Business

This 65-Year-Old Clerk Was Fired for Refusing to Sell Cigarettes to a Food Stamp Customer

After four years on the job, a New Hampshire woman was fired because she refused to sell cigarettes to a customer who tried to pay with an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card (the debit card equivalent of food stamps), according to the Sentinel Source.

Jackie R. Whiton said that a 20-something-year-old male came into her Big Apple convenience store on May 29 and handed her an EBT card while trying to purchase two packs of cigarettes.

Store Clerk Fired For Refusing to Sell Cigarettes to Food Stamp CustomerJackie Whiton (image courtesy Boston Herald)

It’s important to note that there are two types of EBT cards: one is for essential grocery items and the other can be used for pretty much anything. The customer had the latter.

Whiton told the customer that EBT cards shouldn’t be used to purchase luxury items such as cigarettes. Of course, the EBT holder didn’t take her refusal lightly and the two “had a little go-around” while the checkout line grew larger.

“I made the statement, ‘do you think myself, that lady, and that gentlemen should pay for your cigarettes?‘ and he responded ’yes.’ Then he said, ‘Give me back my card.’ And I said, ‘Give me back my cigarettes,’” Whiton said.

Although the customer left without his cigarettes, that wasn’t the end of the story: “The next day Whiton said the customer’s foster mother came to the store to complain,” the Source reports.

Wait — a man old enough to buy cigarettes had his mother go talk to the mean lady at the convenience store? He’s going to need a lot more than cigarettes to look tough after that.

Either way, the 65-year-old wasn‘t cowed by the boy’s foster mother and told her that EBT card holders shouldn‘t be buying cigarettes with taxpayer’s dollars. Not surprisingly, the store‘s management wasn’t too thrilled with Whiton.

She “received a call later that day from the company’s home office in Maine, telling her it had received a complaint about her and reprimanded her,” according to the Source.

But Whiton wasn’t about to change her mind.

“I said I would bow out gracefully and give my notice because I didn’t want to be a part of it. I’m 65 years old, you know?” she said.

That’s right. Whiton quit her job rather than sell cigarettes to someone living off an EBT card.

“Charles E. Wilkins, the general manager of the C.N. Brown Co. that runs the stores, said the EBT cards in the cash phase could be used for any items, including alcohol, tobacco and gambling,” the Source reports. “Wilkins said the company gave Whiton the option of staying but she said she would not accept the cards anymore.”

“She didn’t think it was right and just wasn’t going to sell to people in that program anymore,” Wilkins said.

Store Clerk Fired For Refusing to Sell Cigarettes to Food Stamp CustomerA Big Apple convenience store in Brewer, Maine (image courtesy: BDN Maine)

After she took her stand and gave her notice, she was still expecting another week of work. However, it didn’t quite work out that way.

“Whiton said when she came to work the next day, her manager asked her how much notice she was giving. When she responded ‘a week,’ she was told the home office had just called and fired her,” the Source report.

Wilkins says that had they given her one more week, she would have had to accept the cards.

“Company policy is to follow rules and regulations, and the sale of cigarettes to EBT card-holders is legal. She didn’t wish to follow company policy, so she was let go after four years,” a company spokesman said, according to the Boston Herald.

Whiton said that she doesn’t have a problem with a program that helps low-income people buy groceries. She just doesn’t think people should be using taxpayer dollars to buy cigarettes.

“They can’t even buy toilet paper with the EBT grocery cards but they can buy beer and cigarettes with the EBT cash cards,” Whiton said, “Go figure.”

Whiton is not currently looking for work, according to the Source.

This story has been updated.

Comments (321)

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  • Godzgrl247
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:38pm

    Years ago (I mean bunches), my family was on food stamps. My husband had been injured on his job and he went for about a year unable to work. I had just had my fourth child and had been a stay-at-home mother for years. In case anyone wants to judge, I did try to get a job but all that I was offered were part time jobs. If I had taken them, my husband would have not gotten the medicare that he needed until a later lawsuit forced his company to pay his worker’s comp. Anyhoo, as I said, we were on food stamps. There was no such thing as being able to buy anything but food with them. I haven’t heard of any program that allows one to buy non food items even today so this story is news to me. As it was, I had several occassions where people in line or at the register would make derrogatory remarks about my family and say stuff like, “I wish I could get some food stamps.” I wanted to jump back in their face and say, “Well, why don’t you go out in the parking lot and let me hit you with my automobile so that you will have blood clots on your brain and a messed up back too. Maybe then, you can have food stamps too!” So my point with all of the rambling is that we don‘t know what this person’s story is and it is not our place to stop them in the grocery line and try to change things. If people want change, start getting off your butt and write letters and get to making some noise. BTW, I am white and I have a full time job now. (In case ya’ll were wondering.)

    Report Post » Godzgrl247  
    • rickc34
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:49pm

      So now we are paying for ciggs? what next beer, cocaine, heroin. Is this Obama’s Hope and change? the nation is broke and we are paying for ciggs, no wonder they do not care how much they cost they are not paying for them.

