The essential problem with assistance programs, from this point of view, is that they exist — that they let people live without needing to work. “We’re going to put work requirements on that individual, so he’s going to get a job.”Now, McCarthy obviously misspoke when he said “child” — he clearly meant an adult. (Although, here, it is hard not to think of Republican opposition to free school lunch and support for loosening child labor laws.) But the rhetorical error is less important than what his image of a welfare recipient says about his view of the role of government. It does not matter that many Americans who don’t work can’t work, whether for health reasons or because of familial obligations.

---

Persons: ” Kevin McCarthy, Biden, We’re, ”, McCarthy, ” — Organizations: Fox