Romney: ‘We cannot afford’ disaster relief
Looking back through the transcript of Monday night’s GOP debate, attention has begun to focus on the following exchange between CNN’s John King and Mitt Romney. I’ll post it here in its entirety, just so there’s no question about context:
KING: Governor Romney? You’ve been a chief executive of a state. I was just in Joplin, Missouri. I’ve been in Mississippi and Louisiana and Tennessee and other communities dealing with whether it’s the tornadoes, the flooding, and worse. FEMA is about to run out of money, and there are some people who say do it on a case-by-case basis and some people who say, you know, maybe we’re learning a lesson here that the states should take on more of this role. How do you deal with something like that?
ROMNEY: 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 ourselves the opposite question. What should we keep? We should take all of what we’re doing at the federal level and say, what are the things we’re doing that we don’t have to do? And those things we’ve got to stop doing, because we’re borrowing $1.6 trillion more this year than we’re taking in. We cannot…
KING: Including disaster relief, though?
ROMNEY: 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.
Where to begin?
Let’s start with the Romney’s contention that disaster relief is an obligation that the federal government ought to shuck and devolve to the states or even private enterprise. Devolving that duty to the states means it would not get done. The state of Missouri, like most states, is struggling to balance its budget and could not possibly have funded the billion-dollar relief effort launched in the wake of the disaster in Joplin. The same is true of Alabama and the tornadoes that devastated our neighbors to the west in April. A state suffering destruction on such a scale cannot be told to suck it up and pull itself up by its own bootstraps.
After all, it is moments such as these that put the “United” in the United States. We are not self-contained human units each out to maximize individual wealth and consumption; we are Americans, and we help each other out. The notion that disaster relief is among “those things we’ve got to stop doing” is nonsense, and to base that suggestion on grounds of morality, as Romney does, boggles the mind.
After all, we are the richest nation the world has ever known. The concept that “we cannot afford to do those things” — “those things” being assisting our fellow Americans in a time when they have lost everything as a result of natural disaster — is unacceptable.
I’m not sure what Romney was thinking in those remarks. This was not some misstatement or misunderstanding on his part. I suspect, however, that this is what happens when a party becomes so trapped in its rhetoric that it no longer recognizes rational bounds or even basic compassion.
– Jay Bookman
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440 comments Add your comment
Good little liberal
June 15th, 2011
8:58 am
“I’m not sure what Romney was thinking in those remarks. I suspect, however, that this is what happens when a party becomes so trapped in its rhetoric that it no longer recognizes rational bounds or even basic compassion”
Like Obamacare. Does nothing for the average guy but makes the Health Insurance Companies richer than ever before.
Doggone/GA
June 15th, 2011
8:59 am
“is unacceptable”
Pet peeve alert! I am SO DAMN TIRED of things being “unacceptable” when what they REALLY are is DESPICABLE. And clearly, if we let them continue, then they ARE “acceptable”
professional skeptic
June 15th, 2011
9:02 am
“It is simply immoral…” says the guy who got rich working at Bain & Co. advising corporations to ship American jobs overseas.
Jay
June 15th, 2011
9:03 am
Is that the best you can manage, GLL: “Hey, look over there!!!”?
Granny Godzilla
June 15th, 2011
9:05 am
Well, that’s a democratic campaign commercial that needs to run in every county that has or will declare a state of emergency/disaster
from now until November 2012.
Cantor’s comments can be included as well.
Another GOP “up yours” moment that needs to be driven home HARD.
Brad Steel
June 15th, 2011
9:06 am
With this “disaster” comment, Romney did a fine job of showing off what will the #1 requirement in the republican primary: pandering.
professional skeptic
June 15th, 2011
9:07 am
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.
If I had been the interviewer, I would have immediately asked Romney for his views on endless spending on war and lucrative no-bid defense contracts.
ty webb
June 15th, 2011
9:07 am
“The state of Missouri, like most states, is struggling to balance its budget…”
Earth to jay! How is this different than the federal budget?
AmVet
June 15th, 2011
9:08 am
I note that first post, supports the damning accusation of Romney’s foot in mouth disease, or attempts to refute it, rather than just mindlessly spinning off into some unrelated attack on the president in knee jerk fashion.