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:50pm

      @GODZGRL247
      I am 42% disabled and struggling to keep working so my family has insurance. As you probably already know, Worker’s Comp will try to screw you any way they can. It takes keeping a lawyer on hand just to intimidate them into keeping their word and doing what they are supposed to do. It wasn‘t your husband’s fault he was hurt on the job anymore than it was mine when I was head-on’ed by a UPS truck while driving for work. My company paid into the BWC for years, it’s supposed to be insurance.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • GardenoftheGods
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:57pm

      @GODZGRL247 The way you used the Food Stamps program back then, was the way the Program was intended–short term help to allow you time to get back on your feet. It absolutely blows my mind that they can now be used to buy beer, cigarettes, etc. That, my friend is pure BS! I‘m glad you’re back on your feet; and I hope your husband is fully recovered.
      More people should be like you; and the lady who told the idiot he couldn’t pay for cigarettes with FOOD stamps. I just thought of another thing…this is the Nanny State gone wild–they tax cigarettes a lot because they’re bad for you, & then go and supply them to people through the Food Stamp Program…How’s that for Progressive idiocy?!!

      Report Post » GardenoftheGods  
    • OneTermPresident
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:05pm

      @GODZGRL247… Believe me, today you would be the exception to a taxpayer problem that has grown by leaps and bounds. I feel for the working taxpayers that make a dollar an hour to much to qualify for an EBT card. They bust their butts struggling to make ends meet while the ones on welfare live better than they do doing nothing.

      Report Post » OneTermPresident  
    • BIgWheeler
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:32pm

      I’m sorry to hear that. But for every honest person like you there are 1,000 leeches abusing the system.

      Report Post » BIgWheeler  
    • America is Godless
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:41pm

      This woman either never smoked or was part of the 1% that can easily quit the most addictive substance known to man.

      In the old days he would have gotten a check and used cash. At least this way he can not buy illegal items. But cigarettes are legal. Don’t want to sell them do not work for a place that sells them.

      Go to your Senator and complain. Maybe he will work for laws making Cigarettes illegal. Right.

      This lady reminds me of the Preacher that goes to the whorehouse every day of the week but Sunday. We all sin. Every one of us. Judge not that ye be not judged.

      Report Post »  
    • 3monkeysmomma
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:53pm

      I have a similar story;

      In 2009 at the height of the recession my husband became seriously ill and lost his job. By 2010 we had gone through our savings and even though we were highly educated people with good work histories and excellent credit, we ended up on food stamps for six months.

      I was mortified. I broke down and wept the day I had to apply. I was so ashamed. The idea this idiot would fight for the right to buy cigarrettes with food stamps is so foreign to me I just can’t begin to imagine. I used to slink into the grocery store at times when it was fairly empty and PRAY no one would see me.

      Report Post » 3monkeysmomma  
    • hayesstephen
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:57pm

      As you said it was MANY YEARS AGO you were on FOOD STAMPS. This is not a FOOD STAMP CARD IT’S AN EVERYTHING CARD. We’re paying for people smokes and the government is doing everything they can to out law smoking for crying out loud. No smokes, no booze, no soda pop Food, and sanitary supplies.

      Report Post »  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:58pm

      Totally different culture now. You felt fortunate to have the help and unfortunately were made to feel shameful.
      Now the system is a little different. Walmart arranges its staff to accommodate the overflow crowds at midnight on the last day of the month and the 14th. The electronic card holders fill their carts and plan it so there place in line does not get to the checker before 12:01. At 12:01 the $$ hits the card and They are good to go…
      No shame, now it’s a game.

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
    • Favored93
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 6:15pm

      So here is the deal Godzgrl247….
      like the woman said … helping people who have a legitimate need should get legitimate help.
      I am a born again Christian who still has junk (lots of it) to deal with and flesh to crucify. I am fighting a decades long nicotine habit. I know what this addiction is like. I am not on food stamps. I do not use an EBT card but I was raised on welfare. My families story is long and won’t boor you all with it. However her point in this story and mine is that if you need help making rent is it right to go buy beer? If I am paying for your food do you demand I pay for your nicotine habit as well? Is it right if a person begs me for money to feed his kids and runs to the casino instead?
      The man on welfare in this story was caught STEALING from us all. This old woman was spot on in her refusal. No one is judging a person for falling on hard times all of us have been in some kind of need… we ALL NEED Jesus.
      The only issue here is why are we giving INTENTIONAL bums money for their drugs?
      I am glad she took a stand against an obvious theft. “Legal” or not he and all who do this are STEALING! We all work hard for what we have and we give when we see a need …. Taxes are not a gift they are taken. This man and our government are taking my hard earned money so people like this can stay drunk and have a supply of smokes…. THIS IS WRONG!
      Being in need is not the issue … legal thievery is.

      Report Post » Favored93  
    • normalmom
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 6:48pm

      The EBT card has the cash side (supposed to be for bills) and then the food stamp side, and sadly yes they can actually use the card in an ATM machine and get cash. I don’t know if the EBT cards are the same in all states but that is how it is in Washington state.Way to go for that lady and more need to do the same thing.

      Report Post »  
    • ALL4FREEDOM
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 7:02pm

      Want to hear another good one? A local market was advertising live lobsters at a special price, and they would steam them for free if desired. A sign above the tank said that cooked lobsters were not eligible for EBT purchase – but live ones were. Sure wish I could afford lobster, but I can’t, so I go without.

