Sharron Angle Spokesperson Denies She Wanted To Withhold Aid From Hurricane Katrina Victims

Nevada Republican Senate candidate Sharron Angle is clarifying -- but not backing down from -- comments she made questioning the timing and composition of the aid package Congress passed five years ago for victims of Hurricane Katrina.

In a statement to the Huffington Post, Angle's spokesman, Jarrod Agen stressed that Angle had not, in fact, argued that, "Katrina victims should not receive aid." Rather "unlike Harry Reid, Sharron would want to know where tax dollars are going and who is spending it before voting in favor of any spending bill," Agen said.

The clarification comes after Angle has absorbed more than a few blows for offering what appeared to be an argument against the expedited passage of a $62 billion aid package for Katrina victims back in 2005.

"I think government needs to live within its means," Angle said during an interview with conservative radio station KLAV shortly after the hurricane hit five years ago. "I would like to go and join my voice with Mike Pence and others, who when the $62 billion came out to be spent on Katrina relief, he said wait a minute, I'm voting no, and the reason is because I want to know where it's going, what it's going to be spent on, and who's going to be spending it. So I'd like to join my voice there."

Angle's remarks were unearthed by Democratic opponents shortly before the five-year anniversary of the hurricane's landfall. And they earned the Nevada Republican some sharp rebukes among officials from the Gulf region.

"It really makes you pause for a second and wonder whether you are dealing with somebody that's rational and thoughtful and can somehow balance principle with the need for compassion," said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu.

Asked about that segment, Agen insisted that Landrieu had misconstrued Angle's words and broader point.

"Sharron did not say what Mayor Landrieu claims she said," he said. "In the quote from 2005, she clearly said that government needs to live within its means and that she agreed with needing to know where the money is going, what its going to be spent on, and who's going to spend it."

Comments

[seiedvard]

12:53 PM on 09/03/2010

Why did she bring up Harry Reid, he didn't become majority leader until 2007
The bill was passed in 2005 making Tom Delay the one who didn't care where the money went

[CaroleK1970]

11:58 AM on 09/03/2010

Sharron Angle said Jesus should have paid for the nails on the cross

[rougebaisers]

09:47 AM on 09/03/2010

Lies lies lies yaaaaahhhh­hhhh

[labman]

09:32 AM on 09/03/2010

What I love about these people is the fact that they would deny others disaster relief funds, but if a disaster struck their area they would be the first ones screaming for Government help.

[beingthebest]

08:35 AM on 09/03/2010

I can understand government living within its means. I can also understand people dying, losing homes, dealing with one of the worst U.S. traumas of all time. When something like Katrina happens you don't stop and say "let's examine this for 8 months and see where we can get the money" You get to work. Now many things went wrong with Katrina relief and the government showed it wasn't prepared for disaster, but if Sharron was in charge we would probably still be debating it.

[1differentdrummer]

11:59 AM on 09/03/2010

Funny, wasn't it, that GW had FEMA loaded, cocked and primed way before the hurricane hit his brother's state. I guess it all depends on who's governor.

[comment from grandpa]

07:58 AM on 09/03/2010

The truth is that nothing in her character makes this not believable­.That alone is scary.....­...

[coreypaul]

07:45 AM on 09/03/2010

"Red" States ask for MORE money than "Blue" states, yet come out publically against it. This is the core issue of the ideology of "conservat­ism":

Why are Koch Industries and the Chamber Getting Entitlemen­ts? Thom Harmann (http://cor­eysviews.w­ordpress.c­om/2010/09­/02/conser­vatism-at-­its-best-m­e-me-me-ko­ch-industr­ies-who-sp­ent-millio­ns-of-doll­ars-opposi­ng-health-­care-refor­m-applied-­for-federa­l-health-c­are-dollar­s-to-bolst­er-its-ear­ly-retiree­-program/)

Republican Sarah Palin enthusiast­ically practices socialism, Alaska-sty­le: http://www­.adn.com/o­pinion/sto­ry/581484.­html

Republican Rep. Bachmann’s clinic takes in thousands from “socialize­d medicine”: http://www­.adn.com/o­pinion/sto­ry/581484.­html

[coreypaul]

07:39 AM on 09/03/2010

Sharron Angle In 2005: I Would Have Voted 'No' On Hurricane Katrina Relief Funds (AUDIO): http://www­.huffingto­npost.com/­2010/08/31­/sharron-a­ngle-in-20­05-i-w_n_6­99652.html

[lvdragonlady]

05:11 AM on 09/03/2010

Anyone else notice that SHE never says anything in public and that 'everythin­g' goes through a 'spokesman­'?
What are you afraid of Sharon?

[VeryGrood]

07:37 AM on 09/03/2010

She literally never says anything in public.... even when confronted in public and asked VERY simple questions.

[Big Game Hunter]

12:42 AM on 09/03/2010

Sharron Angle didn't want to withhold money from all the Katrina victims. Some of them were white, after all.

[piona]

01:14 AM on 09/03/2010

If the victims had been in Maine, she would have taken the aid to them personally­!

[VeryGrood]

07:39 AM on 09/03/2010

I don't know.... that would imply that she is actually competent. I think she would have signed the bill and then had her spokespers­on take it to them.

[HuffDave13]

09:43 PM on 09/02/2010

"unlike Harry Reid, Sharron would want to know where tax dollars are going and who is spending it before voting in favor of any spending bill,"
"I think government needs to live within its means," Angle said....

What does St Mary Palin. Voice of the supreme conservati­ve against useless spending said..

“[Gates] said we have to ask whether the nation can really afford a Navy that relies on $3 [billion] to $6 billion destroyers­, $7 billion submarines and $11 billion carriers,” Palin said. “Well, my answer is pretty simple: Yes, we can and yes, we do.”

Who takes any of those [Bleep] conservati­ves seriously

[PTAOfficerforObama]

11:23 PM on 09/02/2010

41

[John Kramarz]

06:14 AM on 09/03/2010

42
nice juxtaposit­ion.

[Javalation]

09:40 PM on 09/02/2010

Again with the "a spokespers­on says"... What's wrong with Angle? Is she so afraid of the huge number of questions mounting about her, that she'll never speak to the press again for fear that they'll ask one of those embarrassi­ng questions?

[PTAOfficerforObama]

11:23 PM on 09/02/2010

She's like the gov of AZ...runs away.

[HuffDave13]

09:36 PM on 09/02/2010

"unlike Harry Reid, Sharron would want to know where tax dollars are going and who is spending it before voting in favor of any spending bill,"
"I think government needs to live within its means," Angle said....

[planetjeffy]

09:27 PM on 09/02/2010

Good job Harry.
I wish the other Dems would run a tough campaign like yours.

[DianneinCA]

08:36 PM on 09/02/2010

I guess reading a bill before you vote on it is just expecting too much! LOL.

Republican­s are having a field day trying to defend all the out of control teaper candidates out there. Now, with little money and no integrity the GOP is fighting an internal war with the fringe and trying to win elections against the Democrats. Loving it. :)