Rick Santelli's 'Stop spending!' meltdown
The CNBC correspondent, whose on-air call for a "tea party" launched a protest movement, is screaming again
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
CNBC's Rick Santelli is "goin' nuts again," says Jim Newell at Gawker. The on-air personality, who ignited a nationwide movement in February 2009 with his on-air rant calling for a "tea party" to protest government spending, this week blew his top when CNBC financial correspondent Steve Liesman said cutting taxes wouldn't boost the economy enough to shore up the nation's finances. Santelli countered that the only solution is for the government to stop spending. Then he waved his arms furiously, shouting, "Stop spending! Stop spending! Stop spending! STOP SPENDING! That's what we want. Stop spending!" Hopefully, Santelli's "five-star rant" will wake up Washington, says Andrew Zarowny at Right Pundits. Because Obama is on course to bankrupt the country with his so-called stimulus spending if somebody doesn't stop him. Santelli's good at getting attention with the occasional "childish tirade," says Tonya Somanader at Think Progress. But he had no facts — just spittle — to counter Liesman's argument that unemployment would be worse if stimulus spending hadn't kept thousands of teachers and police officers on the job. Watch Santelli's outburst below:
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.