      Report Post »  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 8:12pm

      This woman stood the ground that EACH AND EVERY tax paying citizen in this country needs to stand. NO TAXPAYER should have to pay for someones’ freaking cigs or beer or wine or the like. Write your reps and senators, this practice neds to end now.

      Report Post »  
    • symphonic
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 8:39pm

      Here here! There is all too much self righteousness in finance by those who think only lazy people fall on hard times.

      symphonic  
    • dustynbob
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 9:54pm

      You were buying FOOD an essential item for survival that you needed for a short time while your husband heals, no one has a problem with that and you shouldn’t be harsh about it.
      this is totally different. Good on this lady for standing up to the system. Now, if we all had her guts we would all stand beside her and “just say no;
      I am a foster mom and believe me his “mom” was not fostering good behavior but most likely playing the system.

      Report Post »  
    • jnw325
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 9:57pm

      I do not have a problem of a family using the program temporarily to feed their family while they regroup and try to get back on their feet. What I do have a problems with is several generations of families using the program as an entitlement that they feel is owed to them. I have a problem with people using the program to buy cigarettes, beer and being able to make a ATM transaction to go gamble. We talk about Fraud, Waste and Abuse in government spending this is one program that fits the bill…. I am sure there is more to this story that what we just read but, because Ms Whiton stood up for values and told the truth about the fraud in its use…. she is a hero

      Report Post » jnw325  
    • allensmithee789
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 10:42pm

      What do you call a man who works involuntarily for another man’s food, clothes, shelter, etc.? A SLAVE. The only God-given rights we have are life, liberty, and property. Charity is good because it is voluntary and does not violate another’s property — the fruit of their liberty i.e. the pursuit of happiness. These three rights are unalienable. Redistributional taxation + misplaced philanthropy is nothing more than LEGAL PLUNDER. Read Frederic Bastiat’s The Law — http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html and educate yourself.

      Report Post » allensmithee789  
    • allensmithee789
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 10:50pm

      What do you call a man who is forced to work for another man’s food, clothes, shelter, healthcare, etc.? A SLAVE. Entitlements are LEGAL PLUNDER and must end or else our Republic (rule of law) will end. Educate yourself on What 3 things are our God given rights and they certainly are not our God given human needs for which we have been given this great earth and each other’s voluntary charity to amply satisfy them. Read Frederic Bastiat’s The LAW to find out what our true unalienable rights are– http://bastiat.org/en/the_law.html.

      Report Post » allensmithee789  
    • symphonic
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:05am

      Public School is “legal plunder” then. All you that take that benefit do so at the taxation of those wealthy enough to pay for it. I don’t use it.

      Report Post » symphonic  
    • Dont-hate-on-me-2
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 4:30am

      when we make it uncomfortable to be on these programs ppl with stop using them. I too have had to use aid for short periods during hard times. Im a single father two great kids. What i need help with was food. Plain and simple. i used food shelters and thrift stores for clothes a few times till i could get back on my feet. Thats what welfare was made for. not the bottomless pit it is today and for many years now. It’s an enabler to stay poor now. When i was on it i felt disgusting. I dont want your money the cash aid i never used. I borrowed money for a few months and piad it back promptly as i could. I was called a Nazie tonight for my views about welfare. It dosent matter what color you are. Dont let it turn you into a slave. It doesnt really matter what you went thru the fact of the matter is ppl are sick and tired of the abuse of the welfare system thats the piont, thats the problem.

      Report Post » Dont-hate-on-me-2  
    • MS02134
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:22am

      Perhaps if you only had one child, you wouldn’t have had to have the taxpaying public bail you out of your mess.

      Report Post »  
    • zorro
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:52am

      I’ve heard that out of 100 problems you have, 10 are because you’re a dumba$$ and 90 because you don’t mind your own business. This lady should have minded her own business and she’d have a job now. Instead, her a$$ will end up on welfare and all of you defending her now will be paying for her crap. Good job everyone.

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 1:03pm

      Cloward and Piven. Look it up. It’s all designed to break the system. Cloward and Piven believed that welfare and voting were bones thrown to the poor, that they could get much more from the government if they revolted and banned together. Read Shadow Party by David Horowitz.

      Report Post »  
    • Coffeehead
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 3:05pm

      This persons “story” doesn’t require us to pay for his smokes. How stupid a thought.

      Report Post » Coffeehead  
    • Joe Tuesday Dienstag
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 6:23pm

      Cash EBT cards are very real, and they can be used as if it were a debit card. Food stamps in the late 70;s, early 80′s had no such equivalent, but it exists now. This is why any and all welfare should be at the local level, with charities taking on the truly destitute. If you can afford ANY luxury, then you dont need your entire life style to be paid for by others. Its very simple. If you have a cell phone, car, cable tv, a place to live, utilities, and you still cant eat, then maybe you should think about living within your means. When do we say “Enough!”? Let me also be clear that there is no debate on this issue that will satisfy the entitlement inclined, so I will save my breathe with them. It is absolutely WRONG to sustain a person in a comfortable state of living, that is paid by the work of others! Stop paying their entire way in every instant, and they might learn to make better personal choices in life. All the poor, and hungry in the USA, 43million on Food Stamps, yet over 40% are obese. Its all just one hypocrisy after another with the “womb to tomb” crew trying to run this country into the ground.

