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What? Not Even a Look Out the Window?

by Keith Koffler on May 10, 2011, 4:05 pm

President Obama doesn’t seem to have even peered out his Air Force One window to view the swelling Mississippi, a minimal show of interest for which George W. Bush was pilloried when he took a peek at the damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. At least Bush bothered to look.

Obama is traveling today OVER the devastation being wrought by the Mississippi in order to get to events in Texas, where he will rally his Hispanic supporters with a speech on immigration in El Paso and then head to the Lone Star state’s liberal bastion of Austin for two fundraisers.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, who spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One, was asked whether Obama had bothered to get a view from above.

“I haven’t seen him do that but I haven’t been with him for the full flight so far,” Carney said.

Well, it certainly doesn’t sound like they were on the lookout for it, and it’s clear the plane is not intentionally headed over a particularly devastated area for a look-see.

Obama’s hopscotch over the Mississippi flooding is emblematic of his disaster no-show policy.

He’s currently getting slammed for visiting wildfire-plagued Texas for political purposes while refusing to grant the state disaster declaration status, which would free up federal aid. Reporters on Air Force One could see smoke rising as the plane headed into El Paso.

While he spent a brief time on the ground in Alabama after tornadoes ripped through the state late last month, he failed to even issue a public statement about tornadoes that killed dozens a few days earlier in North Carolina and the surrounding states.

Of course, the mother of all Obama disaster AWOL events was his slow and awkward response to the Gulf oil spill crisis a year ago.

Bush was criticized for waiting more than a day after Katrina struck New Orleans to return to Washington from his vacation in Texas. Instead of landing in the area, he looked out from Air Force One at the devastation in a move that was meant to show his interest, but which backfired and was used against him by those who claimed he hardly cared.

The president got to the city a couple of days later, when there was less chance he would get in the way of rescue and recovery operations.

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{ 129 comments… read them below or add one }

Reality Bites May 10, 2011 at 11:30 pm

BO doesn’t care about those in the heartland of America. He’s still bitter about them “clinging to their guns and religion”.

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Mark May 10, 2011 at 11:35 pm

Carney is a complete disaster. Obama needs to bring Gibbs back. Carney is terrible.

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ShizzlingDrits May 11, 2011 at 2:48 am

Can’t lie enough for you?

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Pounce Kitty May 10, 2011 at 11:37 pm

Obama goes to the border town ONLY to raise money for himself. What a pompous hole this guy is! He’s a disgrace. He probably looked down on “the little people” on his way to rake in more money from stupid Texas democrats. And he won’t even DEAL with the wildfires in Texas. Why? Because Republicans live there. Obama is the WORST president ever. Hands down.

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waltb31 May 11, 2011 at 10:31 am

Didn’t the jerk gov of Texas want to secede from the US? Take care of your own damn wildfires.
You people scream about “too much government” until you need the govt. then its “Where are you”? Pathetic losers.

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John May 10, 2011 at 11:40 pm

Obama doesn’t care about the USofA. Please he’s not even from here.

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BamBoozled May 10, 2011 at 11:58 pm

The Spokesmodel-in-Chief has a very busy schedule.

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RodMiller May 11, 2011 at 12:14 am

I read that Bush had the groundwork all set for the day that America would get bin Laden … ten years ago in 2001.

In basketball terms, Obama entered the game at garbage time … got a bucket and later told everyone how he won the game. LOL

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waltb31 May 11, 2011 at 10:28 am

You are a joke. If Bush could have, then why didn’t he kill bin Laden?
I’ll tell you why:
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2011/050711.html

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Distillerman May 11, 2011 at 12:15 am

It makes me sick to see him speak with the stands of American flags behind him. I have never been so appalled at the conduct, the appearance, and the attitude of a president of this country. I’ve seen 11 of them and he is beyond despicable. Shame on you America, for letting this happen.

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gt May 11, 2011 at 12:19 am

obama is a freaking asshole

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Reverend Juan May 11, 2011 at 1:21 am

What does anyone expect from this gangster and his gunsel administration? He sent plenty of help for Meheco’s wildfires. I think he had a miniature golf course installed on AF1 and was practicing his putts.

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Larry Croft May 11, 2011 at 1:24 am

This high jerk Obama spends $181,000 each hour (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/11/24/military-pegs-hourly-air-force-cost-g-obama-sets-travel-record/) he travels in our airplane and only for the purpose of getting out of town. He can determine what federal disaster aid is appropriate by viewing video from the site without leaving the White House.

These emotion-provoking trips are disingenuous photo ops. Politicians view tours such as these as an investment – an investment designed for reelection. The Messiah is in the unenviable position of needing all the reelection investment he can get.

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waltb31 May 11, 2011 at 10:28 am

He’s the President of the United States. Get over it.

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Mark May 11, 2011 at 1:36 am

Maybe he was busy in the bathroom wiping his arse with the constitution.

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ShizzlingDrits May 11, 2011 at 2:49 am

Get stuck on the down lo is more like it.

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B May 11, 2011 at 6:05 am

independent my ass

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Paolo May 11, 2011 at 6:15 am

Obama belongs in GITMO with his terrorist brothers, why else would want it closed.

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Paolo May 11, 2011 at 6:16 am

Obama belongs in GITMO with his terrorist brothers, why else would Obama want it closed.

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Jefferson May 11, 2011 at 6:20 am

Not surprised.

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MW33 May 11, 2011 at 6:47 am

They should have arrested him for sedition after that speech. Chuck Norris could have handled this with one arm tied behind his back.

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B Bryan May 11, 2011 at 7:07 am

Didn’t Bush get lame streamed for the flyover of New Orleans so he “would not get in the way of rescue and recovery operations”? At least Bush looked out the window. Not to mention then candidate and now the Blame Duck in Chief had Bush’s handling of the “chocolate city” underwater a campaign theme about how much better he would be for natural disasters? He is a natural disaster, but remains not a “natural born Citizen”. How ’bout O.botchit’s flying into Texas to pick up campaign cash after refusing FEMA aid for the State’s wildfires disaster?

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Rjs May 11, 2011 at 8:17 am

Maybe he could not take his attention off the Taco or burrito he was concentrating on.

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john b May 11, 2011 at 9:29 am

Maybe Obama would be interested in the disaster areas if we told him they have great golf courses.

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Annie May 12, 2011 at 6:01 am

Well you know, we have to support other countries…like the $$$ we give to Pakastan etc. He has his head in his butt most of the time anyway!

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StewartIII May 16, 2011 at 11:15 am