Eric Cantor: Disaster Relief For Joplin Tornado Victims Must Be Offset

[Sgt Meowenstein]

Republican slogan for 2012: Big oil gets taxpayer subsidies, the rest of you are on your own.

Eric Cantor On 'Face The Nation': Disaster Relief For Joplin Tornado Victims Must Be Offset (VIDEO)

On Sunday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) reiterated his position that disaster relief funds for the tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri must be paid for with cuts to other programs. "Congress will find the money," Cantor said on CBS' “Face the Nation” "And it will be offset."

"I know that America is just stunned by the scope of devastation and loss and the horrific tragedy that the people of Joplin and other places across the country really are experiencing this tornado season," Cantor said. The federal government typically pays for disaster relief, but Cantor has said repeatedly that the government must maintain fiscal discipline. On Sunday, he compared the situation to that of a family putting off buying a new car when a family member became ill.

"When a family is struck with tragedy -- like the family of Joplin ... let's say if they had $10,000 set aside to do something else with, to buy a new car ... and then they were struck with a sick member of the family or something, and needed to take that money to apply it to that, that's what they would do, because families don't have unlimited money. And, really, neither does the federal government."

 

[xpiher]

I kinda agree with his sentiments, but I think its a dangerous political game considering that repub typically are talking about cutting money that goes to other segments of the population, typically the poor.

 

[Layla_Z]

Is Cantor so stupid that he doesn't understand the difference between family finance and running a country? How dare he and other republicans hold these people hostage to try to get more budget cuts. This shows that they don't give a damn about the people of this country. He should be ashamed and so should anyone who votes for him ever again!

 

[Μολὼν λαβέ]

Is Cantor so stupid that he doesn't understand the difference between family finance and running a country? How dare he and other republicans hold these people hostage to try to get more budget cuts. This shows that they don't give a damn about the people of this country. He should be ashamed and so should anyone who votes for him ever again!

Budget: An estimate, often itemized, of expected income and expense for a given period; a limited stock or supply of something (Dictionary.com).

So I guess we just print some more money and everything and will be just fine, eh?

Tick Tock...

U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time

 

[American]

Is Cantor so stupid that he doesn't understand the difference between family finance and running a country? How dare he and other republicans hold these people hostage to try to get more budget cuts. This shows that they don't give a damn about the people of this country. He should be ashamed and so should anyone who votes for him ever again!

You are so predictable, we couldn't have done better with a queue card.

 

[spud_meister]

he compared the situation to that of a family putting off buying a new car when a family member became ill.

Except a better analogy would be a family not paying the electricity bill to pay for an illness, it's not money that could be spent like he's implying, but money that will be spent.

Call me a commie, but I think money for disaster relief should arrive ASAP, and not have to go through a bureaucratic rigmarole.

 

[American]

Except a better analogy would be a family not paying the electricity bill to pay for an illness, it's not money that could be spent like he's implying, but money that will be spent.

Call me a commie, but I think money for disaster relief should arrive ASAP, and not have to go through a bureaucratic rigmarole.

Right, no questions asked. And certainly to expectation the state will do anything at all. Just make sure that elected officials are PC and stand down in the House well bloviating over how much they care about the people. Let's be real. The only way to make a liberal stop playing gamesmanship with the money is to make them be responsible at every turn. We can no longer afford to find loopholes in spending.

 

[Layla_Z]

Budget: An estimate, often itemized, of expected income and expense for a given period; a limited stock or supply of something (Dictionary.com).

So I guess we just print some more money and everything and will be just fine, eh?

Tick Tock...

U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time

You don't play politics with peoples' lives. He is trying to hold aid for these people hostage. That is just wrong. In an emergency such as this, you find the money and help the people. You don't say, "Do what I want or we won't help these people." If republicans are so great with the budget, why didn't President Bush pull this when sending aid after Katrina?

 

[Objective Voice]

On Sunday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) reiterated his position that disaster relief funds for the tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri must be paid for with cuts to other programs. "Congress will find the money," Cantor said on CBS' “Face the Nation” "And it will be offset."

"I know that America is just stunned by the scope of devastation and loss and the horrific tragedy that the people of Joplin and other places across the country really are experiencing this tornado season," Cantor said. The federal government typically pays for disaster relief, but Cantor has said repeatedly that the government must maintain fiscal discipline. On Sunday, he compared the situation to that of a family putting off buying a new car when a family member became ill.