      Report Post » Joe Tuesday Dienstag  
    • SoloPocono
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 6:57pm

      Just FYI for folks that don’t know: I used to counsel women, (AND Men!!), in domestic violence situations. Some of my clients were forced to go on temporary assistance, (TANF, AKA Welfare) for short periods of time. They used their EBT cards for Food Stamps-from one account, and “Cash Benefits” from the other. These cash benefits are *supposed* to be used for things like rent, gas, and non-food items. Yes, it IS legal to use the cash benefits for alcohol & food. OTHERS that may have cash benefits on an EBT card are: SSI recipients, SSD Recipients, regular Social Security and Veterans benefits. The recipients often don’t have a bank account and are given a choice on how they receive their money.

      Report Post »  
    • Jacque
      Posted on June 29, 2012 at 10:46am

      I have NEVER thought less of anyone who uses our system as intended and since your husband paid taxes for yrs, when bad times hit that is what they are for.

      The FOOD STAMP President wants everyone a slave to the govt. FS use is up SEVETY PERCENT since 2008!

      What needs to be stopped is generational dependence or slavery to the govt. few people in those families have any intention of short-term, they want the American people to pay their way for life.

      As a psychologist I did a substance abuse assessment on a client the other day, who has been deemed 100% disabled for “being a slow learner” WTF? I asked this 23 year old man who has NEVER worked if he has tried to improve himself by schooling, learn to read programs, etc. “No, why should I?” Zero concept of personal responsibility. This disabled“ slow learner” came in my office earlier in the day and realized he needed ID, so Mr. SL on his own went to the DMV after he retrieved his BC from his house and then got a DL and came back to my office. Pretty detailed behavior for someone who is disabled for life. I saw no signs of disability, he just chooses to not attend school or learn, and he has a free ride.

      Report Post »  
    • pity party
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 12:32am

      I have broke my back 3 times in 8 spots. I have never had food stamps unemployment or since 18 health insurance. This is America. Start a business. I broke it at 13, 21,and 29 years old. Where there is a will there is a way. Glad you at least finally got a job but think that now you pay for someone else’s beer and cig habit. They abuse this and that is why it must stop. Some need it but half the economy does not. As more and more get on it debt for the country goes up. We pay this. You think it was hard then. Just wait! Animals find a way to live without food stamps, medicare and more. They are true survivors. The weak die and that is what we call life. You were quite capabale of cleaning houses or anything else. You just want the health care hand out. This can be purchased without a corporation. two part time jobs and the purchase of a health care plan is no different. It is just easier to take the hand out. The “I am white” comment also is crap. It is not just minorities that do it. White people do too. I am white too. Just not racist.

      Report Post »  
    • jerseygirlinflorida
      Posted on September 1, 2012 at 10:41pm

      Here in Florida, and most likely all states the EBT (food stamp) card – can only be used for food products only; with the exception of any prepared food. Just as one viewer blogged about the lobster – funny when its not cooked it is covered by the gov’t, but if it is steamed by the grocer it is prohibited. Food is food, plain and simple in my world anyway. The other ebt card is for cash assistance – which is supposed to be temporary. However there are strict guidelines; —-The TCA program provides cash assistance to families with children under the age of 18 or under age 19 if full time (high school) students, that meet the technical, income, and asset requirements. –taken from the state website. It would appear to be that sonny boy was using his mother’s card to buy cigarettes – maybe her cig’s. That’s why he had to go squirming to mama… My guess is that he is under 18 (or 19) and is mommy’s cash ticket (no pun intended) as a dependent. In that case, yes, cigarettes, alcohol, any and everything can be purchased. Mommy=trailer trash – son=riding on mommy’s apron strings for now.

      Report Post »  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:37pm

    Good she stood her ground.

    “The next day Whiton said the customer’s foster mother came to the store to complain,”

    Pretty petty, candy a$$ if you ask me…

    And retail workers get it from the manglers aka manager and the customers…I feel sorry for the retail workers that have to put up with this crap.

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:08pm

      Good she stood her ground.

      No, it ain’t her ground. She just worked there. She stood somebody else’s ground, and sacrificed somebody else’s money.

      Report Post »  
    • rickc34
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:22pm

      chet your an idiot

      Report Post »  
    • SgtBigO
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:34pm

      You’re*. If you‘re going to insult someone’s intelligence, make sure you use correct spelling.

      Report Post »  
    • BIgWheeler
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:36pm

      “Mommy! I can’t get free ciggs!”
      Finally, a late-term abortion I can get behind.

      Report Post » BIgWheeler  
    • Bronco II
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 6:19pm

      The so-called foster mother gives WONDERFUL foster parents a bad name.My sister and I were raised by foster parents from the age of 9 til 18 and are still very much family to us Mom (foster mother passed in 2007 and my Dad (foster father in 1988 ) I don’t and never have referred to them as foster mother and father they were MOM AND DAD because that is how they were to us and their two children who we referr to as sister and brother that is how they are to us and I have 9 bio sisters and brothers and they know them and we consider ourselves one big family and the state never gave them enough money for food,clothing,medical needs they put alot out of their own pockets why because we were their children and they truely loved us as their own.Not that I don‘t honor my bio mother I do she gave me birth and for that I’am grateful but alcohol meant more to her then her nine children and to those so-called experts on family history NONE of us has a drinking problem I don‘t drink at all except a beer every five or six years at home or on our family reunion and it’s one or two after eating I will get gitty on a half a beer I don‘t drink any hard liquor and I’m very bad about taking medicine I don‘t like anything that makes me feel I’m not in control of myself.And it is harder today to try and salvage children from a very horrific homelife it does take very speacial people and GOD played a very important role in our upbringing and I THANK GOD everyday for my MOM and DAD.

