The death toll of the Joplin tornado has risen to 122. It was the deadliest tornado that the country has endured in 60 years, and thousands of people are homeless. It's a complete mess, and it will no doubt cost tens of millions of dollars to get the town of 50,000 back to normal.
President Obama, who was out of the country at the time of the disaster, told victims, "The American people are by your side." And, "We're going to stay there until every home is repaired, until every
neighborhood is rebuilt, until every business is back on its feet." But House Majority Leader Eric Cantor says it's time for penny-pinching!
Before Uncle Sam starts handing out recovery cash, Cantor (R-VA) wants everybody to know that the emergency
money will have to be offset by other federal spending. Wait, are we
really concerned about saving a little money as crews are searching
rubble for survivors and bodies?
Politico reports Cantor said, "If there is support for a
supplemental, it would be accompanied by
support for having pay-fors to that supplemental." Apparently going into debt to save a city isn't worth it.
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, who represented Joplin during his time in the U.S. House,
had a pretty simple message for Cantor Tuesday afternoon. Politico writes that he released a statement saying, "We need to prioritize
spending, and this needs to be a priority." Well, duh!
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill was less reserved in her statement on Cantor's plan. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports she said,"With all due respect to Congressman Cantor, I have a hard time
believing that if this were in his congressional district, he would
be talking about how additional disaster relief would not be
available unless we found some other programs to take it from. It must be available. This must not be a political football. We
must provide the assistance. That's what federal tax dollars are
for, is to provide assistance when there is no assistance available
to communities and states because of the wrath of Mother Nature."
Again, duh!
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Eric Canter is a shrewish white male, whose pockets are lined with wealthy and corporate benefactors. I wonder if he has an emphathic bone in his body. His stand on giving more wealth to his backers and hanging the middle class and proverty classes out to fend for themselves is indicative of right wing conservative elietism...
I hear ya, and I'm sorry you had to deal with that. I'm sure you're a good person, and bad things happen to good people. Life is definitely not fair. But none of that has anything to do with what the government should and should not be allowed to do. Just because you had to have a hip replaced, doesn't mean someone else should have to pay for your hip replacement. If you believe otherwise, you should try your luck in a socialist society, where everyone buys into the "one big pot" mentality and the "American Dream" doesn't exist. There are two options: 1) everyone is equally poor because there is no incentive to do better, or 2) some people are rich, some people are poor, and most people are in between. We live in #2 (for now). And the rich donate millions upon millions of dollars toward helping people like yourself. I'm sure you've benefited from the generosity of others many times in your life, as I know I have. But government stealing money that people have earned, filtering it through their bureaucracies, and then spending it as they see fit is not the American way. It just isn't.
What do we pay taxes for if not to help our neighbors and fellow citizens in their times of trouble?. America first, I say, Rep. Cantor -- take the hundreds of millions out of the hundreds of billions you Congressmen vote to Egypt, Israel, Pakistan, Iraq, Jordan, Afghanistan and Russia (some of whose generals, prime ministers and subjects are our enemies and wish us no good). It is ignorant and myopic "Enron" accounting to steal our money and then to sacrifice our human capital, and leave in need and suffering the surviving children, men and women of Joplin (and of New Orleans and of other victims of other natural disasters) who, given our help, will labor to rebuild American cities, schools, hospitals, and homes. Borrow the damned money, or take it out of the perks, junkets, medical insurance and other luxuries with which you so generously treat yourselves and families. Ex-President Ford's "Drop Dead!" to New York cost him the 1976 election. Two words to the stupid are insufficient, so let me explain. Unless the Republicans wake up and at least appear to sympathize with the needs and suffering of ordinary Americans, and abandon their exclusive allegiance to their corporate masters and the dvery rich, they will perish like the Federalists, Whigs, and Southern Democrats vanished, and good riddance.
This is my thought exactly. Well, this and the billions for the subsidies for the oil companies.
America gives out much as 0.06 monetarily to countries in need. Not only that, but they also go around militarily occupying and destroying the world which costs a lot more than donating to a near by country or a country that buys up debt (Japan does buy US debt). America gives out 2 or more billion dollars to Israel, Eygpt and Pakistan (in the talks of not happening anymore.
