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.

Follow Moira Whelan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mdub12

Comments

[justobserve]

When a sitting Prsident, Bush, doesn't go there but a presidential candidate declared he would: it's thoughtless grandstanding. McCain should know better. Does he put "people first"?

[IForgotMyName]

Well everybody with an IQ higher than room temperature knows that John McCain is running for Bush's third term, so it is logical that he would have to do photo-ops like Bush did landing on an aircraft carrier. He has shown with his VP pick that he is just playing a political game. But don't be too harsh on the guy. He is 72 years old, he just forgot about country first.

[CKAinRedStateUSA]

First, I pray that Hurricane Gustav spares NOLA and the Gulf Coast.

That said, you declared: "Your [Sen. McCain's] truly reckless act would show once and for all that you actually would be worse than President Bush. "

Interesting take. But predictable and welcomed by most of the HuffPo's readers, I'm sure.

But whether you say it or not, wish it or not, if McCain goes to NOLA or not, (a) that doesn't establish "once and for all" anything, nor does it (b) make him worse than President Bush or anyone else.

As for Obama staying out of the way, well, he might personally. But I wouldn't bet a used Kleenex that his minions and supporters, especially in the wrongly named MSM, will stay out of the way--and that does mean that they have to actually be in NOLA or the Gulf Coast to be in the way. Per usual, they will do his dirty work for him, as he pretends and his campaign publicizes he's above all this.

BTW: Here's a ground-level view of Obama's March visit to http://www.counterpunch.org/zinn03182008.html08.html], writen by Peter Zinn, a graduate student there: "Obama's words seemed misdirected, like he had gotten the pages confused and read them in the wrong place and to the wrong audience. Everything here was fine. No one needed help. Where was the crime? The weakened infrastructure? All the racial tensions and the homelessness? They were, unfortunately, all still there, just momentarily forgotten."

[johnu1974]

the sad thing is you're making this statment as a political issue, not a human disaster. barack obama has the decency to let gov jindal and FEMA do its job and not use this as a photo op, unlike john mccain. what else reason would you want to be in new orleans right after gustav hits? where was he when katrina hit landfall? will he try to blame gov blanco who by the way was a democrat? will he, like bush try to say it was state and locals responsibility? its amazing to know FEMA is there right now and it is also pathetic at the same time. what if gov blanco was still in charge, would the preparedness be this good? i doubt it. gov jindal is a republican, which is why they assisting so soon. they didn't learn any lessons, and neither has john mccain. he will use any opportunity to score political points, even during a tragic event like this. call me cynical, call me pessismistic, but i call myself a realist. john mccain will think he will look presidential, but the truth will hurt more. people, especially those independent voters will see through the pandering and vote against him.

[johnu1974]

you have to ask yourself where john mccain was for his b-day, the same day katrina hit? he was taking pictures of birthday cake being presented by president bush. he voted countless times against investigations on why the levees weren't funded properly or retrofitted for such an event. trying to tie obama into this some way politically is a joke. obama isn't the one going down to the gulf coast for photo ops to "look" presidential. he isn't the one who is going to give his acceptance speech with ground zero as the backdrop. obama is going to give gov jindal and FEMA the time to do their job, then see the devastation for himself. john kerry is right time and time again. what john mccain is doing is idiotic, desperate, and pathetic.

BTW, who was in charge during the time katrina hit? oh yeah, it was your party. bush went to raise money in san diego, ca while hundreds of thousands waited for assistance. john mccain was eating cake while people were looking the national guard to assists them, and they had the nerve to try and place the blame on former gov blanco and mayor rey nagan? unbelievable. i pray for those who lose everything and have to deal with blackwater. john mccain won't benefit from this. he'll be seen as the panderer he has always been.

[LittleLuella]

What does your blog quote have to do with McCain putting peoples lives at risk?
I don't understand the connection.

[Liberoservative]

You missed the entire point of the article apparently..... the last sentence:

"They were, unfortunately, all still there, just momentarily forgotten."

[larry278]

McCain speaking in NOLA from the square in front of a cathedral after Gustav hits NOLA is so 2008 & far too rich for reality.

[Jezreel]

Wow. What an excellent article. It was instantly apparent that the spectacle of McCain issuing an acceptance speech from hurricane impacted areas will be nothing more than a portrait of political opportunism. I must say, however, that I originally thought many people will view his visit as an indication that he is presidential than Obama.You are correct in pointing out the resource drain and safety hazards created by such a visit. I really hope that he does not go there because the good people of the Gulf region must have full access to every available resource. Thanks for writing such an informative article.

[atlga123]

If GW said before Katrina I'm staying away not to redirect resources.... You would say what a Statesman.....

[Ozarks]

Unlike McCain, GW would have had real power before Katrina, Right now McCain is just a nominee he could not direct a traffic cop. GW on the other hand, instead of splitting a birthday cake with McCain on an airfield tarmac while 1000's drown in New Orleans, could have followed LBJ's example. LBJ went to a hurricane ravaged area walked into shelters and dark churches had Secret Service shine flashlights on him as he said < I am here to make sure you get help.

[joanndarc]

Ummm... OK, I agree with your article, but then so what?
Will American "white working class" (place a lable of their intellectual abilities here as you wish here) ever see your fine writing? Mass media propaganda is neither BBC nor huffingtonpost, don't you agree?
Besides do you suppose the formentioned voters are accidentally going to start paying attention to details? Do you recall the time when they did? Drama queens voted for Reigan in 1980 and kept voting with their "hearts" (the area just below the waist) since then.

[BADEN]

"t's a complete disregard for the mission and the government professionals at all levels attempting to keep people safe."

If the SECRET SERVICE doesn't step in and DO THEIR JOB...WE ARE PAYING FOR THIS FOOL'S 'SECURITY AND PROTECTION"....

[robin50]

My first thoughts too. Having been in the military I know how disruptive the horse and pony shows are!

[Neff]

Very well put. I wish some of these same points were coming out of the Obama campaign. What I saw on the local news here in New York tonight was McCain at a podium addressing the issue of the impending storm in determined tones, and nothing about it from the Obama camp at all. Doing the responsible thing is essential, but only half the battle. Getting credit for it, drawing a contrast with one's reckless opponent, is important too.