Donald Trump and Newt Gingrich devise 'Apprentice'-style plan for poor kids (VIDEO)
Newt Gingrich, who recently criticized child labor laws as 'stupid,' has dreamed up an 'Apprentice'-style plan with Donald Trump that would put 10 'apprenti' from New York City schools to work.
Donald Trump smiles at left as Republican presidential candidate, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich talks to media after their meeting in New York, Monday.
Seth Wenig/AP
Remember last month, when Newt Gingrich took heat for saying child labor laws are "truly stupid"?
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The GOP presidential candidate isn't backing away from his comments. Instead, he just keeps refining his point – or, depending on whom you talk to, digging himself deeper into a hole.
His latest idea, dreamed up during his summit with real estate mogul and reality TV host, Donald Trump: an "Apprentice"-style plan in which The Donald would select 10 "apprenti" (Mr. Trump's term) from New York City schools and put them to work.
"It was Newt's idea, and I thought it was a great idea," said Trump, appearing with Mr. Gingrich in a press conference, and adding, "I think it's going to be something that's going to really prove results."
It's less clear whether New York City's Department of Education will think it's a great idea, especially given the numbers involved. Nearly three-quarters of the city's 1.25 million school children qualify for free or reduced lunches, and 29 percent are below the poverty line.
Also, though Gingrich said he and Trump hope to "create a model" for a program that engages students in work, numerous schools around the country have already implemented larger-scale apprenticeship programs into their curriculum. (Janitorial work – Gingrich's recent proposal – is not generally a focus.)
Gingrich has been looping back to the theme of poor children and jobs for several weeks now, but seems to be struggling to make his point without sounding tone deaf.





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