McCain May Give Convention Speech From Disaster Zone

Politico:

President Bush is unlikely to make it to the Republican National Convention and Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may deliver his acceptance speech by satellite because of the historically huge hurricane threatening New Orleans, top officials said.

But officials insisted that, the convention, scheduled to open here on Monday, will go on -- albeit in a more limited and sedate form, if Hurricane Gustav stays on its projected path. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered a mandatory evacuation beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday after federal officials said Gustav could grow to a catastrophic Category 5, hitting Monday afternoon between East Texas and western Mississippi.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[whiskeytangofoxtrot451]

Never underestimate the republicans's ability to exploit the suffering of others for a little cheap political theater.

[ThunderclapNewman]

Truer words were never spoken (or written.)

[kansasexpat]

Ummmm, isn't it kinda irresponsible to disrupt rescue and recovery efforts after a big storm like that, just so you can use it as a background: "Look at me, I'm here ...." not helping but actually hurting??????

[CharlottesvilleVA]

Precisely. And heading INTO Mississippi with Palin today is borderline criminal. There are evacuations going on, the people there are hustling, and here comes the "Straight Talk Express" to interrupt things so that McCain can pretend that he cares about the plight of people who are focused on preserving their lives. Hey - no worries, right? It's not like a motorcade, an advance team, a bunch of Secret Service agents, and the media could conceivably get in the way.

These people and their party are dangerous. I have given up on the notion that "they mean well."

[seenitall]

McSame has his own personal disaster zone wherever he is...

[rossir]

ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS!

McCain got in the way during the flooding in Iowa earlier this year - just to score some cheap political points. Can you imagine the spectacle of security and media coverage descending on the region just when we need to get nonessential services out of the way of the emergency response teams?

Country first? Not on your life, and not on my dime!

[craiggp]

If McCain does do this, it would only be responsible to show the picture of he and Bush with the cake, enjoying McCain's birthday while Katrina happened, with every report. It's reasonable context. Let them say that happened in the past--of course they can't do that without rendering the POW experience null. Perhaps they'll say McCain learned from that experience and wants to do right by the Gulf Coast now. But does McCain learn? McCain did not choose to be a POW, remember, he survived it. He hasn't learned from that experience in any way that's useful to vets, whom he routinely votes against. He himself doesn't honor that experience by putting it to work empathetically, in service to others. He only uses it as PR. He and Bush chose to have cake while New Orleans drowned, and he may choose to go and get in the way again as he did in Iowa, but he'll only demonstrate that he only uses personal hardship, his own and others, as photo ops, not as calls to decent action when he can actually do something about it with his vote in the Senate.

[NCRESIDENT]

Quote today from Obama and Biden when asked if he is going to New Orleans "Word came late Saturday that John McCain would visit an emergency command post in Jackson, Mississippi on Sunday. Asked if he would visit the area, Obama said that because of the large number of staff and press traveling with him, he might be a distractio­n."
That is a man who puts people before his own political ambitions. John McCain is going to score political points. Obama is urging people to flee away and listen to their mayors, senators, and governors.
The media needs to call John McCain out on trying to look presumptuous.

[Diogenis]

Talk to the Fox

[NCRESIDENT]

I meant to say try to gain political points.

[Diogenis]

McCain HAS been giving his speeches from disaster zones. What's different now?

Newsflash" Tickets available!!

[mydoglucky]

McCain will say or do anything to get elected. Picking a woman that is clearly not qualified to be a heartbeat away to making a speech from a disaster zone so people will think he cares? Is this the judgement we really want for our next President? This just smacks of such desperation.

[Whinger]

It makes no difference where McSidekick gives his speech, it'll be a disaster zone anyway!

Even George doesn't want to hear it.

[Diogenis]

Yep, George is saying, thank God for the hurricane. I came in with a big one and I will go out with a big one.

[Mr Grey]

The not ready for prime-time players Senator McSame, Mayor McMoose and the GOP will respond to this crisis as they do to every crisis. They will offer tough but kind words and then head back to a home to be named later.

[MissDaphne]

On MSNBC earlier, Alex Witt said something along the lines of "Governor Palin will be able to put her executive experience to great use" in the gulf coast area. Sheesh. She's had so much experience with hurricane preparations in ALASKA.

[Shadow08]

I think Alex may be wrong. If there is a camera around, I'll bet The Govenor will opt for her beauty queen experience.

[Diogenis]

Do they make designer rain coats?

[Livvy]

whoo hoo they finally found a way to frame McCain at the convention where it won't be so obvious he can't stir up any excitement but its okay because we can't be excited - we are having a natural disaster!! It also means that Bush and Cheney can't attend reminding us all what they have done to the country - no no Bush needs to be on the phone at the whitehouse and can't leave and Cheney is in the batcave orchestrating the rescue.

This time they will have the camera ready and actually notice if a city drowns so they can get it with a montage for the convention.

[jcause28]

Didn't he get criticized for going into the flood zones over the spring? This won't look good. They don't need campaigning, they need emergency help.

[Shadow08]

McCain doesn't care what the people need, he cares about what he needs, trying anything, no matter how sleazy it may be for a vote.

[oscartucker]

Absolutely no one needs to politicize an area that is PREPARING from a natural disaster. Call on the phone, let it be known that you sympathize, but get out of the way. What a low form of photo opting to go to any of the states that are trying to get ready. None of the city officials, etc. needs to be out shaking hands and/or trying to explain and point out things to a visitor? The message has been "GET OUT OF TOWN", not come and get in our way!

[AcitizenNJ]

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) may deliver his acceptance speech by satellite because of the historically huge hurricane threatening New Orleans...­...

You can only call this action of the gop as grandstanding at it best. Thank God that it's an election year because the GOP will do whatever it takes this time to show the American people that the GOP is concerned about the gulf coast American people.

Not to be one sided her, the DNC in congress will not get a passing grade for their efforts to ensure that the gulf coast defenses being rebuilt is stronger than pre Katrina. If this present storm is greater than a cat 3 the results maybe the same.

[jcause28]

That's great McBush,

Take the coverage away from the people needing help and put the spotlight on yourself. Evil!

[Lion24]

Is B l a c k w a t e r ready?

They aren't going to let the N a t i o n a l G u a r d handle this, are they??