McCain's Disastrous Politics of Gustav

Today, Obama stated that he would stay out of the way as Hurricane Gustav once again threatens the Gulf Coast. Even Bush, who three years ago celebrated Katrina's landfall at John McCain's birthday party, is staying away.

What does McCain do? Just like he did when he traveled to a market place in Baghdad, he puts the lives of Americans in danger, and diverts the mission for his own personal political gain. He will travel to the Gulf Coast to give a speech while emergency professionals are urging people to leave. Not only is it political grandstanding, it's a disgusting display of the type of bad leadership we would see if John McCain became President.

Preparedness for hurricanes is serious business. When it's done right, emergency managers control the airwaves, the message, and urge political leaders to stay out of the way so they can make sure people and property are safe. Senators and Congressmen are briefed, but told to stay out of the way and wait until they find out what resources are needed, and then make it happen. The governor takes cues from the Emergency Management director of the state: brief people to get out, show leadership, be honest, and make the calls for resources that need to be made. The President turns the keys to government over to the FEMA director to make sure resources flow properly and stands by to twist arms if needed. The business of disasters is left to disaster professionals with politicians playing a supporting role.

Now admittedly, we haven't seen that in recent years, but when government works for people, this is how it happens.

But not in 2008, and not when John McCain is sucking wind on a political campaign.

Now, some Americans will see McCain's trip as "leadership" but just as John McCain's visit to a marketplace in Baghdad resulted in three Blackhawk helicopters and hundreds of soldiers being ordered to protect his photo op stroll through the market, this could be deadly.

It's a complete disregard for the mission and the government professionals at all levels attempting to keep people safe.

John McCain's mere suggestion that he should go there shows his horrific and dangerous judgment. If it actually happens, which hopefully it does not, then he will actually be doing harm. Because he is a presidential candidate, air traffic stops when he lands, roads are closed, and press follow him. Secret service and law enforcement personnel have to make sure everything is secure. That means all of these things STOP WORKING to make the area safer for the people getting out and protecting their homes. The only thing working in the favor of emergency management professionals are the noticeably small crowds at McCain events...so perhaps people will not be motivated to stay around.

These are the very reasons Obama and Biden dismissed the suggestion of travel immediately when asked. He's talked to Jindal--a man on McCain's short list for veep--and has expressed help. Trips of politicians often happen after major storms, but when doing these, the main goal is to highlight the devastation in order to secure the resources needed to fix it. It appears these gentlemen get it, and McCain is out of touch in a truly dangerous way.

McCain's suggestion of a visit will waste precious hours in getting resources in at a time when hours and minutes make all the difference. It will impact news coverage which should otherwise be used to urge people to get out through the proper channels, not political parties.

The Republican suggestion that they may postpone their convention is understandable in some ways. This is, after all, a major emergency. I do think there are many who see this as a political opportunity to not have an embarrassing show that follows one that was amazing the Democrats had this week. They've floated the idea of a telethon to raise money. Political grandstanding? Sure, but at least it could do some good and you're not in the way.

But a visit? Senator McCain, that would be a disaster for the country. Your truly reckless act would show once and for all that you actually would be worse than President Bush.

Comments

[xkp]

I miss the real republicans of Eisenhower. I might not agree with them, but they had their beliefs and we all relied upon the same facts and we all wanted what was best for the country as a whole. We differed perhaps on the course on getting there, but we still believed in the dreams of America. Just my two cents. How could any one align their political beliefs with the bastardation of the republican party as it stands today? It is not politics, it is sensationalism, smokescreen, hypocracy, slander and slur, and imorality. This is their new "brand" and it is really, really sad for this country. Again, I may not agree with even their "old" yet true politics, but they were still my brothers and sisters.

[xkp]

Mc Cain playing Geraldo.

[bunkai]

McCain is is using this for a nice little photo-op he has no business being there and isn't the least bit sympathetic to the people harmed by this storm.
Despite his claims otherwise, McCain"s record on Katrina is not at all what he would have you believe.

McCain Voted Twice Against Establishing A Commission To Study The Response To Hurricane Katrina. [ 9/14/2005, 2/2/2006]
McCain Opposed Granting Financial Relief To Those Affected By Hurricane Katrina. [9/15/2005]
McCain Voted Against Five Months of Medicaid For Hurricane Katrina Victims. [11/3/2005]
McCain Voted Against Emergency Funding Bill, Including $28 Billion for Hurricane Relief. [5/4/2006]

And as for McCain"s: "I"ve been here to New Orleans. I"ve met with people on the ground," "until traveling there one month ago, McCain had "made just one public tour of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina touched down in August 2005."