"When a family is struck with tragedy -- like the family of Joplin ... let's say if they had $10,000 set aside to do something else with, to buy a new car ... and then they were struck with a sick member of the family or something, and needed to take that money to apply it to that, that's what they would do, because families don't have unlimited money. And, really, neither does the federal government."

Really?

REALLY!?!

People have lost their lives. Homes, businesses and property have all been destroyed. Entire towns lay in ruin. They're still finding bodies in Joplin. Folks down south of me in Tuscaloosa, AL are still homeless; some are even still hospitalized. And Congressman Cantor has the audacity to politicize federal disaster relief funds?

REALLY!?!

U-N-F-R-E-A-K-I-N' REAL!!!

 

[Objective Voice]

Budget: An estimate, often itemized, of expected income and expense for a given period; a limited stock or supply of something (Dictionary.com).

So I guess we just print some more money and everything and will be just fine, eh?

Tick Tock...

U.S. National Debt Clock : Real Time

You know, you wouldn't be making such foolish, dispassionate statements if one of those F5's bared down on your home, your family, your community. I've seen the devastation LIVE, IN PERSON! We're still cleaning up the mess all around north Alabama. Layla-Z is 1000% correct. You DON'T play politics with people's lives this way. I understand the budgetary problems our country is facing currently, but this is something you don't play political games with.

 

[Gina]

You know, you wouldn't be making such foolish, dispassionate statements if one of those F5's bared down on your home, your family, your community. I've seen the devastation LIVE, IN PERSON! We're still cleaning up the mess all around north Alabama. Layla-Z is 1000% correct. You DON'T play politics with people's lives this way. I understand the budgetary problems our country is facing currently, but this is something you don't play political games with.

Indeed and we come to the aide of our countrymen.

What has happened to the U.S.? How can we send money to our military allies and then question, place strings on and otherwise question the needs of our own people?

 

[xpiher]

OK, so heres the only way Cantor's analogy can hold. If the money is taken away from new military planes, retrofitting buildings, subsides, etc.

 

[Μολὼν λαβέ]

You know, you wouldn't be making such foolish, dispassionate statements if one of those F5's bared down on your home, your family, your community. I've seen the devastation LIVE, IN PERSON! We're still cleaning up the mess all around north Alabama. Layla-Z is 1000% correct. You DON'T play politics with people's lives this way. I understand the budgetary problems our country is facing currently, but this is something you don't play political games with.

I've lived through multiple hurricanes in South Florida that caused me great damage and financial loss, including Hurricane Andrew. (That's one reason I moved.) Luckily for me, no one in my family was injured. I don't recall receiving any federal assistance for my troubles and misery. And by the way, I have family in Tuscaloosa, so don't get pompous with me.

Besides, the issue isn't about helping people, it's about using funds to pay for disaster relief that was earmarked for something else. Cantor said Congress will find the money. It amazes me that people like you want to politicize this issue. You must have no concept of fiscal responsibilities. You also must think money grows on trees.

 

[Objective Voice]

First, I'll be pompous with whomever I please.

Second, I'm sorry you experience such a tragedy. Glad to know you made it through okay. But can't you see why your apparant cold-heartedness seems offensive and dispassionate to myself and others? You lived through one of the most destructive hurricans on record, but seem to be taking this attitude of "I got through it on my own, so can everyone else." No! Not everyone has the means to recover from such devastation let alone do so so quickly.

Third, I know our country is in economic disarray, but to me Cantor comes across as attempting to use disaster relief spending for tornado victims in those areas the President has declared disaster areas as just another "political football for spending cuts." Yes, he did say Congress would find the money, but as a politican when you say things that give the impression that you're more concerned about the budgetary process than you are about the general welfare of the people who have sufferred great tragedy in their lives, that speaks to the man's character. It's as if what Cantor is really saying to tornado victims is, "Sorry, but you guys will just have to suck it up," and that's not right.

 

[rcart76]

Okay for the sake of argument. Considering the track record of both sides coming to a agreement on anything, how long will it be before those poor people in Joplin will receive money? If this was in Cantor's district, I bet this wouldn't be a issue. Its amazing that repubs like Cantor can rush to the aid of the wealthy americans (which is not paid for by the way) and be a penny pitcher to their poorer countrymen.

