President Barack Obama gave a little speech yesterday.
In it, he reflected on the state of the auto industry and the trials and tribulations they've been through recently. He looked at Republicans' desire to let Detroit sink under the weight of a dead auto industry and Democrats' views that we need a Middle Class, we need (clean) heavy industry, and, for the success of this nation as a whole, we all had better be together in striving for our ultimate goals as the world's greatest democracy.
Here's a snippet of what the President told auto workers yesterday:
[...]It’s been funny to watch some of these politicians completely rewrite history now that you’re back on your feet. These are the folks who said if we went forward with our plan to rescue Detroit, “you can kiss the American automotive industry goodbye.” Now they’re saying they were right all along. Or worse, they’re saying that the problem is that you, the workers, made out like bandits in all of this; that saving the American auto industry was just about paying back unions. Really? Even by the standards of this town, that’s a load of you-know-what.
- About 700,000 retirees saw a reduction in the health care benefits they had earned.
- Many of you saw hours reduced, or pay and wages scaled back.
- You gave up some of your rights as workers.
- Promises were made to you over the years that you gave up for the sake and survival of this industry, its workers, and their families.
You want to talk about values? Hard work – that’s a value. Looking out for one another – that’s a value. The idea that we’re all in it together – that I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper – that is a value.
That last part sent
Michael "Brownie, you're doing a heckuva job" Brown's Republican Radar off, and he prepared a little diatribe for his show later that evening.
Here's a little of what "Heckuva Job" Brownie said last night on 850KOA after the president so clearly outlined some of America's most enduring ideals:
Michael Brown Show, 850KOA AM, February 28, 8PM Hour podcast (36 Minutes total)
@2:40 BO: "Hard work, that's a value.".
@2:42 MB: "What?"
@3:06 MB: "And we're not all in it together."
@3:56 MB: "In terms of getting people a hand up. What's the difference between a hand up and a hand out?"
(Not much, really, though it does require some trust of your fellow citizens. - Z)
@4:40 MB Lies about the intent of the statement "I am my brother's and sister's keeper." That good Christian purposefully misinterpreted the Bible, I guess.
@5:20 MB "Say that to Lewis and Clark, say that to the Founding Fathers."
@5:48 MB "They did it without you. And they did it without the Stupid Government."
The "Stupid Government" can only be Brownie's self-evaluation of his role as FEMA Director.
Lewis and Clark did have a little bit of government help, I dare say:
Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the expedition had several goals. Their objects were both scientific and commercial – to study the area's plants, animal life, and geography, and to discover how the region could be exploited economically.
According to Jefferson himself, one goal was to find a "direct & practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce with Asia" (the Northwest Passage).[2] Jefferson also placed special importance on declaring U.S. sovereignty over the Native Americans along the Missouri River, and getting an accurate sense of the resources in the recently completed Louisiana Purchase.
(There's much more if you can stand it.....Z)
Of course Michael Brown doesn't want to be his brother's keeper. He showed us that when he was FEMA Director under George Bush. Those are the rock-solid values of today's Republicans: no questions asked, no doubt that about their selfish concerns,
no regrets when they fuck things up and their fellow Americans die.
For Republicans like Michael Brown, we are not all in this together. For today's Republicans, it's perfectly clear you are on your own, come hell, high water, or both.
P.S. Here's FEMA Director Michael Brown being thrashed by Soledad O'Brian, and being praised by George Bush, and proving his eternal incompetence for all as New Orleans reeled from the effects of hurricane Katrina: