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HAPPENING NOW: @larry_kudlow says federal workers forced to work without pay are “volunteering.”
UPDATE: I asked Larry how recalled federal workers who’d lose their jobs if they don’t show up are “volunteering,” he replies: “I’m not even going to go there, you know what I’m saying.” Calls my question a “semantic game.”
FULL QUOTES: in response to a @fran_chambers question on @SecretaryRoss he said: “Am I out of touch? I don’t think I’m out of touch, I’m addressing the problem. I’ve met with my individual staff members, and god bless ‘em, they’re working for free, they’re volunteering.”
Me: “How are workers who’ve been recalled without pay volunteering?”
@larry_kudlow : “They’re coming to work, they’re showing up.”
@larry_kudlow : “They’re coming to work, they’re showing up.”
Me: “That’s not volunteering if you’re forced to work without pay and if you don’t show up you lose your job. That’s not what volunteering means.”
Kudlow: “You know what? I’m not even gonna go there. You know what I’m saying, it’s very clear.”
Kudlow: “You know what? I’m not even gonna go there. You know what I’m saying, it’s very clear.”
Kudlow then launched into a soliloquy filled with praise for federal workers, adding “Whatever semantic game you think you’re going to play with me, give them credit,” as if I was somehow discounting recalled workers’ efforts by pointing out that they’re not there by choice.
Here’s video. Thank you @cspan
UPDATE: Statement from @MarkWarner -- “If Mr. Kudlow, Mr. Ross or literally anyone in this Administration would actually meet with federal workers and listen to their stories, they’d know how insulting these kinds of comments are."
