Democrats' Hurricane anti-Bush petition also seeks political contributions

Democrats' anti-Bush petition also seeks political contributions

By DEVLIN BARRETT
Associated Press Writer
September 8, 2005, 4:13 PM EDT

WASHINGTON -- A new Democratic effort to whip up indignation about the Bush administration's handling of Hurricane Katrina also tried to raise money for Democratic candidates.

Sen. Charles Schumer, a New York Democrat and the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, issued an appeal Thursday urging people to sign an online petition to fire the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency over his handling of the Katrina response.

After an inquiry from the Associated Press, the DSCC quickly pulled down the page and said they would donate to charity any money raised by the anti-FEMA petition.

When recipients clicked on a link to the petition, the top center of the screen _ above the call to "Fire the FEMA director" _ had asked for a donation to the DSCC.

Other DSCC Web pages have the same appeal for contributions, but several do not.

Since Katrina, Democrats have charged Republicans badly botched the response, and some have called for the firing of FEMA chief Michael Brown.

In recent days, Republicans hit back by accusing Democrats of trying to use the human tragedy for political gain. The letter, the GOP said Thursday, was proof.

"It's a disgrace to exploit Hurricane Katrina to raise political funds," said Brian Nick, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

"They should halt this activity because it's way over the line," he said.

DSCC spokesman Phil Singer said: "While the content of the letter is totally valid, it should have never been linked to a Web site that asks people to contribute to political campaigns. We regret it, have removed the letter from our site and will donate any contributions raised as a result of this petition to the Red Cross."

The letter is the latest sign that more than a week after Hurricane Katrina struck, the political fight over what went wrong in the response continues to grow.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has called for an independent commission to probe government failures before and after Katrina, while House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi called Bush "oblivious, in denial, dangerous" in his approach to relief efforts.

Rep. Thomas Reynolds, head of the House Republicans' fund-raising efforts, described Democratic criticism as "reprehensible," saying "this is a tragedy, not an opportunity."

The administration and Republican leaders in Congress are scrambling to launch a number of initiatives to help hurricane refugees and victims, including a new $51 billion aid package.

During the 2004 presidential campaign, some Democrats attacked President Bush for using an image of Sept. 11 devastation in a re-election campaign ad, accusing him of exploiting the tragedy. At the time, Schumer did not join in the criticism.

On the Net:
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee: http://www.dscc.org
National Republican Senatorial Committee: http://www.nrsc.org


http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local...,3588467,print.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

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Why are most democrats and left-wing "voicemen" so bent on making this tragedy into a politcal plea for change? The VAST majority of Americans feel that Bush is NOT to blame, and that if there is blame it is on city and state officials.

Are Democrat leaders and voicemen (see Michael Moore & Howard Dean) that out of touch with America? I think they are, and it shows. What do the democrats here think of what is happening in the blame game?

 

I'd like to welcome you to a reality... The Armed services recruiters work for the Department of the Defense, not President Bush. So it is his fault that military recruiters see thousands of unemployed people and say "wow, this could boost numbers?" It is their careers they are worrying about and nothing else. As far as Barbara Bush's comments, if you hadn't heard most of the people hurt by the flooding in New Orleans were POOR and right now they have new clothes, three squares a day plus snacks. I grew up in poor neighborhoods and I was poor for a few years as a child with a single mother struggling to make ends meet. A good number of them ARE better of then they ever were. The shacks they lived in will be rebuilt as nice homes and they will receive financial assistance that they never dreamed possible to get themselves back on their feet. Her statements were not all off-based... and if you think hers are bad feel free to look up what Howard Dean and Michael Moore have said since then.

How out of touch are Republicans? Oh, I dunno... feel free to check the majority in both houses of Congress and the White House, and until Democrats can prove otherwise I'll continue to know that Replublicans are doing a better job of being in tune with the American people as a whole. Honestly, with Howard Dean leading the party it can't get any better for you guys.

 

The difference is night and day. First off, they didn't "politicize" 9/11 by bashing anyone, they simply showed the President's response to the actions of that terrible day... it was Bush's finest hour, and if you as an American didn't get chills that day when you saw him on the rubble, bullhorn in hand then I feel sorry for you, that was the epitome of leadership. You can't compare them capturing that moment to what is covered in the article above; to do so is laughable.

I, for one am dissapointed that the liberals, democrats, left wingers or those who bash Bush on here everyday haven't really chimed in on this issue... they've ignored it like the plague. Meanwhile they will rant and rave on and on about military recruiters visiting known unemployed Americans. It's like those African American leaders who won't say straight out that looting for anything other then food and water was wrong, they simply tip toe around the tough issues not wanting to piss in anyone's Cheerios. You see your fellow democrats doing these deplorable political acts you choose not to condemn them for fear of pissing your fellow liberals off.