At this rate, Mitt is going sink himself, before he even gets going…
SOUTHERN ATL
June 15th, 2011
9:08 am
Jay, this article has a lot of valid points. How can we afford to help rebuild other countries and let our own people suffer? The Republican Party will say anything to get elected. No matter how much insurance a person has or doesn’t have, they can never be fully prepared for the unexpected. I definitely feel their empathy!!
poison pen
June 15th, 2011
9:09 am
Jay, I took his answer to mean that you keep the good things and get rid of the bad things. He never said to get rid of FEMA.
He said try to let the PRIVATE sector do the job, as they usually do it better & cheaper, and he also said to send some of it back to the states.
You must still be squirming about the debates, Obama is done in 2012.
Peadawg
June 15th, 2011
9:10 am
We’re too busy helping out other countries, Jay. Disaster relief and help to OTHER countries is what we should shucked.
We need to get our priorities straight. We can’t afford to babysit the rest of world anymore.
Good little liberal
June 15th, 2011
9:10 am
“The state of Missouri, like most states, is struggling to balance its budget and could not possibly have funded the billion-dollar relief effort launched in the wake of the disaster in Joplin. ”
Now all of the sudden, all this concern for the states? Again, Obamacare and what it will do to the state’s budgets seems to be that old elephant stomping around in the living room.
Let’s lower the amount paid out in food stamps by encouraging job growth. Give companies real incentives for moving to our shores and get the economy going again. Reduce the amounts of money that we are needing to borrow. You know, that capitalist thing, the budget will heal and these won’t even be issues.
Or would you rather have the largest number of people on welfare in history, like the Clown has dumped on this country? Would you rather have sky high gas prices so we don’t buy as much gas, pushing food costs through the roof?
The problem Jay, is that anything like this that you bring up can always be traced back to the incompetence of the community organizer and his Weather Underground friends.
deegee
June 15th, 2011
9:11 am
I don’t think that we can afford sending congressional delegations and their families all over the world on fact finding trips. They don’t need security detail and they really don’t need to be in Washington more than once a quarter.
Good little liberal
June 15th, 2011
9:13 am
Jay
Over there is the problem. Get the clown out of the White House and take control of the Senate away from the failed policies of the democrats. We will fix the economy.
One thing is for sure, the democrats who haven’t even submitted a budget for two years HAVE TO GO. they can’t even do their job because they are so afraid of stepping on someone’s toes and losing a vote.
poison pen
June 15th, 2011
9:13 am
Granny Godzilla, Another GOP “up yours” moment that needs to be driven home HARD.
Josef & Cowboy will love you for that one.
Jay
June 15th, 2011
9:13 am
Poison, try as you might, you cannot change what was said.
Romney made it quite clear — “including disaster relief?” King prodded him — that we cannot afford to keep doing that at the federal level.
stands for decibels
June 15th, 2011
9:15 am
After all, it is moments such as these that put the “United” in the United States. We are not self-contained human units each out to maximize individual wealth and consumption; we are Americans, and we help each other out.
Why you damn commie you.
Good little liberal
June 15th, 2011
9:16 am
professional skeptic
Want to see something immoral?
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/13/us/politics/13donor.html
The event, organized by the Democratic National Committee, kicked off an aggressive push by Mr. Obama to win back the allegiance of one of his most vital sources of campaign cash — in part by trying to convince Wall Street that his policies, far from undercutting the investor class, have helped bring banks and financial markets back to health.
md
June 15th, 2011
9:18 am
Seems to be a matter of interpretation……..I watched the debate, and King’s format was a bunch of poo poo……30 seconds per answer is asinine……and if you read the above “in context”, Romney appears to be finishing his thought……..which has more to do with letting the States take care of themselves vs responding to the single issue of disaster relief……………he’s still responding big picture and King is trying to focus on little picture….as is jay.
moonbat betty
June 15th, 2011
9:18 am
Romney’s an idiot for wanting to cut waste and fraud out of disaster relief.
Issue everyone debit cards and be done with it.
Happy now?
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 15th, 2011
9:18 am
Why I bet Romney’s Wall Street buddies will be shocked, just shocked, to learn than muni bonds are immoral……. Everything apparently must be paid for on a cash basis.
Adam
June 15th, 2011
9:19 am
*facepalm*
YES WE CAN AFFORD DISASTER RELIEF.
FFS, we have been in debt for a lot longer than this. Someone needs to just stand up and say when it comes to helping our fellow humans, especially people in our OWN COUNTRY, money is no object. We have billions to send overseas, billions to spend on disaster relief and nation building in other countries, we can build schools, plumbing, etc all abroad, but we can’t afford to spend money helping people during a disaster HERE? No, I dont’ buy it.
