During a debate at the height of the GOP primary, Mitt Romney was asked, in the context of the Joplin disaster and FEMA's cash crunch, whether FEMA should be shuttered and states required to take over responsibility for disaster response. His response?
"Absolutely. Every time you have
an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to
the states, that's the right direction. And if you can go even further, and
send it back to the private sector, that's even better. Instead of thinking, in
the federal budget, what we should cut, we should ask the opposite question,
what should we keep?"
Debate moderator John King then asked, "Including disaster relief, though?"
Romney replied, "We cannot -- we cannot afford to do those things
without jeopardizing the future for our kids. It is
simply immoral, in my view, for us to continue to rack up larger and larger
debts and pass them on to our kids, knowing full well that we'll all be dead
and gone before it's paid off. It makes no sense at all."
Sanctimony aside, that seems pretty definitive, doesn't it?
But today, as we face yet another natural disaster and issues related to global warming and the environment have been relegated to the back shelf by both campaigns, in one case because it's an unsettled issue within the party, in the other because it's an unsettling issue on the stump, does anyone other than Romney really want to close FEMA? If so, where do you propose 50 state disaster relief agencies are going to receive their funding? The private sector? Donald Trump? Bain Capital? Or the Federal government? One guess. October 29, 2012
UPDATE: On the day following Sandy landing on the Jersey, NY shores and moving inland, Romney appeared an an Ohio campaign stop (Oops! Make that a "relief effort"), The Willow refused to answer a single question about FEMA. 18 years on the campaign trail and still, not a single clue what this shameful, soulless phantom truly believes other than that he can sell enough people fairy dust to let him reach his Manifest Destiny as CEO of the World.
On the other hand, Chris Christie, who delivered the Romney keynote convention address, leaves no doubt where he stands. And today, he stands in appreciation of the President and FEMA.
October 30, 2012
The Daily Federal Emergency Romney Disaster Update:
On Wednesday October 31, 2012 the Romney campaign issued this statement: "I believe that FEMA plays a key role in working with states and localities to prepare for and respond to natural disasters.' 'As president, I will ensure FEMA has the funding it needs to fulfill its mission, while directing maximum resources to the first responders who work tirelessly to help those in need, because states and localities are in the best position to get aid to the individuals and communities affected by natural disasters."
Got that? He won't dismantle FEMA. He will keep it funded. He will direct maximum resources to the first responders in the states and localities.
Ok. Now for a history lesson courtesy of the great Charles Pierce on The Willow's response to flooding in Lowell, MA in 2006 when he refused to release surplus state emergency disaster funds choosing to wait for receipt of Federal (read: FEMA) funds.
Don't blame me. I'm from Massachusetts.
November 1, 2012
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