Clinton Gets It
Clinton assails Bush's hurricane relief effort, writes Philip Shenon in The New York Times:
Clinton said the inability of many poor, largely black residents of the Gulf Coast, to evacuate their homes during the hurricane was in part a result of the sweeping tax cuts during the Bush administration and other policies that had left the victims without the money for transportation to flee.
"It's like when they issued the evacuation order," he said. "That affects poor people differently. A lot of them in New Orleans didn't have cars. A lot of them who had cars had kinfolk they had to take care of. They didn't have cars, so they couldn't take them out."
"This is a matter of public policy," he said. "And whether it's race-based or not, if you give your tax cuts to the rich and hope everything works out all right, and poverty goes up and it disproportionately affects black and brown people, that's a consequence of action made. That's what they did in the 80's; that's what they've done in this decade."
In the middle, when he was president, he said, "we had a different policy."
A White House spokesman had no immediate comment to Clinton's remarks. In recent weeks, the Bush administration has vigorously rejected any suggestion that the race or poverty slowed the U.S. response to the disaster.
Noting that statistics showed a sharp drop in poverty during his presidency, Clinton said: "You can't have an emergency plan that works if it only affects middle-class people up, and when you tell people to go do something they don't have the means to do, you're going to leave the poor out."
When do people in this country start seeing the light instead of the PR?
Kudos to our last legitimately elected president for pointing out this current administration's failures by the American people.
While I would be loathe to use the deaths and displacement of thousands to forward an agenda, Katrina has illustrated, more dramatically than ever before, that this administration cares about nothing but the wealthy in this country.
We've been seeing the signs literally from the beginning of this administration, with tax cuts for the wealthy and the deregulation of environmental protection laws to allow major corporations to literally stink and poison people out of their homes.
Wake up, America.
Patrick at September 19, 2005 12:38 AM
> to allow major corporations to literally
> stink and poison people out of their homes.
There was a hurricane... It was in all the papers.
Crid at September 19, 2005 12:55 AM
I don't think Patrick was talking just about the hurricane. I'm for Pigou-ian economics -- that products and services should be priced to factor in the damage they'll do. In other words, gas is underpriced, because it doesn't take into account, say, cleaning up from the Exxon Valdez and any number of other costs. If gas companies bore the cost of their product on the public, what would gas be, $16/gallon? Your asses would all be in Priuses then! Or on bicycle seats. Then we might have bike paths around Los Angeles -- and not just the tiny little dangerous lanes on the side of too few roads. I would ride lots of places rather than driving if it were at all safe. I used to be quite the little daredevil in Manhattan -- in the days before cell phones. Not now. Boardwalk or nothing when I'm on my bike. Don't want to end up like the two dead guys on the road to Malibu (both on their bikes -- on LAObserved, I think, this weekend).
Amy Alkon at September 19, 2005 1:15 AM
This has to be the most pitiful case of wishful thinking - and the most blatant case of disregard for logic in favor of emotional comfort I've seen on this board.
Imagine. Mr. Clinton says that government kept people from buying cars so that they could escape a hurricane - and people believe him.
Some people have enough "star power" that nobody hears what they say. Want a good giggle test to see if you've been fooled? Write out what you liked about Mr. Clinton's assertions and sign it, "Sincerely, Ann Coulter."
That should tell you whether you've fallen for the fallacy, "appeal to authority/celebrity".
Radwaste at September 19, 2005 7:30 AM
People couldn't afford cars. Did that escape you?
Perhaps this will help you understand that concept a little better:
http://www.nccbuscc.org/cchd/povertyusa/tour2.htm
Amy Alkon at September 19, 2005 8:27 AM
While I am no fan of Bush (quite the opposite), to blame his administration on the amount of people that didn't leave New Orleans is BS.
A large number of people didn't leave because they chose not to leave. They have no one to blame but themselves.
A lot of the others that didn't leave may not have had the means, financially or otherwise. I would fault the city and state for this more than the federal government. Did the state or city have a plan in place to evacuate those people unable to evacuate on their own, for whatever reason. I doubt it.
Everyone is quick to play the blame game after events like this but if you insist on playing it, play fair. Clinton isn't playing fair with comments like these.
I believe the city, state and federal governments all share equal blame in this for different reasons and one can only hope that in the future we apply the lessons we learned from this disaster.
Senor Limey at September 19, 2005 8:29 AM
While state and local governments contributed to the disaster because they did not have workable evacuation plans in place, the purpose and mission of FEMA is to step in to fill the gaps. Even once top FEMA officials were (belatedly) aware that people were suffering and dying in the Superdome and the convention center, they dragged their heels and mucked up (probably through incompetence more than intention) relief efforts. When firefighters and rescue workers were flown in from other states to assist in the rescue and recovery effort, instead of being sent straight to where help was needed, they spent days attending PR workshops and providing a backdrop for Le Dauphin's first photo op. According to stories I've read from Mississippi, a whole lot of folks there who have lost everything still have yet to see a single FEMA official, and have received no help at all.
deja pseu at September 19, 2005 8:57 AM
I have big news for you all: you can buy a car for $500. It doesn't have to be a new Insight or Prius. If this concept is too big for you, step on out into meatspace and look at real car lots. Families here in SC actually pool their money to buy one. Car lots have contests to see who they can get to buy a car; the ads proclaim, "No credit checks! No problem! Everybody rides!" There is no way that either a President or Congress keeps that from happening.
