I watched the House yesterday approve an emergency appropriation bill for hurricane relief. Republicans tugged heartstrings, Democrats expressed the need for an emergency fund (to stay prepared for hurricanes, terrorist attacks, earthquakes, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.).
I saw Dave Obey, Nancy Pelosi, and Brian Baird criticize the lack of efficiency and preparation in dealing with this crisis, while Jerry Lewis, Tom DeLay, et al. completely ignored the calls for organization and simply tugged, tugged, tugged away.
It was so typical...Democrats try to govern while Republicans campaign.
But this is so much bigger than that. Read below the fold...
Now, while my focus is obviously on the tragedy of this whole story, I couldn't help but think about something: the great irony of this is that Republicans have been courting the black vote for months now, hoping to build on their puny single-digit support among black voters. They sent Ken Mehlman to apologize for the racist "Southern Strategy" and wrap himself in MLK's glory (as if MLK were a Republican, LOL). They were hoping that by accentuating their Lincoln roots, running black candidates, and ranting against gay marriage they could turn their fortunes around with the blacks.
And then, this disaster occurs. New Orleans is completely destroyed and now looks like some tragic village in Africa. The government sits around and does nothing until they realize it's looking bad. Then Bushie goes and talks with his favorite governors and woes for Trent Lott and pretends he cares, all the while barely being able to stay present while people talk to him. There has never been a bigger wake-up call as to why blacks vote so heavily for Democrats. It's not out of some 60's, NAACP tradition. It's not because of MLK. It's not because of Nixon's Southern Strategy. It's because we care about them, and Republicans - fat, white, wealthy, greedy, corrupt Republicans, don't give a shit about anybody who doesn't belong to a country club.
As someone who is somewhat diversity-crazed, and as a white guy who adores the black culture, I can't help but feel wrenched when I watch poverty-stricken single black moms with nothing left. But Bushie doesn't even raise an eyebrow - he's just glad that Trent Lott is okay.
THIS is why I am a Democrat. THIS is why 90% of blacks are Democrats. And THIS is why we need to take back Washington. We believe in the principle of treating everyone equally regardless of income, education, or ideology. And Republicans believe in country clubs.