      Report Post » Bronco II  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 7:43pm

      The last I checked… Retail Business was about Selling… not about a Spanish Inquisition!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • taxpro4u03
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 8:16pm

      Business owners are JUST as culpable — They know they can jack up the prices on anything that deals with children i.e. food, over-the-counter meds, diapers etc knowing full well big gubmint $ will pour in from the EBT cards — same with the foodstamp program. Trickle down economics… employees cannot ‘make the call’ on moral principle against ‘store policy.‘ It’s about COMMERCE. — It is coming to pass that even some restaurants will be accepting them to ‘stay in business’ in an ever-increasing economic DEPRESSION… Watch for it – This is a same-but-different small scale, ‘GM, too-big-to fail‘ ’bailout’ — and the ‘taxpayers’ don’t pay a dime for it — it is PART of the Corporate USA’s $16TRILLION debt — which the 14th amendment says cannot be questioned… What’s the problem? Most people that are capable of working for a living will gladly do so — Gainful Employment on the other hand is increasingly difficult in this economy due to the quantitative easing and devaluation of the dollar — A ‘net loss’ of 40% of wealth is a HUGE number… With a manufacturing base virtually dried up (we‘re not PRODUCING anything of value to sell other than ’pundits,’ and entertainment crap — where’s the $ coming from for people to afford to buy the imported crap at wally-world? It’s by design, and has been headed that way since at least the late 70′s… Eminent Domain for YOUR house when the ‘jobs’ totally dry up — that’s what the FEMA camps are for –. “di

      Report Post »  
  • marcus_arealius
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:36pm

    Can you take a pack of cigarettes and liquefy them so you can receive it intravenously? It seems that burning the tobacco is not efficient. In these hard economic times we should try to make the most use of the resources we have. At least EAT the cigarettes, let your colon do the work. That way your breath won’t smell like an ashtray.

    Report Post »  
    • AnimalsAsLeaders
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 6:05pm

      Technically, ingesting a drug is the LEAST efficient method. Smoking and IV injections are the most efficient (and are essentially equivalent) although the heat in smoking will make the method slightly less efficient as there will be some active compounds either destroyed or displaced (in smoke, tar, resins & residues, etc.) in the process. Of course, you could always ingest something “backwards” if you will – an efficient albeit crude and slightly uncomfortable route to getting your fix.

      Report Post » AnimalsAsLeaders  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 7:42pm

      AnimalsAsLeaders
      Smoking is a faster form of delivery, but not more efficient in terms of how much of the drug ends up in your system.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 7:45pm

      I won’t Blow Smoke in your Face… if you do not try to Kiss me!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • FFPanama
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 10:11am

      My goodness, can you just imagine how much CO2 those Cigs pit out. His carbon footprint must be huge. Where is ALGORE on all of this. ALGORE should be praising the lady for stopping all that global warming, er global cooling, uh, I mean climate change.

      Report Post » FFPanama  
  • The Gooch
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:34pm

    Well, this should silence the detractors who say states don’t give carte blanche to food stamp beneficiaries to engage in such behavior.
    Here’s a thought: Make the bum eat the cigarettes. Yum, yum!!!
    Oh, the insanity: This fellow also likely receives Medicaid beefits. Think about that for a moment. No matter what this guy does, working people are likely paying for his vices and the consequences thereof. There is no defending this level of enabling.

    Report Post »  
  • SREGN
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:34pm

    So the gubmint is stealing half the money I make from working 2 jobs and giving it to people too lazy to work so they can buy booze and cigarettes? WTF!

    Report Post »  
    • GIRTHMAN
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:16pm

      Spread the word !!! isnt it great

      Report Post » GIRTHMAN  
    • symphonic
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 9:34pm

      No, actually they are giving it to SOCIALISM PUBLIC SCHOOLS, the “free” education for all, the DOLE, the hand out, the luxury sports programs, all for FREE, and frankly, being a homeschooler, don’t understand why I should have to pay for YOUR benefits.

      Give it up. You are ALL socialists already.

      Report Post » symphonic  
    • FFPanama
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 10:14am

      They also use the cards for gambling, taking vacation trips and cruises. Recent coverage from California where the free loaders and illegals were spending millions and millions on gambling and cruises as well as Hawaii vacations. Sorry, I can not go with them, I have to stay home and work to pay taxes so that they can go.

      Report Post » FFPanama  
  • flyingeagle
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:31pm

    How is life?

    Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:31pm

    Similar to the person who reads a card with a bad joke, calls their customer services and chews out the poor soul on the other end, this woman was misguided. Yes, it is ridiculous that people can buy these things with EBT cards. Picking a fight with a customer in your store, however, is completely the wrong tactic. They’re fully within their rights to use the card this way. Change needs to come from above. She should have contacted management about changing which cards are accepted, or contacted her state legislators about changing the rules when it comes to what cards are accepted in stores within her state, or contacted her senators and HoR Congresscritters about changing the program.

