Representative Steve Southerland (R-FL)
At a town hall event in Florida yesterday, GOP Representative Steve Southerland took a question from a constituent about his salary. He proceeded to tell the good people he supposedly represents that his salary is small considering how many hours he puts in and the risks he runs.
“And by the way, did I mention? They’re shooting at us,” Southerland told constituents. “If you think this job pays too much, with those kinds of risks and cutting me off from my family business, I’ll just tell you: This job don’t mean that much to me. I had a good life in Panama City.”
These are quite outlandish remarks considering Representative Southerland makes a Congressional salary of $174,000. And what’s worse is that his remarks come at a time when most people are either unemployed or having to work two or more jobs just to get by on a weekly basis. Southerland’s words are also insensitive. Saying his cushy job doesn’t mean much to him is very disheartening to the people who elected him to represent them because they thought he actually cared about working for them. Most people in this country right now would give an arm and a leg to have that good paying job. It’s supposed to be an honor to serve the American people in the halls of Congress. But to Southerland, it’s not. And you can bet that many other Republicans feel the exact same way. And like Southerland, the only reason they serve is for their own benefit, not for their constituents.
He isn’t doing the job for the money. He is doing it for the connections!! That is where the big money is.
As for being shot at – when the hell was he shot at? When the hell has ANY Republican representative been shot at? They’re the ones with the friggin guns!
$174,000 a year is a “small” salary only to someone who is already incredibly wealthy. Hope the voters will fire his ass – certainly any employee who conveyed this attitude about his job to his boss would be fired straight away.
are you serious?
One wonders if this super patriot was forced to take the job or did he CHOOSE to run for the job that means little or nothing to0 him?
Seriously! I just can’t believe Steve would make this kind of comment – openly!
Florida! We should have let them and the rest of the Red, Welfare States of the South secede 150 years ago. It would have saved this country a lot of pain and embarrassment. I am so sick of these yehaw yahoos sending men like this to represent them, to the detriment of the rest of the country. C’mon y’all get a brain before it’s too late!
the voters need to remember how little he values his office at the next election!!!!!!!!!!!
Current Representative Steve Southerland exploited personal family problems distracting former Rep. Allen Boyd, a real conservative decorated wartime veteran. Rep. Boyd was challenged and lost in the primary to a local former elected clown who Boyd had helped “look good” for over 20 years. Then Steve Southerland took advantage of an unusual lull between the primary and the general ellection. The lull adversely affected the collective brains of many North Florida Democrats, who had no idea there were so many Tea Partiers living this close to Tallahassee (where there are none). Rep. Southerland will be former Rep. Southerland in January 2013. Good riddance.
Shameful!!! He needs to say this in a room filled with soldiers, police men and women, firefighters, etc.!!!!
Don’t forget construction workers. WHY more construction workers are injured or killed every year than cops…
Go spend some time with our troops in Afghanistan. Then come back and complain your job is too dangerous and underpaid.
And that’s 174K for life right? Full benefits also?
STOP THIS KIND OF INSANITY WITH “0″ VOTES FOR REPUBLICANS IN 2012.
I think that everyone who gets shot at should make $174,000 a year. Let’s start with the people who live here:
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/05/the-10-most-dangerous-cities-in-america/239513/#slide7
LibProud, there really is an explanation how incompetent fools like this run for office:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning-Kruger_effect
Here are the most dangerous jobs in America. Note that (1) Congressman isn’t on the list and (2) These people all make a lot less money than Southerland does:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/galleries/2010/04/07/dangerous-jobs.html
i’ll take his job for $74,000 and pay 4 my own insurance, 401k, & WORK hard for the working man!!!!
Hopefully next election the good people of Panama City will send this poor guy back to work at his family business. And then not patronize it. Let this guy see how the non-congressional world lives.
Soldiers don’t make nearly that salary. Neither do police officers, paramedics, firemen, public school teachers,nurses at public hospitals or millions of other real public servants. He should include the apology in his letter of resignation. Step aside so someone who really understands the concept of public service take the job.
Please, don’t blame ALL of Florida. There are a LOT of rational people, aka. non-Republicans down here, but all the old Republicans retire and move down and outvote us. They not only applaud Teddy Roosevelt, they REMEMBER voting for him! Pisses me off! If your first voter’s registration card was printed on either papyrus or a CLAY TABLET I don’t really expect rational decisions. Still, I wonder how loyal they’re going to be now that the G.O.P (Grossly Overpaid Puppets) have started talking about destroying Social Security and Medicare.
I’ll take his job, no problem!
P.S. as for “shooting at us” please sister! I don’t know a single soldier who makes 174,000.
Blame conservative voters/T Partiers for elevating this kind of person far, far beyond their normal level of competence.
Blame Florida. They have developed a reputation for electing a$$holes.