If you want to cut spending, cut it abroad first. And raise taxes OR stop proposing ANY tax cuts. Otherwise, I’m not listening, and neither should you.
Bosch
June 15th, 2011
9:19 am
“knowing full well that we’ll all be dead and gone before it’s paid off. It makes no sense at all.”
That really is kind of a crock. I used to hear Democrats saying the same thing when Reagan was spending us into a hole — “think of the children” which at that time was me. Believe it or not, and some here will disagree, I made it okay.
Fact is, we could pay off our debt if we really wanted to, it’s just that no one really wants to. Those that say they do, won’t take the steps necessary to do it.
Normal
June 15th, 2011
9:20 am
Mitt is another dude whose dirty laundry is coming into view. This voter fraud thing, saying he’s living in his kid’s basement while owning multi-million dollar homes in other states? Fantastic. Makes me think he IS like all the other Republicans after all. He thinks we are too stupid to see for ourselves. Like I said, Fantastic.
Jay
June 15th, 2011
9:20 am
Baloney, md.
The entire question, from beginning through to followup, was about disaster relief and disaster relief only.
Don't Forget
June 15th, 2011
9:21 am
professional skeptic
June 15th, 2011
9:02 am
“It is simply immoral…” says the guy who got rich working at Bain & Co. advising corporations to ship American jobs overseas.
Yup, wonder how the moderates will feel when they find out Romney’s “business experience” was as an LBO hatchet man.
poison pen
June 15th, 2011
9:22 am
Jay, What is wrong with the private sector doing it.
josef
June 15th, 2011
9:22 am
Private enterprise? Oy, gevalt! Have some people completely taken leave of their senses? How, pray tell, can private interprise respond to utter and total destruction on such a massive scale? Charities…yes, they do respond quickly, readily and more effectively in the immediate aftermath, but their resources are even more limited than the public sector here. Food? Yes, I can see agribusiness sending in tons of supplies the next day and doing it as a public service for their fellow citizens in need. Charities,,,yes, Clothing? Right there with food, Shelter? Yeah, private enterprise and charity…they’ll have a roof over the folks’ heads in the next night. Get real, the recovery of these areas IS the responsibility the government.
Bosch
June 15th, 2011
9:23 am
“What is wrong with the private sector doing it”
Yeah, let’s have AT&T do it. People can wait on the phone all freaking day long talking to a machine or a guy in India. Yeah, that’s a great plan!
Finn McCool
June 15th, 2011
9:24 am
Let’s just ditch the whole “United” thing?
If we are paying taxes to be a part of a bigger thing and half rthe people want to be part of the bigger thing but don’t want to pay to support the bigger thing, then maybe we see how they like it without it.
Normal
June 15th, 2011
9:24 am
GLL,
Why don’t you post “I HATE OBAMA AND EVERYTHING HE STANDS FOR” once a day, then go do something else. That way I don’t have to wear out my scroll wheel prematurely. We get it. You hate President Obama. You never say anything else.
Granny Godzilla
June 15th, 2011
9:24 am
Good Little Liberal
SHHHHH…don’t tell anybody BUT – his weather underground friends are flown in on AF 1 regularly for a pick up game. It’s them versus Obama, Satan, J.R. Ewing, Ann Coulter and The Riddler.
Please don’t tell anybody – can’t let it get to Matt Drudge.
Don't Forget
June 15th, 2011
9:24 am
So Romney doesn’t believe in federal disaster relief?
Wave bye bye to Floriday conservatives, North Carolina too for that matter.
Good little liberal
June 15th, 2011
9:24 am
Keep Up
Sort of missed the point, kid.
stands for decibels
June 15th, 2011
9:25 am
Devolving that duty to the states means it would not get done.
That’s not a bug, that’s a feature.
Adam
June 15th, 2011
9:25 am
GLL: Again, Obamacare and what it will do to the state’s budgets seems to be that old elephant stomping around in the living room.
Oh? And what is it going to do to the state budgets, exactly?
Finn McCool
June 15th, 2011
9:26 am
We could also reduce US costs if we have the military only defend people in certain neighborhoods or people with a certain level of income.
All the lower level people will be expected to serve in the military to defend those people of means.
josef
June 15th, 2011
9:26 am
PP
@ 9:13
“Josef & Cowboy will love you for that one”
In relation to what?
