Clinton, Bush Dismiss Talk Show Hosts’ Politicization of Haiti Earthquake
Jan 17th, 2010 | 16 responses
Someone had to say it and former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush said it quite well. They have rejected talk show hosts’ attempt to politicize the earthquake in Haiti.
Bush and Clinton were asked on CNN about the statements such as that of conservative talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, who said that Obama will see Haiti as an opportunity to boost his credibility with the “light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country,” and who told listeners “you already give to Haitian relief; it’s called the income tax.” Host John King also brought up, without naming the MSNBC host, Keith Olbermann putting up a picture of the quake devastation and saying, “We are reminded of what healthcare reform really means.”
The pair, who appeared on CNN, “Fox News Sunday,” ABC’s “This Week,” NBC’s “Meet the Press” and CBS’ “Face the Nation,” agreed that politics should be left out of the relief effort.
“When people see us together — look, they know we have a lot of differences even though we’re friends,” Clinton said. “The only political thing I hope that comes out of this is that people keep their differences of conviction, but they treat their neighbors as friends.
“We don’t want to contribute to this political debate right now.”
Bush, who said that his mother refers to Clinton as his “step-brother,” concurred that their mission was simply helping the relief efforts.
Simply — and well — put: there is a time when you put the agendas aside and don’t personally detest other people because they have a different agenda.
16 Responses to “Clinton, Bush Dismiss Talk Show Hosts’ Politicization of Haiti Earthquake”
I saw this this morning. Clinton was given a huge opening to go after Rush Limbaugh but took the high road and changed the subject. I thought he showed a lot of class.
As I think former president George W. Bush has, since his leaving office. Regrettably, the same can not be said of his former vice-president.
Yeah Cheney has acted more like former VP Al Gore, leading the opposition and vociferously attacking policies he disagrees with.
I wonder if it has anything to do with Obama repeatedly blaming the prior administration for every problem on the planet?
Just a two cents worth: on humanitarian mission, there's no or very little discussion about people's politics. If there is, that worker doesnt belong at the site by most workers' view. There's much work to be done during disasters and massacres; carrying on about politics sidetracks the real work which is to help hands on hands, train others onsite, gain overviews for close in, middle ground and later planning, and so many more skills of heart and mind.
dr.e
If so he would have a short memory sense his admin. blamed Clinton for everything from the banking crises to every security problem, especially in the early years. Also VP Gore did not start in until 2003, Cheney apparently did not feel he needed to wait and see how things turned out. It will be really fun to watch the next GOP presidency since they will be shamed from around the day after the election until they leave the WH. Since every cycle we seem to ratchet it up another notch I figure it will start right around then, should be entertaining, I have heard they were not born in the country and maybe bigots but I am sure it will get more fleshed out later. Oh maybe it will be aliens, we need a good alien involved political smear at some point for entertainment value alone.
Hey, if Bush and Clinton can get along, then so can I. Where is that DLS? I feel like giving an electronic hug.
“Hey! Don't look at me! I voted for Kronos!”
I don't know. We discussed politics on occasion. Usually after dinner.
[There's much work to be done during ; carrying on about politics sidetracks the real work which is to help hands on hands, train others onsite, gain overviews for close in, middle ground and later planning, and so many more skills of heart and mind.
dr.e]
Hands on hands? Gain overviews for close in, middle ground and later planning? So many more skills of the heart and mind?—What are you talking about?
I dont know either Father Time, the teams I've been on had very little sleep and often we had no dinner, and fell asleep wherever we were and when we could.
Hands on hands is one of the slangs used by post-trauma for two things; training others on the spot to do the work we do, and sometimes digging wherever a hand is sticking out.
“gain overviews' has to do with interviewing quickly the block, neighborhood captains, headsmen, headswomen, so we can hear what they know and what they think is needed not only in the moment, but at a midpoint, usually about a month or more out, and then, 'late planning' … what will/ should/ can happen to 'resurrect' the social structures needed for life, markets for instance that will for the next few months be shattered and piecemeal.
Other skills of heart, stopping to just sit for a few moments with a person who is unreachable in the moment, who is staring. A hand on the arm.
Seeing which nursing women among the uninjured will have enough milk for more than one baby.
Covering the nakedness of the modest insofar as one can Women and young girls will often cower in any fallen building because they have no clothes on).
Bringing something to the menstruating to help them through. And if one cant, comforting them to not be humiliated.
Skills of the mind: how to dig a latrine without waiting for 'authorities.' How to splint broken bones. (Most injuries in an earthquake are crushing injuries), how to build a lean-to from roof rubble. Whatever is in the mind that has knowledge of 'how to' can often find a way to teach/help.
And then too, Father Time, constant prayer over the wounded. Prayer by touch without words, Prayer through one's eyes to another person's eyes. All of these and more, much more. And for weeks, months sometimes, endless need.
Almost every team that I've seen come on site, has ways that help. Except for one. The lookie lus, who come to gape, and say they were there, and get in the way of our work with their photo ops.
Anyone else, all are welcome and have something to offer the living and the dead.
Thanks, dr e.
As to your offer to anyone who has”something to offer the living and the dead,” and when we get over this tragedy–if we ever do–I may write some recollections I have from experiencing a pretty bad earthquake in Ecuador, in 1947, when I was 7 years old. Not as bad as Haiti, but thousands were killed, and again the poorest of the poor suffered the most.
Dorian
I see. It appears you performed short term disaster relief. I never did that. As well, you are medical, I am not. I’m on the engineering end.
I did ICRC and UNICEF in Sudan, Somalia, Angola, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burundi….plus a few more I’d care not to mention. Ten years worth, 89’ til 2000’. I was involved in much more long term conflict relief. ICRC field hospitals are not so sophisticated as to have psychiatric/psychological services. No religious services. However the nurses were pretty sympathetic and caring…..?
The only politics that were taboo, were local politics.
thanks FatherTime, glad you helped a lot. That's what it takes.
yes Dorian, write about '47 earthquake in Ecuador. I'll be waiting.
thank you.
dr.e
Ok.
Glad you're glad.
there's a song like that from the 60's? Is it herman's hermit's? It's one of those songs that's a little like 'they're coming to take me away, away, they're coming to take me away' … or alvin and the chipmunk song that once you hear it, you kinda wish you hadnt cause it keeps running in your head… same with dont worry, be happy. arghhhh
I think the song was called I'm glad. (imglad, imglad, imglad)
just at 3:56 in the morning, up with ill family member… me . lol. I see youre up too. We gotta stop meeting this way. People'll think we're owls or something.
“Where is that DLS?”
Here, there, everywhere. At work, on the road, you name it.
Incidentally, I heard a bit of Limbaugh's show today during a commercial on Thom Hartmann's show. This was later in his show, not at the start today, but later (his intention, he said). He noted what Bill Clinton said — yes, Clinton did not pounce when offered the chance. Clinton said two other things relevent — which Limbaugh also played, including at the end that Clinton made the same point that Limbaugh made about private donations (one of several — he is frequently, often deliberately, misreprented by his enemies). Limbaugh played all three clips — pass, set, spike.