and their families."

Santorum denies making that statement.  I'm not going to call Gingrich or Santorum racist but I will say these kind of remarks are insensitive and completely out of touch. It's clear to me that neither has a clue about the African-American community's wants and or needs.  Both seem to be relying on old stereotypes to make a point. If they did they would realize that many African-Americans are hard working citizens like every one else in this country. If you are going to say something make sure you have sufficient evidence to back your claim.

According to 2010 Department of Agriculture data, 34 percent of food stamp recipients were white, 22 percent were African-American, 16 percent were Hispanic, 4 percent were Native American and 3 percent were Asian.  Instead of making broad generalizations and divisive comments both should have done some research.  I am so sick of  public figures who make these broad statements only to later deny ever saying them. I'm not only fed up with Republicans but also with Democrats. I am sick of both parties slinging mud, propaganda and generalization that have no sound basis. The best thing for voters to do in 2012 is to stop relying on political campaign commercials and embellished speeches and instead do sound research.