We are going to give Egypt 2 Billion and we can't help MO? DUH>.....U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, who represented Joplin during his time in the U.S. House,
had a pretty simple message for Cantor Tuesday afternoon. Politico writes that he released a state
ment saying, "We need to prioritize
spending, and this needs to be a priority." Well, duh!
Senator Roy Blunt......stop giving money to EGYPT and help our own COUNTRY!!!!
So what? He did not say no money for Joplin, the point is, we are broke and cannot borrow any money SO the money has to be found and taken from other programmes/departments. Lordie, how you Dems go off on a tangent!
I just had my hip replaced. I am not old. I didnt have a choice. It couldnt wait. I also broke my leg as a kid where my foot was twisted backward. You will pay for emergencies like that. Hope these things dont have to you.
Listen...it's very simple....there are TONS and TONS of GREAT causes that "should" get federal money. And I agree that Joplin is probably one of them. But the fact is, liberals think that every single good cause should get however much money they want...and unfortunately there's just not that much to go around. It would be great to be able to give free health care to everyone, and let everyone buy a house, and everyone have a car and a cell phone and internet....IT DOESN'T WORK. I make a certain amount of money. If I can't afford to go to the denstist and the eye doctor, then I have to pick one or the other. If I decide I have to do both, then I have to take money from somewhere else - maybe the food budget - and use it instead. I can't just say "well, I don't have the money, but I am going pay for it all anyway." - yet that's exactly what the federal government does every day, every year, for the last century.
We have had over 60 tornadoes in Missouri this year thus far. We have had 1 area that was devastated and declared a federal disaster. You and that sanctimonious prick Cantor are either completely lacking a thread of empathy or your just stupid and selfish. Since i don't know you I can't say with surety which it is. But if I had to guess I would guess the latter.
Well actually, we here in Virginia had tornados hit recently, not on the scope of Joplin, but still bad. No federal money is helping anyone here. Eric should be proud. Not a penny of the money that he and the rest of his cronies are wasting every day is being used to help those that paid in all the money in the first place. Why don't we stop sending aid to countries like Pakastan (8 billion dollars last count) and help the folk in this country that really need it.
I would think that we could help rebuilt Joplin by using the 2 billion dollars that the taxpayer saved by getting rid of the tax breaks to the Oil companies....
Oh wait......
nevermind......
If we need to take money from one "funding" to help out Joplin, why not stop funding Pakistan, and/or other foreign countries and help at home more. Why do we keep giving money to people that don't even like us anyway when it can be used for better causes.
Yes, but remember, we all must be self-sufficient and take care of ourselves. God sent the tornado as part of His plan. Deal with it.
Obviously your family or friend have not been devastated by a disaster, so you would not be emotionally involved. That is what happens when someone doesn't care and only say pretty words. What needs to stop are the ridiculous funding for ridiculous projects that no one cares about.
Right on the money, Dan. Eric Cantor sucks elephant dicks. I pray that the GOP goes down in 2012. If rambling, moronic nutjob Sarah Palin is on the ticket, it will -- God willing.
Why is it that this country can shell out millions upon millions to Japan, Haiti and others but we have to pinch pennies to help out our own?? Bohners side monkey, Mr. Canter is a complete A**HOLE.
Fine, offset the money by taking free healthcare away from members of Congress and reducing their pensions and cutting their pay and cutting their staff and expense accounts. That ought to pay for rebuilding Joplin with enough left over to build a nice community swimming pool. Great idea Cantor - now you're thinking!
Cantor is an ahole and if it was his friends or family that had been affected by this I bet they would already be getting the aid at this point.
voters are having buyers remorse, and I suspect that a majority of House republicans will be packing their bags next year.