[insanityfollows]

But, wait a minute. Wasn't Obama assuming being "presidential" by going overseas and making a speech about the future of American politics? I can't bear it any longer.

[somedork]

I agree here, McCain's behavior is extremely suspicious. (full disclosure, I'm a Libertarian that supports Obama) As I write here:

http://www.somedork.com/daily-ramblings/is-mccain-playing-politics-with-hurricane-gustav/
Is McCain Playing Politics With Hurricane Gustave?

I can't think of a sincere reason why McCain needs to be in the Gulf at this moment in time.

[escorpion]

McCain's real political philosophy: COUNTRY LAST!

[ron071]

These photo ops ( Gustav, & Georgia ) may be the only chances Johnny gets to play president. Give him the slack as an ex POW.

[tantip]

McCain has already showed he has very bad judgement by picking a VP who has ZERO foreign policy experience when our Country is at war. He did not put our Country first as he always say. He is 72 years old and has had 4 bouts with cancer and if he was elected and something happened to him then Palin would take over as President and what would she do about Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan etc......that's a very scary thought.

McCain thinks the American people are stupid well he thinks Hillary Clinton's supporters are stupid that just because he put a woman on the ticket they would vote for her and some just might but not many because on the issues they are like night and day and in the process he just might lose a lot of Republicans with this pick.

[jpcline004]

So as hundreds of thousands sit without power, McCain and his entourage will bring an army of support crews and generators, not for the victims, but for his over the top photo-op and acceptance speech. They will then roll out as quickly as they came in. Disgusting. I hope the MSM calls them out on this stunt. Thats all the GOP has left; lies, stunts and pandering.

[crystalclear2828]

Look like McCain is being very presumptive, look who is trying to play President now! The media would have been all over it had it been Obama, making all kinds of accusations but since it their 'golden child' , it's okay. Don't worry everyone knows what happened during hurricane Katrina and know what you and Bush were doing and what you said. Now all of a sudden you're trying to make up for it. You're just grandstanding! If I were you I wouldn't want to be anywhere near my convention site either!

[Ashall]

Grandstanding is a good word but I think the phrase ambulance chaser could also be used. Being president does not mean you're above the law, and that goes for presidential candidates as well. When the governor says everyone out, that should mean nobody gets to come in either, unless they're there to work on an emergency crew.

[hollieseven]

I'll try to refrain from 'opinion' and just post the facts of McCains voting record on Katrina

McCains RECORD on Katrina Is Clear!
Fact, not rhetoric

Despite his claims otherwise, McCain"s record on Katrina is not at all what he would have you believe.

McCain Voted Twice Against Establishing A Commission To Study The Response To Hurricane Katrina. [ 9/14/2005, 2/2/2006]
McCain Opposed Granting Financial Relief To Those Affected By Hurricane Katrina. [9/15/2005]
McCain Voted Against Five Months of Medicaid For Hurricane Katrina Victims. [11/3/2005]
McCain Voted Against Emergency Funding Bill, Including $28 Billion for Hurricane Relief. [5/4/2006]

And as for McCain"s: "I"ve been here to New Orleans. I"ve met with people on the ground," "until traveling there one month ago, McCain had "made just one public tour of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina touched down in August 2005."

[Angelus2007]

While I don't want McCain as president, this is sort of a silly post. McCain isn't going to New Orleans, or the coast, he is in Pearl, MS (about 200 miles north of New Orleans). I don't think him speaking there will have much, if any of an effect on relief efforts. And will you be saying the same thing if on Wed or Thur Obama is walking around New Orleans as they are cleaning up, will you write a post about how Obama was wrong? It is one thing to be partisan and love the party and hate McCain. It is another to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

[Michellelover]

They were invited by Gov. Barbour and they accepted. And you change your last name it is too close to mine. God forbid someone thinks I am related to a mental midget such as you

[TeriMcCarthy]

The Karl Rove playbook rears its ugly head, McCain just needs the photo op, he figures it will help him, just like it helped his best buddy George, except he doesn't remember, that it didn't help George at all.

[Jaid]

The rethuglicans are not suspending their convention for Gustav. They simply have nothing to offer the American people. That's why they don't dare go on air because they've got nothing!