Did you know that Ebola is just a little flu bug? Well, perhaps it's a "really bad flu big," according to conservatives. Nevertheless, it certainly is not as significant a problem as those horrible Islamic militants, ISIL. President Obama should be sending ALL American troops to fight ISIL before they show up on America's shores to "kill us all." Yet, he is worried about these petty little problems like climate change, Ebola, and civil rights. Where are the President's priorities?
(end Snark)
It's fairly axiomatic that President Obama can do nothing that will please conservatives. And, they have become fairly creative in finding ways to criticize the President for trying to do even the most positive of things. Check out this latest column by Media Matters.
From Media Matters:
Right-wing media are using President Obama's plan to fight the Ebola outbreak in West Africa as another opportunity to attack him. Conservatives are calling the president a "hypocrite" because he's sending "more soldiers to fight Ebola than we are sending to fight ISIS"; labeling the plan "arrogant" because of problems with HealthCare.gov; and accusing him of trying to "change the subject" by "fighting a really bad flu bug."
The White House announced on September 16 that the United States would send 3,000 troops to Africa to help combat the Ebola threat. The U.S. military and broader uniformed services effort will "entail command and control, logistics expertise, training, and engineering support."
Conservatives responded to the plan by mocking the president and his policies:
Allen West: Obama Trying To "Change The Subject" And "Seem Like A Leader Fighting A Really Bad Flu Bug." Fox News contributor and former Florida congressman Allen West wrote on his Facebook page on September 16 that Obama "would rather send 3000 tough hard combat troops to fight ISIS and ensure the epidemic of Christian and religious minority genocide ceased." He also dismissed the president's efforts as just "optics" and an attempt "to change the subject, and make yourself seem like a leader fighting a really bad flu bug."
West also wrote an article on his website headlined, "Ebola not the deadliest virus to threaten the US: Islamism is." He wrote he doesn't "want to see the Ebola virus spread, but there is a greater pestilence that has already spread to America -- and it is far more long lasting and deadly if not eradicated."
Eric Bolling: "In Related News, He Plans To Send 3,000 Hypodermic Needles To Iraq To Fight ISIS." The Five co-host Bolling mocked Obama's plan by stating: "This just in: President Obama announced his plan to send 3,000 troops to Africa to fight Ebola, and in related news, he plans to send 3,000 hypodermic needles to Iraq to fight ISIS. That's not that funny, but when you think about 3,000 -- get it?" He later added while the president should acknowledge Ebola is a problem that should be dealt with, "let's focus on the most pressing thing to the United States, in my opinion. The most dangerous thing to the United States right now is terrorism."
Sean Hannity Calls Obama's Plan "Arrogant." Speaking on his September 16 Premiere Radio Networks program, Hannity said people will wonder why Obama is sending troops to combat Ebola when "we ought to be sending 3,000 troops to Iraq." While he said he feels "bad" about people getting Ebola, Hannity labeled Obama's plan "a little arrogant" since Africa lacks infrastructure and Obama can't even roll out HealthCare.gov.
Laura Ingraham Mocks Obama-Ebola Plan With Game Show Music. On her radio program, Ingraham played game show music while playing the game "name that enemy" about whether Obama is more serious about tackling Ebola or ISIS. Ingraham later said "I'm just getting very confused about the nature of this enemy. Is it those scary little worms that Drudge always has on the Drudge Report? The scary little Ebola worms? Is that the real threat to national security?" Ingraham then said if Ebola was a really serious threat, we should lock down the border.
There is much more at the Media Matters site, but that is a good sample of what conservatives are saying.
Why oh why is President Obama worried about Ebola (just a bad flu bug, according to some) when we have a big Middle East war to get embroiled in (with ISIL). He is sending more troops to fight Ebola than he is sending to fight ISIL (America's real problem, in their minds). Can you believe that?!