@ MEL I GOT A BETTER IDEA CUT CANTOR & EVERY REPUBLICANS PAY TO ZERO & LET THEM GET THEIR MONEY FROM THEIR CORPORATE MASTERS INSTEAD OF THE TAX PAYERS THEY SO HAPPILY SCREW OVER
CANTOR & THE REPUBLICANS CLAIM TO HAVE SUCH HIGH CHRISTIAN VALUES CANTORS LATEST ACTION PROVES JUST WHAT A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES THE REPUBLICANS REALLY ARE MAY LUCIFER A SPECIAL CORNER IN THE HOTTEST & DEEPEST PART OF HELL FOR THEM
"I am sure that more than 90% of the town is covered with insurance and
Missourians dont really want the federal government to come in and help."
I guarantee that you're wrong on both counts. I'll bet that less than half of the town is insured and I know for a fact that they NEED federal government assistance to rebuild and recover...but if you Missourians don't want the federal assistance, I know of several Kansas towns who will gladly accept it.
You know, the RePubbies have shown themselves to be liars, hypocrites and money lovers. Their actions since the midterm elections have been deplorable. Their hate for our POTUS mean more to them, than helping people who are in desperate need right now. Playing politics with peoples lives is a big #FAIL for this party.
What's this? Bread? Fish? No thanks, Jesus, I don't want none of your socialism!
100% agree. Funny how the GOP, Given Over to Plutocracy, keeps insisting that VOODOO economics creates jobs. This trickle down econ crap does NOT work. The Clinton era showed that moderate tax increases produced very positive results, which GW wiped out. Even Reagan's budget guy, Stockman, has come out against the trickle down stuff he once promoted. Look at history - during the 1920s the GOP enacted the exact same policies they want to promote today: drastic tax cuts for the rich, cut govt spending to reduce deficits, give big corporations free reign, etc. Econ policies take years to see results - end result in 1929 was the Great Depression. Almost repeated in 2008 and we are still digging out of the hole. Not sure, but Cantor may espouse the evil philosophy of Ayn Rand like Paul Ryan, Ron Paul, etc. Would explain some of his, their, lack of compassion.
While it was the wrong thing to say its not the federal governments job to apy for natural disasters. Its the state and communities job. I am sure that more than 90% of the town is covered with insurance and Missourians dont really want the federal government to come in and help. We have been doing perfectly fine without them. Has anyone heard Jay Nixon saying were is the federal government? No, he has been at Joplin everyday since this tragic event and running the state like he should. The only thing the federal government will do is get in the way of progress.
That's a great idea. We can also take away $317,491,000 for the federal funding of abortions. Let's talk prioritizing!
did you miss the part that said "House Majority Leader" that word Leader means; we do get to in fact blame the the whole party.
You know we give "Billions" to other countries every year, I say pull back and keep it for home "USA" the government knows what is happening to the planet, lets take care of this country so we might be able to help others again!
Just when I think I can't be shocked by the callous nature of politicians another one sets the bar even lower. I'd pray for you, but I'm too busy praying for the Americans in need that you are holding for ransom with your politics.
With no due respect, I can't believe such an ejumacated man could lack simple compassion. Well, yes, I can. But you're in charge. You go get 'um, boy.
Right on cue! The idea is to take advantage of these storms to keep kicking America in its pants and Mr. Cantor is the chosen Dirty Dan of the hour. It's funny how US politics has become a rerun of 1980's pro wrestling. Next match Mr. Cantor will be given the green light to be the good guy. No two parties. One party, owned by the Money Trust and proudly serving it. Basically actors that either have the part as square chinned Mountie or as black clad bastard tying us to the tracks. I know there's the shame of you once and twice thing but does it go up into the 1000's? Because they have fooled us 1000's of times and we still believe this crap.
Going to church no more makes you a Christian than being in a garage makes you a car. Perhaps Lord Cantor will let them eat cake!
Let's hope the people of SW MO remember this the next time they go to the polls and they will stop electing republicans.
What a heartless bastard, well of course...duh, he's a republican .....what's new about that!
Whoever this guy is....he should be forced to come out of his cushy white collar office and come down here and spend ONE day living as these people are living....look into the eyes of one parent who can't find their child...and stand in the middle of all these people and tell them they aren't worth it.
Since you say cut Obama's salary as well as his staffs add all of the republicans salaries from the house and senate...they can survive off their lobbyist salary or the stipend from fox news and would you people stop using 'socialism' come up with another word already
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