Crediting, or believing that credit is due Mr. Clinton for "poverty" dropping during his Presidency is another case of hallucination. Hello - the dot-com boom happened then, with its concurrent "invisible hand" pushing existing programs. Does anyone think Mr. Clinton was responsible for that?
One more time: Congress spends money. Not the President. Get it? Mr. Clinton actually doesn't, but he's counting on his fans repeating what he says without checking anything - even their limited knowledge of civics.
There are poor people who don't have fire extinguishers. Whose fault is that?
George W. Bush's, right?
Radwaste at September 19, 2005 4:21 PM
So the people of New Orleans didn't evacuate because of the Bush tax cuts. There are 1000 buses underwater in New Orleans today that could have been used by Mayor Ray Nagin to evacuate people ahead of the hurricane's landfall, but they weren't used because of the Bush tax cuts. After the storm passed, the Red Cross was prohibited from passing out food and water at the Superdome by orders from the Governor of LA because of the Bush tax cuts.
It all makes sense now: we have hurricanes, inadequate city governments, incompetent governors and a hysterical media all because of the Bush tax cuts.
Damn, I wish I'd know this sooner.
Richard Bennett at September 19, 2005 4:31 PM
Crid writes: "There was a hurricane... It was in all the papers."
Amy is correct. I'm not talking about just the hurricane. I'm talking about the contemptuous disregard that the Republican base has for common people. The concentrated animal feeding organizations (CAFOs), for instance, that stink homeowners literally out of their homes. Corporate America wants to make as much money as they possibly can, and are willing to let those less affluent (or simply in the way) pay the price, if it spares them the expense of having to clean up their own mess.
This has been shown time and time again, and it's been brutally underscored with their response to the disaster in New Orleans.
Richard Bennett writes: "It all makes sense now: we have hurricanes, inadequate city governments, incompetent governors and a hysterical media all because of the Bush tax cuts."
Dishonest and disingenuous.
Patrick at September 19, 2005 6:22 PM
I have news for you, Radwaste - $500 is a HUGE sum to many poor and working class people. And then there are the costs to register, insure, maintain and run the car. And what if your extended family couldn't get in that broken-down car - leave grandma behind?? Or insist that she should have her own car, whether or not she is disabled or can even drive? Families pooling their money to buy a car - great, so which family gets to use it to evacuate? It's not your day to use it, so tough luck - ??
And yes, Richard, we have deepening poverty because of Bush's "let them eat cake" economic policies. No, that didn't cause the hurricane, but it sure was a direct factor in the magnitude of the horrors of the aftermath.
Melissa at September 19, 2005 6:40 PM
Are you tools saying Bush was supposed to evacuate the people from New Orleans?
Are you saying that the Red Cross wasn't turned away with food on their hands from the Superdome by Lousiana government officials?
Say it tools, I want a big laugh.
Richard Bennett at September 19, 2005 6:46 PM
I have one question for anyone who wants to blame the federal government for the amount of people that were not evacuated prior to the hurricane... Did the mayor of New Orleans or the more importantly the Governor of Louisiana (who would have to make the request) ask the Federal Government for assistance in evacuating the people of New Orleans?
If they didn't then the Federal Government's hands are tied and they could not have just gone in and taken over. When Bush did offer for the Federal Government to take control (albeit late as it was) the Louisiana Governor wanted 24 hours to think about it?!?!?
Senor Limey at September 20, 2005 6:57 AM
Richard, you can have whatever laughs you can get. I figure you're entitled to them since I got mine with your first post, when you somehow arrived at the dazzlingly brilliant conclusion that ANYONE said that Bush's tax cuts caused hurricanes. Reading comprehension problem? Or just dishonesty? You shills for the Bush administration just crack me up!
Patrick at September 20, 2005 10:27 AM
By the way, just for Richard's amusement, what do we have FEMA for, if not to assist during times of disaster?
Patrick at September 20, 2005 10:28 AM
Anybody noticed that the fed, state and local response to Katrina, while broadly derided, hasn't brought about a meaningful change the government yet?
Does this mean that George W. Bush has once again pulled the wool over the eyes of the voters?
Naw, here's the thing: Television moves faster than government. It didn't used to. But nowadays, with $25,000, three phone calls, and two hours notice, you can send a reporter and a photog to shoot a live standup in the Gaping Maw of Hell, complete with a pre-feed of B-roll with stereo nat sound.