AmVet
June 15th, 2011
9:26 am
Given their own words over a long period of time, I can safely say that virtually all of our cons are representative of the far right elements of their ideology.
Which explains why they will bend over backwards to support ANYTHING remotely con and decry EVERYTHING that is not.
And it sure is hysterical watching the gymnastics…
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 15th, 2011
9:27 am
Why josef, I am sure that the private sector can have tons of trucks and equipment just waiting for an emergency. Don’t you understand that GA Power has thousands of trucks and crews. When disasters happen here in Georgia, they dont even have to ask other power companies in other states to lend crews and equipment. It really makes economic sense for them to have all that extra equipment just sitting around in the event of a possible disaster. [snark]
Oy, gevalt is right.
Normal
June 15th, 2011
9:27 am
Adam,
Yes, it’s hard to believe that those noble, God fearing, Christian Republicans could be so willing to throw their fellow man under the bus just to save a few bucks. But wait! You don’t suppose it’s because the disaster victims are mostly lower class, do you?
Don't Forget
June 15th, 2011
9:28 am
josef
June 15th, 2011
9:22 am
Private enterprise? Oy, gevalt! Have some people completely taken leave of their senses?
Must be a rhetorical question
Jay
June 15th, 2011
9:28 am
“Jay, What is wrong with the private sector doing it.”
How would that happen, poison? Would the private sector also fund it? (Remember, Romney says the feds can’t afford it.) Would the private sector fund it with the expectation of profit? How would that profit occur? And as we know from very long experience, while some portions of the private sector DO perform admirably in such a crisis, many others see it as a chance to rip off and cheat desperate people.
“Private enterprise” is not a magic slogan to simply be recited three times to solve everything.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
June 15th, 2011
9:28 am
Nonsense GLL child, no you have missed the point, squirt.
Finn McCool
June 15th, 2011
9:29 am
They want to take your medicare away, they don’t want to help out ordinary citizens.
What do they want to do with all our money we are giving them? Oh, give it to their buddies as tax breaks and “incentives”?
You middle class Republican voters are the laughing stock of the World.
md
June 15th, 2011
9:29 am
“What should we keep? We should take all of what we’re doing at the federal level and say, what are the things we’re doing that we don’t have to do? And those things we’ve got to stop doing, because we’re borrowing $1.6 trillion more this year than we’re taking in. ”
Wrong Jay….appears you are the one eating the baloney sandwich.
“All of what we are doing”………….you have a new definition for “all”?
Good little liberal
June 15th, 2011
9:29 am
Normal
Rational people can criticize a failed politician and his failed policies without hating him. I think Obama is dangerous, and I’m not the only one.
His domestic policies are a disaster. But his foreign policies are simply going to be the start of another world war if we don’t get him out of there.
Hate? I don’t know the man.
Do I hate what he is doing to my country. Absolutely.
Brosephus
June 15th, 2011
9:30 am
Where to begin on this heaping pile of bovine fecal matter……
Romney needs to be himself and quit parroting party points. The same goes for all candidates. It’s time out for this party first crap. When a candidate answers a question, I want to know what that candidate’s idea is, not what the party’s idea is. We’ve seen that in action for the past 30-40 years from both sides, and that’s why we’re up to our ears in sh*t creek right now.
Disaster relief is best dealt with by the Feds. Contrary to popular opinion, the private sector already has a huge stake and involvement in disaster relief. I don’t think it’s government workers who come in after a disaster and perform all the necessary functions to get communities back on their feet. I seem to recall that there are insurance adjusters, debris haul-off companies, contractors, and other people involved in helping a community through a disaster. If someone can point out the federal employees in that or any group, please do so.
We’ve already seen the effects of “private sector” disaster relief after Katrina. I can recall that State Farm refused to renew insurance for anyone living along the Gulf Coast. Once they made that decision, I dropped my SF homeowners faster than Marion Barry dropping a rock of Crack when he see’s the cops.
People are so damn ate up by rhetoric nowadays, nobody can even see the problem that has resulted. People answer and react to questions like we’ve been invaded by pod people. This country used to be the leader in innovation and adaptation. Now, everybody’s parroting the same friggin’ answers like some alien chorus group. It’s a damn shame.
Good little liberal
June 15th, 2011
9:31 am
Jay
It’s that Home Owners insurance thing. Private sector? Profits?
Or are you just for Health Insurance Companies making a profit?