 

[Renae]

Republican slogan for 2012: Big oil gets taxpayer subsidies, the rest of you are on your own.

Democrat Slogan for 2012:

Blather on about "big oil subsidies" even though anyone who bothers to see what they are laugh at the "mock outrage"

 

[tessaesque]

Wait...so saying that we're gonna send funding, but also saying that we'll re-focus money to provide it is somehow holding Joplin hostage? All he's saying is that they're not just going to use the credit card, but will instead (responsibily) find money to help Joplin recover. Seems fine to me...

 

[Μολὼν λαβέ]

First, I'll be pompous with whomever I please.

Second, I'm sorry you experience such a tragedy. Glad to know you made it through okay. But can't you see why your apparant cold-heartedness seems offensive and dispassionate to myself and others? You lived through one of the most destructive hurricans on record, but seem to be taking this attitude of "I got through it on my own, so can everyone else." No! Not everyone has the means to recover from such devastation let alone do so so quickly.

Third, I know our country is in economic disarray, but to me Cantor comes across as attempting to use disaster relief spending for tornado victims in those areas the President has declared disaster areas as just another "political football for spending cuts." A)Yes, he did say Congress would find the money, but as a politican when you say things that give the impression that you're more concerned about the budgetary process than you are about the general welfare of the people who have sufferred great tragedy in their lives, that speaks to the man's character. B)It's as if what Cantor is really saying to tornado victims is, "Sorry, but you guys will just have to suck it up," and that's not right.

A) How did he give that impression?

B) I seriously have no idea know how you inferred that...

 

[hazlnut]

Republican slogan for 2012: Big oil gets taxpayer subsidies, the rest of you are on your own.

Well, in America you're supposed to know when your company is going to lay you off... and when a tornado is going to hit your town. Be proactive and move to a new location. We're all supposed to keep uhaul on speed-dial.

/sarcasm off...

 

[Objective Voice]

A) How did he give that impression?

B) I seriously have no idea know how you inferred that...

On Sunday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) reiterated his position that disaster relief funds for the tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri must be paid for with cuts to other programs. "Congress will find the money," Cantor said on CBS' “Face the Nation” "And it will be offset."

1. We know our national economy is in disarray. No one is disbuting that.

2. We also know hundreds of thousands of people have sustained substantial loses and lose of life due to the tornados that have swept across the country.

3. We know from experience that with natural disasters as with the tonados in Joplin and Tuscaloosa and now the tornado that hit in the upper north-east w/their destructive power and the scale of damage they create, as well as the recent floods, these such storms cost millions, if not billions, in damages not to mention lost wages and loss of life.

4. Cities and towns no matter how large or small, their residents nor businesses that have been affected by such storms can't recover from such large scale devastation on their own. They need the financial support from the community, from local charities, from businesses and business leaders, but most of all they need help from their local, state and federal governments.

Now, although Eric Cantor did say "Congress will find the money," he also made it very clear that "disaster relief funds for the tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri must be paid for with cuts to other programs," and that such funding "will be offset" by those cuts. As such, based on the difficult budgeting negotiations in Congress and the GOP's insistance on large trillion dollar spending cuts before they do anything else as far as financial appropriations or raising the debt ceiling, it's clear that Cantor is putting politics before compassion and humanitarism. And in the face of still more natural disasters that have occurred within the last 24-hours and the very real likelihood that more such disaster are either still to come or remain in effect (i.e., the flooding along the Mississippi River along several states from as far north as Minnesota to as far south as New Orleans, LA), Cantor is playing a very dangerous game with people's lives, if not their very survival.

That's why I have a problem with what he said. If he had said perhaps in a different way, "I understand the tragic losses people in Joplin and across the country have suffered due to these tornados and floods, but the federal government is running out of money to provide financial disaster relief support. As such, we're going to have to pull funds from other programs in order to try to make sure that emergency funds remain available to those who need it," I'd have totally agreed with him. But he didn't phrase his argument that way. As such, not only did he NOT come across as a compassionate public figure, he also came across as someone who has politicized a tragic event. IMHO, that is wrong!

 

[FilmFestGuy]

How 'bout he starts with his salary?

 

[tessaesque]

1. We know our national economy is in disarray. No one is disbuting that.

2. We also know hundreds of thousands of people have sustained substantial loses and lose of life due to the tornados that have swept across the country.

