Stephen Sabludowsky: The Iowa Rep Is King of Fools

[Louisiana1976]

From the Hill:

“What vote would you like to redo?
Rep. King: I don’t really go back and re-live that sort of thing. Some of the big votes that I’ve thought about, some of the jury’s still out. And at this point, maybe I’d answer that question another way, probably the singular vote that stands out that went against the grain, and it turns out to be the best vote that I cast, was my “no” vote to the $51.5 billion to Katrina. That probably was my best vote. But as far as doing something different again, I don’t know.”

The words “outrageous, mean spirited, stupid” come to my mind when I think about the comments of Rep. Steve King of Iowa.

I can understand that Louisiana and many of the Gulf Coast areas have had their share of corrupt politicians and parting with billions of dollars might not have come easy.

However, what caused the damage in New Orleans was the breaking of federal levees. It destroyed the houses of rich and poor, of white and black, of professions and working-class people. And yes, it also hurt the lives of those people who have been less fortunate in life.

But, Louisiana was not the only state hit by Katrina. A large swath of the Mississippi Gulf Coast was destroyed.

Rep. King obviously did not see the tens of thousands of people who were and have been displaced by this tragedy. He did not come down to the state to help save the lives of those who died. He did not realize that the Gulf Coast economy had come to a virtual halt and virtually everyone affected has been scarred in one way or another.

Maybe King does not realize that the suicide rate in New Orleans is close to sixty this year, way above the average of cities its current size. Nor does he probably realize that Louisiana cut back its budget by almost one billion dollars after the storm, that Governor Blanco hired two top notch audit companies to watch every penny it would be receiving, and that many parishes throughout the Southeast part of Louisiana had significant difficulty in surviving post-Katrina. St. Bernard Parish was overwhelmed. I recall then the proud and rambunctious St. Bernard President Junior Rodriguez coming to tears at a hearing, feeling hopeless as the federal money flowed like molasses.

Perhaps Rep. King should ask the Presidents of the impacted Parishes and counties about the difficulties they had in receiving federal money to repair their districts’ very basic infrastructures. Plaquesmines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany Parishes were devastated and are still having difficulty in rebuilding.

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more... http://www.bayoubuzz.com/News/Louisiana/Politics/From_One_Louisiana_Katrina_Voice_The_Iowa_Rep._Is_King__Of_Fools___9569.asp

[rubberducky]

1. I fear that Mr. King simply and plainly DOES NOT CARE.

I do not think that you could point out any of the suffering from Katrina that would melt Mr. King`s heart, because he does not give a damn.

[Louisiana1976]

2. I'm afraid you may be right.