Looks like House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) will extend his requirement that federal disaster relief be paid for by cutting spending elsewhere in the budget to Hurricane Irene…. It’s worth pointing out that his home state of Virginia is in the line of the storm, so this, just as with the relatively minor earthquake damage, could present him with a political conundrum. Even if his non-coastal district escapes unscathed, his fellow delegates will want federal aid post haste, sans Congressional wrangling over the budget.
Lest we have any reason to begin thinking that the GOP leadership harbors ANY degree of compassion for those Americans who find themselves in dire straits, her comes Eric Cantor to let us know that it’s the budget, stupid. No matter what, any time money is paid out for ANYTHING, corresponding cuts must be agreed upon before any spending takes place. America is broke, don’tchaknow?
Yeah, America is broke…and yet we can still fund tax cuts for the wealthiest among us, and we can still fund two far-flung seemingly never-ending wars. I listen to those on the Far Right bleating about how America is broke; their lips move, but the more I listen, the less sense they make. While they may faithfully spout their pre-approved talking points about how we just can’t afford greatness anymore, it occurs to me that Republicans like Cantor really don’t care about average Americans…and why should they? It’s not like the poor and middle class bankroll their campaigns and propaganda efforts. It’s not as if the poor and middle class reliably vote Republican without being heavily propagandized and brainwashed beforehand. So why should Republicans give a damn about those less likely to support them financially or with their votes?
Hurricane Irene may or may not be doing serious damage to anything on American soil. It may well come down to that, but it seems clear that, unless Irene trashes the Hamptons, relief efforts may subject to political whims. Nice to know that Republicans like Cantor have the backs of Americans who just might need a hand, eh?
