Democrats And UN Politicize Asian Disaster
By Tom Barrett (01/04/05)
They haven't even finished counting the bodies, but already the Democrats and UN officials are trying to use the tsunami disaster for political gain.
Over one hundred thousand have died in Asia, but all these ghouls can think about is how they can use the disaster to bash the United States and its President.
This morning a Democrat spokesman was asked on a talk show what she thought about the US response to the disaster. She said that she thought there was "something wrong" when the US pledged $35 million for relief, but the Inaugural is going to cost $40 million. She then made a snide comment about how much body armor the $40 million would buy. Her comments were obviously "talking points" issued by the Democratic National Committee, because I have heard almost exactly the same phrases from other Democrat "strategists" and "spokesmen" in the last few days
There were several things wrong with her statements. First, the Inaugural celebrations were planned long before the disaster, and the funds were pledged for it before most people ever heard of a tsunami.
Second, she neglected to differentiate between public and private funds. The funds the President set aside for the disaster were public funds - taxpayer dollars. The funds donated for the Inaugural were private donations. She knows the President can't divert those funds from the purpose for which they were donated to a relief effort. She also knows that there is more than enough money for relief. She was simply using this as an opportunity to use the tragedy of hundreds of thousands of Asians to further her political agenda. In the political trade, it's called "dirty tricks."
Third, at the time of the interview, the money pledged by the US had already been increased ten times to $350 Million. She knew this, but she artfully covered her tracks by saying that the "initial" amount pledged was $35 Million, and then contrasted that with the $40 Million for the Inaugural.
Most people didn't hear the word "initial"; they only heard her contrast the two amounts. Those who had not heard the other news reports about the $350 Million came away thinking that the President spent more on the Inaugural than on the disaster. Exactly the misinformation she wanted to disseminate.
Fourth, regarding the dig about body armor. She gave the impression that the President was deliberately spending money on the Inaugural that could have been spent on body armor. She knows that is not true, but, hey she's a Democrat. What should we expect? But just in case she's stupid and not a deliberate liar, here are the facts. First, the donors decided to give money to the Inaugural event, not to buy body armor. Second, as everyone in Washington (even the dumbest liberal) knows, the problem of the lack of body armor in Iraq has nothing to do with money and everything to do with production capability. The money is there; the manufacturers just can't produce the stuff fast enough. But what Democrat is going to let facts stand in the way of a chance to trash the President?
What about the UN? High UN officials have accused the US of being "stingy" in its response to the Asian disaster. And Democrats like the ones I have seen on the talk shows this week have disgraced their party by agreeing with them. Let's do something that liberals in the UN and the Democrat Party hate. Let's look at some FACTS.
FACT: The people of the United States number only FIVE per cent of the world's population. And yet this one nation, the most generous of all nations, gives FORTY per cent of ALL the humanitarian and relief aid given by the almost TWO HUNDRED nations on the globe. If you include the money given directly by the United Nations for relief, most if which is extorted from the United States, by some estimates we give FIFTY per cent of ALL aid worldwide.
FACT: The $35 Million figure was the initial reaction of the United States at the time when about 5,000 were reported dead. As new reports have come in, and the magnitude of the disaster has become clearer, the money pledged has risen to the current figure of $350 Million. According to US aid officials, that number is expected to eventually rise to $1 BILLION.
FACT: People who are experienced in disaster relief will tell you that resources are much more important than money. What earthly good does it do anyone to have millions of dollars of food and medicine piling up in ports?
The real need at this point is for men and equipment to get the supplies to where they are needed, and the US is meeting that need. Other nations are tossing money at the problem while the US is "rolling up its sleeves" and DOING something. We are sending troops and aircraft to get the relief to the people before more die. But of course the UN won't include those costs (which could easily exceed the cash donations in their figures).
The bottom line: The UN and The Democratic Party leaders hate the US and will take every opportunity to bash her. (Please notice that I said the Democrat Party Leaders, NOT the members. I believe most Democrats have been misled by the artful liars that lead their Party.) They will use any dirty trick, even this shameful ploy of using a world disaster, to advance their cause.
What is their cause? The weakening and eventual destruction of the US which will allow the establishment of a true one-world government. The United States is the only world power that can defeat them. So they will do anything they can to cause harm to this great nation.
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