3. We know from experience that with natural disasters as with the tonados in Joplin and Tuscaloosa and now the tornado that hit in the upper north-east w/their destructive power and the scale of damage they create, as well as the recent floods, these such storms cost millions, if not billions, in damages not to mention lost wages and loss of life.

4. Cities and towns no matter how large or small, their residents nor businesses that have been affected by such storms can't recover from such large scale devastation on their own. They need the financial support from the community, from local charities, from businesses and business leaders, but most of all they need help from their local, state and federal governments.

Now, although Eric Cantor did say "Congress will find the money," he also made it very clear that "disaster relief funds for the tornado victims in Joplin, Missouri must be paid for with cuts to other programs," and that such funding "will be offset" by those cuts. As such, based on the difficult budgeting negotiations in Congress and the GOP's insistance on large trillion dollar spending cuts before they do anything else as far as financial appropriations or raising the debt ceiling, it's clear that Cantor is putting politics before compassion and humanitarism. And in the face of still more natural disasters that have occurred within the last 24-hours and the very real likelihood that more such disaster are either still to come or remain in effect (i.e., the flooding along the Mississippi River along several states from as far north as Minnesota to as far south as New Orleans, LA), Cantor is playing a very dangerous game with people's lives, if not their very survival.

That's why I have a problem with what he said. If he had said perhaps in a different way, "I understand the tragic losses people in Joplin and across the country have suffered due to these tornados and floods, but the federal government is running out of money to provide financial disaster relief support. As such, we're going to have to pull funds from other programs in order to try to make sure that emergency funds remain available to those who need it," I'd have totally agreed with him. But he didn't phrase his argument that way. As such, not only did he NOT come across as a compassionate public figure, he also came across as someone who has politicized a tragic event. IMHO, that is wrong!

I see virtually no difference between what you said and what he said.

 

[Jeezy]

If all the bleeding hearts in this thread could please just untwist their panties for just a second, maybe we could put Cantor's statement in context.

Roy Blunt to Eric Cantor: Find the money to offset tornado aid - Jonathan Allen - POLITICO.com

The House Appropriations Committee approved $1 billion to replenish disaster relief funds — not specific to Missouri — on Tuesday. The money is offset.

...so Cantor isn't withholding anything. Sorry to disappoint you all, but the "Big Bad Republican Screwing The Poor" argument does not apply here. Any claims about his insensitivity are worthless. He's public official and he made a dispassionate statement.

The end.

 

[Objective Voice]

I see virtually no difference between what you said and what he said.

If all the bleeding hearts in this thread could please just untwist their panties for just a second, maybe we could put Cantor's statement in context.

Roy Blunt to Eric Cantor: Find the money to offset tornado aid - Jonathan Allen - POLITICO.com



...so Cantor isn't withholding anything. Sorry to disappoint you all, but the "Big Bad Republican Screwing The Poor" argument does not apply here. Any claims about his insensitivity are worthless. He's public official and he made a dispassionate statement.

The end.

I was not saying that Cantor nor Congress would NOT provide financial relief for disaster victims. No such words were espoused by me in any of my posts on this issue. My problem with Cantor was that he injected politics into a tragic situation that affects hundreds if not thousands of people through no fault of their own. They didn't ask for a tornado or flood to wreck havoc upon their lives, but it happened. Some people may be better prepared to recover; others may not be. Our government at all levels is suppose to be their in such times of need to render assistance. The perception Cantor projected was that unless disaster relief funds were offset by spending cuts, Congress likely would not find the money dispite his insistance that they would. In short, he played politics with a tragic situation and that's what I have a problem with him on.

You don't play such games with people's lives or their livelihood when so many people are suffering due to no fault of their own. But again, it's what he said and how he said it - the words and phrasalogy - that makes a huge difference. Go back and read what he said in his interview then read how I phrased the issue. We may have said the same thing, but we came across very differently. One side (Cantor) injected politics into the matter, the other side (me) showed compassion while also being truthful about our nation's economic problems as it applies to providing disaster relief aid.

Cantor has said repeatedly that the government must maintain fiscal discipline...

In other words, Cantor saw POLITICS FIRST, PEOPLE SECOND. I saw PEOPLE FIRST, POLITICS SECOND. That's the difference!!

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

Homeowners insurance folks, it exists for a reason.

Why doesn't everyone who has a "disaster" get federal money, seems a bit one sided.