Talk show host: Republican wisdom not coldhearted

A former Sacramento County Sheriff told Republicans on Thursday in Yuba City that questioning bad policy - such as the renamed state food stamp program now called CalFresh — may make them targets, but that time will prove their friend.

"We're going to get beat up for being coldhearted," said John McGinness. But, "Wisdom, logic and history is on our side."

McGinness, a talk show host on KFBK 1530 in Sacramento, told the Sutter-Yuba Republican Women Federated meeting that he is tired of broadcast promotions urging people to sign up for food stamps. He spoke of Charles Payne, who grew up in New York City and was spurred to a successful career on Wall Street because of the embarrassment he felt as a youth using food stamps.

Now CalFresh promotes such government programs, McGinness said, and people buy food with state-issued cards that resemble bank ATM cards.

"They've taken the shame out of it," he said.

McGinness spoke about the virtue and value of work.

"It's one of the best things you can do," he said.

Gov. Jerry Brown is a bright man who would benefit from business experience, McGinness said.

"He's never supervised a shift at the local fast food restaurant," he said.

The former sheriff also said at the meeting at Ruthy's on Clark Avenue that government officials should get a map showing the economic consequences of bad decisions.

"It's called Greece. It's called Spain. It's called California," McGinness said.

Yuba County Supervisor Andy Vasquez, who attended the talk, called the former sheriff quite knowledgeable. Jerry Crippen, chairman of the Yuba County Republican Party Central Committee, said McGinness offered a lot of common sense. Buck Weckman, a county Republican party official, praised the talk as very refreshing.

"We can't continue to reinforce detrimental behavior," Weckman said.

McGinness also spoke about the recent, well-publicized effort of a New York City policeman who provided a pair of $100 boots to a barefoot man on the street. He said that is an example of someone with a good heart — and a bad idea.

The boots the officer provided are missing — lost, stolen or sold — and the man provided the footwear isn't homeless and has a taxpayer-paid apartment.

"If you believe that's wise," McGinness said of the boot buying, "you're wrong."

CONTACT Ryan McCarthy at rmccarthy@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4780. Find him on Facebook at /ADrmccarthy or on Twitter at @ADrmccarthy.