    Instead she picked a fight with a customer, and was rightfully let go. It’s sad, but if you don‘t follow rules you don’t work the job.

    “Whiton is not currently looking for work, according to the Source.”

    Ironically, this means that she may very well be on government assistance herself, either unemployment or cashing into Social Security early.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:41pm

      It is bad enough when the Federal, State, and Local Governments make up Rules… and worse when Businesses do it… but an Employee is just playing FASCIST!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:42pm

      “cashing into Social Security early”??
      ———————————-
      The article says she is 65. Has the age limit been raised and I didn’t hear about it?

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:02pm

      @Anonymous

      If she is 65 today, that means she was born in 1947 or 1948. Full retirement cannot be collected from Social Security in that age range until the age of 66.

      http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/agereduction.htm

      Report Post »  
    • Dismayed Veteran
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:03pm

      @ANAN

      The full retirement age for most baby boomers is 66. But, you can get SS earlier. BTW, just for general comments, SS is not an entitlement. You and your employer pay into it. No government money.

      Dismayed Veteran  
    • acidovorax
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 6:11pm

      Dismayed, did I read you right? Social Security is not an entitlement because “you and your employer paid into it. No government money”?

      Where does government get any of the money that it uses to spend? Isn’t it from taxes? You don’t believe that the money that you and your employer pay is ALL that you can extract from the program, do you?

      Ever heard of Ida May Fuller: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ida_May_Fuller

      Report Post »  
    • behonest
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 7:51pm

      she is 66 yrs old she can apply for SS. I am glad she stood her ground this needs to be exposed and being put out there . I heard her two days ago on Howie Carr’s Podcast everybody that called thanked her for INFORMING THE TAXPAYER where their money was going. There is also another case of a man in Massacheuetts that needed bail money his one phone calls was to his girlfriend telling her to get the EBT card and go to the ATM for his BAIL MONEY. Wake up America we are being taken down the road to serfdom.

      Report Post » behonest  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 7:54pm

      @ACID…
      FICA… Federal Insurance Contributions Act… collects from Employer and Employee… and is NOT A TAX… thereby NOT A TAX RELATED ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM! And. Presidents & Congress have sworen the Funds are held in a LOCK BOX as a TRUST and cannot be touched or used for other purposes :)

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • ObserverOnTheHill
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 9:16pm

      apparently you either did not read the article or you did not understand it. It clearly states the card he was using is NOT ALLOWED for these purchases. While I want to puke ON these people for their theft of our tax dollars I am just as mad at the store owner not backing his employee. Why didn’t he ? He is in on the scam and is in it only for the money. I hope he is one small businessman who goes down.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 11:40pm

      @OBSERVER…
      Try reading it, again!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 8:11am

      @Behonest

      “he is 66 yrs old she can apply for SS.”

      False, she is 65. Yes, she can apply for social security… early. She will not get full payments. As per the article:

      “Either way, the 65-year-old wasn‘t cowed by the boy’s foster mother”

      @Observer

      “apparently you either did not read the article or you did not understand it. It clearly states the card he was using is NOT ALLOWED for these purchases. ”

      Apparently you were the one not reading or misunderstanding. As per the article:

      “It’s important to note that there are two types of EBT cards: one is for essential grocery items and the other can be used for pretty much anything. The customer had the latter.”

      Latter, in this case, refer to the second option: “the other can be used for pretty much anything.”

      Report Post »  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:27pm

    It’s called “Liberal Utopia.”

    Report Post » KickinBack  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:26pm

    now that she’s fired she can make more money on welfare than she did at the mini mart. that is the sad reality of the world we live in. God bless you lady I hope it all works out for you
    I went to run in the store to pay for my gas and saw a giant fat woman with 3 kids who used her ebt to buy smokes beer and some scratch tickets all the while telling her very skinny children that they couldn’t have the banana crackers and juice they quietly put on the counter. sick and twisted world we live in. crying hungry kids and mom buying her vices on the government dime. the clerk told me he’s called the state on her and they do nothing. makes me sick.

    Report Post »  
    • acidovorax
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 6:14pm

      Horsecrazy: of course they do nothing. Why do you think that government workers/officials would act against their own self-interest. The more people on their program, the more job security they have.

      Report Post »  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:26pm

    Since they fired her, they cannot complain if she files for unemployment. I never, in my life, knew such cards existed. I thought all they had was a card to buy essential grocery items. Whose stupid idea was it to give these low-life’s a card that would allow them to buy alcohol, tobacco, and lottery tickets? What happens if they use an EBT card to buy lottery tickets and they win? Who gets the winnings? It‘s no freakin’ wonder why we have a city full of lay-abouts, druggies, and drunks. Welfare is but one of the many programs that needs to be overhauled.

    Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • JQCitizen
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:36pm

      This is the idea of CROOK POLITICIANS that are looking for the “Dim-Bulb, Low-Life” vote. These are the same politicians that want to pay for people’s contraceptions, abortions, and tatoo removal, and who want to legalize drugs.

      Their goal is to get as many as possible dependent on government, until their “God is their Belly…” , (as the Scriptures say), and then dominate through dependence.

      Their motto is “Jam today; not even a crust of bread unless I say so tomorrow!”

      They are nothing more than Poverty Pimps!

