Newt Gingrich Calls Child Labor Laws 'Stupid'

Calling child labor laws "truly stupid," GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich wants poor children to clean their schools for money.

In a speech at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, the former House speaker said schools in low-income areas "should get rid of unionized janitors, have one master janitor, pay local students to take care of the school. The kids would actually do work; they'd have cash; they'd have pride in the schools. They'd begin the process of rising."

CNN reported Gingrich as adding:

"Go out and talk to people who are really successful in one generation. They all started their first job at 9 to 14 years of age. They are selling newspapers, going door to door, washing cars. They were all making money at a very young age.

"What do we say to poor kids in poor neighborhoods? Don't do it. Remember all the stuff about not getting a hamburger-flipping job? Worst possible advice to give the poor children."