Television can go to any crisis point, no matter what, and deliver an instant appeal to deep feeling. Invoked emotions may include pity, pathos, camp-fire togetherness, anger, and fear. But that's what television is for. It's much easier to pull television signals from of a crisis point than to extract 120,000 refugees. It's much easier to send in a satellite truck than a kitchen to fix sandwiches for the natives.
Maybe the reason Bush hasn't been run out of town on a rail is that people are finally figuring out that their swift, visceral responses to television imagery of such events doesn't really mean much about how life is lived, or even about how government can respond to things.
This may be pathetic fantasy on my part, but we're overdue for a new wave of viewer sophistication. If I hear one more Santa Monican lefty smirking about how America is "finally waking up," I'll start screaming and just not stop.
Crid at September 20, 2005 12:10 PM
Perhaps, Melissa, you and others will notice and credit individuals with the duty of determinimg their transportation needs - but I won't hold my breath. You didn't notice when I cited how poor folks in SC buy cars.
A car is not an entitlement.
Radwaste at September 20, 2005 6:42 PM
I live in Louisiana. There are over 200,000 cars that are now ruined due to being in the flood waters. Does that sound like people didn't have cars? It hasn't been on the National news (media bias maybe?) but it has been on the radio over here but they have our pitiful Gov. Blanco on tape saying she guesses she should have asked for Federal help sooner but she didn't want the military here because she was scared they would "hurt" people. This while people are being raped and shot at by gangs and thugs that have been fed by the "welfare system" that keeps them poor instead of teaching them or giving them the tools to help themselves. Louisiana has been run by Democrats for over 60 years and NO has extreme poverty. Yet people want to blame Republicans, for what is happening now. Think about that for a little while.
AL at September 21, 2005 7:13 AM
People blame the Republicans in power for not taking action in this situation. And when you're leaving in the middle of the night with your family in your minivan, do you tell your 9mos pregnant wife and kids to drive behind you in her car? Think about that. The situation of a family I know who lived in Metairie.
Amy Alkon at September 21, 2005 9:15 AM
Here's the excerpt from her email I just read:
"today, we finally got a first-hand report on our "water" house. a friend stopped and reported that we still had 1 foot of water inside. she said the waterline had been 4-5 feet. she also noted that the floors were ruined as well as our car. kio will make a trip down this week to have a look and retrieve some valuables. later in the week, we hope to get access to a truck and remove anything salvagable."
Amy Alkon at September 21, 2005 11:15 AM
People blame the Republicans in power for not taking action in this situation.
"People?" Which "people", "people who need people" or "people as opposed to dogs" or "moron people".
Republicans aren't in power in New Orleans or Baton Rouge, and that's clearly where most of the blame lies.
Amy, you flatter yourself with the representation that you're someone who rejects emotionalism and superstition, but in instances like this one where the honest person has to analyze and weigh conflicting reports you fall right in the middle of the left/liberal conformist and sensationalist version of events.
True facts:
1. The New Orleans levee system was inadequate due to environmentalist law suits and corruption on the New Orleans Levee Board.
2. New Orleans had the resources - 1000 buses - to evacuate the poor and chose not to use them.
3. The Red Cross was prepared to feed the poor in the Superdome as soon as the storm passed but the Governor of Louisiana would allow them to.
4. The 82nd Airborne and the National Guard were ready to evacuate storm survivors 24 hours before the state would allow them to.
Any genuinely intelligent and honest person knows these things, and they don't add up to "it was all Bush's fault".
Richard Bennett at September 21, 2005 12:11 PM
Point 3 above should read: "The Red Cross was prepared to feed the poor in the Superdome as soon as the storm passed but the Governor of Louisiana would NOT allow them to."
Richard Bennett at September 21, 2005 12:12 PM
Thank you, Richard Bennett. You said everything I wanted to say much more intelligently than I did. I just get so emotional and upset when people want to blame the Federal Gov't for what is clearly this State's failings. Especially when they have no idea of the corruption that goes on here. Where is the 60 million dollars that the New Orlean's Levee Board seems to have misplaced? Why is it that when they tested the evacuation plan 13 months ago and it failed, did no one fix it? Why was Gov. Blanco on the news the day after the hurricane declaring a Day of Prayer instead of doing like the Gov. of Mississippi and getting LA some help?
Amy, I am glad your friends are safe, and I am sorry for their losses.
AL at September 22, 2005 6:35 AM
True facts, is that a redundancy? Well maybe not in this case where the factoids are clearly skewed. Thanks again Richard, for showing the Republican perspective.
Sheryl at September 22, 2005 4:00 PM
Now that's just pitiful. "Republican perspective"? What party runs the state and city?
A hurricane arrived, and the people charged with the emergency response did not do their job. Whatever else went on, that job started with the mayor of New Orleans, and went next to the Governor of Louisiana. It even says so in each government's official operations manuals. Their inability is costing the rest of the country more than it should.
Don't forget to tell them, "Thank you" just for being Democrats!
Radwaste at September 25, 2005 5:14 PM
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fbgujwk sucgynm at August 4, 2006 6:51 AM
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