      Report Post »  
    • bravjim
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:36pm

      You can bet it wasn’t a conservatives. This stuff is relatively new, and I heard about it a couple of years ago for the first time. Those cards are meant to be used for essential daily items that food stamps wouldn’t cover, such as toilet paper, soap, shampoo, fuel and the like.

      Report Post »  
    • YourVoiceMatters
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:37pm

      you really need to ask?

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:37pm

      I want to thank this woman .. because of stories like this we are learning A LOT … about those who use and abuse the system .. enough of this …. they also are the ones selling the food cards and then showing up at the food pantries … they need to stop that …. if you get a food card then you can’t use the pantries .. they should be for the working poor who can’t qualify for the dole!

      Report Post »  
    • symphonic
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 9:47pm

      Low lifes? I bet you never applied your “logic” to why my tax dollar should pay for the education of my neighbor’s kids. Why wouldn’t they just pay for their OWN kids education, LIKE I DO?

      You want to pick on the poor, call them losers, low lifes? God will judge this ugly ugly attitude, not me, but it comes across so spiritually DEAD for people to condemn the poor because they don’t GROVEL before the more fortunate. Ugly indeed.

      Report Post » symphonic  
    • SovereignSoul
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 12:17am

      But, she wasn’t”t fired. It says in the article that she quit.
      Stupid headline writers!!

      Report Post » SovereignSoul  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:26pm

    No one who is able to walk, roll, crawl or slither into a store under their own power should be allowed to collect welfare in the first place.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • jungle J
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:25pm

    principles are costly in a society run by the mentally ill.

    Report Post »  
  • duketurner
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:24pm

    I am proud of her for standing up for what is right. Bravo!

    Report Post » duketurner  
    • 9111315
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:53pm

      Yes, good for her.

      Report Post »  
    • momrules
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:09pm

      I am proud of her too. At 65 she was working for a living while the 20 something bum lives off her hard work.

      A woman of principle and we need more like her. I hope she can retire and collect the SS that she actually WORKED for.

      Report Post »  
    • JayCee
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:40pm

      Working people have had it with parasitic lazy bums.
      My wife works for the state agency here that administers medicaid.
      She got a call from a “client” that wanted a list of Dr.s and hospitals that would accept her medicaid coverage while she is on vacation in Hawaii next week.

      Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:24pm

    Has she not heard that Obama is trying to give America away? She must not be with the program. Obama’s job with his Socialist/Marxist friends is to give America away.

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • blackyb
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:22pm

    That was not her call. If his card was legal, then she is clerking, not enforcing law. He has the law on his side. She needs to be reprimanded, perhaps, not fired or she will have to get her a couple of cards. Then the two of them will be out there using two cards apiece. This feaking mess is enough to make anyone throw in the towel. America has really been put on the spot with all this “gimme” and “you can’t have” stuff.

    Report Post » blackyb  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:37pm

      Even though she went about it in the way she did, she still has a say in what hers, and those people in line’s, tax money goes toward. Welfare recipients should not be allowed free reign on what they can buy with other people’s money. There is no shame in this new generation, and I believe that’s what they have been indoctrinated into believing.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • 2H9
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 6:20pm

      “That was not her call. If his card was legal, then she is clerking, not enforcing law.” Really?!?! Okey Dokey, then. By your “logic” people who are “clerking” are not allowed to ask for ID on tobacco and alcohol sales. That is “enforcing law” not “clerking”. Can’t have it both ways, sweety.

      Report Post » 2H9  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:22pm

    From what I heard obama is accepting them for his political campaign. I don’t smoke but if they can use them for obama let them buy cigarettes.

    Report Post »  
    • Arminius23
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 7:14am

      What a concept….EBT cards used for campaign contributions…. Frightening thought.

      Report Post » Arminius23  
  • bravjim
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:20pm

    I would have done the same thing if I were in her shoes. My last job was in a convenience store in Florida, and they don’t let you purchase beer or cigarettes. I had qualms when someone would come in buying a bunch of junk food, pull out their EBT cards, and then turn over cash for a pack of smokes or for an 18 pack. If they tried to pull something like that, I would have laughed them out of the store, and ridiculed them in the process.

    Report Post »  
  • Angel_light
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:20pm

    even if it is legal it is still messed up that someone with food stamps or a card whatever it’s the same thing it is meant for food not luxury items. I stand by this woman and i believe the system is flawed if it is going to allow this kind of babying.

    and seriously? the “grown” man needed his foster mommy to come and yell at the strict old lady. BOO HOO!!! the only luxary item this jerk needs is a big fat PACIFIER!!!!

    Report Post » Angel_light  
    • Chet Hempstead
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 8:02pm

      Okay, but if it’s a cash card, you can just take it to a bank and get a fistful of twenties that you can blow on weed, crack or street corner dice games as well as cigarettes. This cranky old biddy who gave a dude a hard time for trying to pay for cigarettes directly with an EBT has no idea how many packs a day she is selling to much worse offenders who are using the same money.

      Report Post »  
  • boxy
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:20pm

    We will be lost when this generation leaves us.

    Report Post »  
    • Mutiny
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 6:05pm

      I think you have it wrong. I believe the older generations are the one who put us in this spot. Yes this woman standing up to make a point is one thing, but the system is broken. This is a system that was installed by the old people. I completely blame them for this mess.

      Even now the old people are screwing things up. A large majority of the old people in the GOP primary voted Romney. That is his base, the old status quo. The old people gave us the worst possible candidate against Obama because Romney was able to pay for ads during Days of our Lives and Wheel of Fortune.

      My generation(I’m 35) will be the generation that has to fix this crap.

      Report Post » Mutiny  
  • susie4dy
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:19pm

    Ass backwards!

    Report Post » susie4dy  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:19pm

    There is just no possible way to reduce the annual budget deficit. I mean people need their Kools and Colt 45. What are we, Nazi Germany?

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • karen162
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:18pm

    We all need to do our part to make people uncomfortable in their poverty. Not in a mean manner, not name calling, but make them uncomfortable living off of others by doing what this lady did.

    Report Post » karen162  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:27pm

      There is no shame associated with living of the government teet anymore. Ask one, they think it‘s their ’right’.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Welcome Black Carter
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:16pm

    The article of course does not provide race information. 27% of blacks are on stamps vs less than 1% white…
    Ii’ll go with the odds.

    Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
    • bravjim
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:24pm

      Posts like this is why the left continues to call conservatives racist. Of course, my guess is that you are a racist liberal trying to smear conservatives with a remark like this. Either way, those who believe that all men are created equal, and that all are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights are going to be just as offended as I am by your snarky little nasty comment. Stop being a hater already, and grow up.

      Report Post »  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:30pm

      Something I didn’t even notice.
      I’ve been meaning to compliment you on your clever user name.

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • vox_populi
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:31pm

      Most food stamp users are White. Try again.

      http://www.trivisonno.com/wp-content/uploads/Food-Stamps-Race.jpg

      Report Post » vox_populi  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:59pm

      Voxpopuli
      I would not have believed it by observation, but you are correct.
      Here is a US Census about food stamps broken down by race and regions:
      http://www.census.gov/apsd/www/statbrief/sb95_22.pdf

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Blackman Standing Tall71
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:22pm

      You need to go back an do more research,or do you want me to send the most Recent report.36% were white,26% were black,and 10% were hispanic.Please,don’t make this an issue about race, because you lose.Those are facts that I’ll gladly send.Stop listening to Newt,He was only saying these things to win your vote.Men lie,Women lie,numbers don’t!!FACTS!!!!

      Report Post » Blackman Standing Tall71  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:28pm

      “Most food stamp users are White. Try again”

      That is what the main stream will always quote. According to 2010 govt stats, 27% of “working age” blacks are on stamps vs less than 1% of working age whites.
      That is facts, no “snarky” liberal here.

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:39pm

      “You need to go back an do more research,or do you want me to send the most Recent report.36% were white,26% were black,and 10% were hispanic.Please,don’t make this an issue about race, because you lose.Those are facts that I’ll gladly send.Stop listening to Newt,He was only saying these things to win your vote.Men lie,Women lie,numbers don’t!!FACTS!!!!”

      I guess by now you have realized that blacks are 11% of the population and whites are aprox 5 times that… percentage by race 27% black vs <1% whites…
      Even you are startled by those facts. Yes?

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
    • symphonic
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 9:31pm

      Wow. ugly racism in action here…

      Report Post » symphonic  
    • allensmithee789
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 10:59pm

      Race relations would be so much better if Booker T. Washington’s, Tuskegee Institute founder, wisdom were followed. Cast down your bucket on his Atlanta Compromise Speech 1895. http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/39/

      Report Post » allensmithee789  
  • HKS
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:16pm

    That’s some of that Obama money, it’s used to buy votes

    Report Post » HKS  
  • Mutiny
    Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:14pm

    She shouldnt blame the guy buying the cigarettes, she should blame the system that allows it. Her job is to sell goods, not make these type of judgements. Had it been my store she would have been fired also.

    Report Post » Mutiny  
    • bravjim
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 4:32pm

      That‘s why I’m glad I don’t work for you.

      Report Post »  
    • Mike N
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:19pm

      .
      This woman is such an upstanding citizen. She actually gets it!

      Running your store in such an unprincipled manner would do nothing to fix what ails this country . . . in fact, it would just accelerate our current decline.

      Thanks for your apathy . . . thanks alot.
      .

      Report Post »  
    • JayCee
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:45pm

      You are part of the problem.

      Report Post »  
    • Mutiny
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 5:55pm

      That is hilarious. So the store allows EBT use. The law allow these type of purchases. She was making her own law. She was wrong.

      I dont think anyone should be able to use EBT. I think the the whole system is broken. Dont be mad at the people using the system, be mad at the system. If you dont like this type thing you should vote for Constitution following politicians(Ron Paul). The only way to fix this problem is the phase them out and quit creating new ones.

      Report Post » Mutiny  
    • symphonic
      Posted on June 27, 2012 at 9:28pm

      I would have fired her too. A store is color blind when it comes to selling things. I bet the store even sells porn. What duplicity to pick and choose. FIRE the woman!

      Report Post » symphonic  
    • Kisses6350
      Posted on June 28, 2012 at 10:45am

      Well, she has a right to her opinion! She is going about the fight the wrong way. Go after the policy makers! Now she is un empoyeed. With this economy, night a good time to be jobless! But maybe someone will have pity on her, and start an internet fund and she an retire. ***Smirks***

      Report Post »  
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