President Obama Puts Americans First in Disasters Over Politics

Thank you President Obama for caring about all Americans.  Oklahomans with the recent tornadoes saw it first hand with the President's visit on Sunday.  FEMA was on the ground in Moore rapidly with search and rescue and then other resources as President Obama signed the emergency declaration right away.

Tears: Obama wipes away tears after hugging Plaza Tower Elementary School
 Principal Amy Simpson in Moore, Oklahoma, May 26, 2013
Read More at Daily Mail.co.uk

When I joined Republicans for Obama last summer it was because I saw what had been accomplished by President Obama and his Team on a wide variety of issues.  There was one issue that stood out in disaster after disaster which has been the quick response from FEMA to the communities who have suffered a natural disaster. What a contrast to FEMA under the Bush Administration which was a nightmare not only with Katrina but other natural disasters.  FEMA didn't get their act together until Barack Obama became President and appointed Janet Napolitano as Secretary of Homeland Security and  Craig Fugate as Director of FEMA.  There is no politics with his visits - this is about him as President and his looking out for all Americans.

Good morning -- On Sunday, I was in Moore, Oklahoma. Today, I'm headed to the Jersey Shore. Those two communities are separated by half a continent but united by a common sense of purpose. Like Joplin, Tuscaloosa, and New Orleans, they are home to people who've seen nature at its worst and humanity at its best. And they're filled with those who have made the choice to rebuild after disaster, to come back stronger than ever. The scene on the ground this weekend was one we all know too well: homes wrecked and neighborhoods devastated. But the memories I'll take away from Moore will be of people standing tall, of neighbor helping neighbor, of survivors working to ensure that no one suffers through tragedy alone. And that too, was strikingly familiar. I could have been back in Brigantine Beach after Hurricane Sandy. I could have been in Joplin in 2011. It's because of those past experiences in places like New Jersey and Missouri that I have faith that Moore will emerge from the wreckage of this tornado stronger than ever. And that's in part because I know that they won't undertake the road to recovery alone. This was a national tragedy, and that demands a national response. If you want to help, the best way to support those affected by this storm is to make a financial contribution to the voluntary organization of your choice. The best way to volunteer is to affiliate with an organization that is already providing support to survivors. We've set up a page to help steer you in the right direction. Check it out to get started: http://www.whitehouse.gov/oklahoma Thank you, President Barack Obama

President Obama set the right tone for Oklahomans in his speech following his tour of Moore.  Natural disasters like Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina or tornadoes that hit Joplin, MO, and now Moore for the third time are too much for states to handle as the Federal Government can mobilize so many more resources.  I was one of the ones ready to do away with FEMA after their mismanagement on Katrina, but now under Obama they have shown what a tremendous resource they are in times of disaster in the states.
Was proud of Obama and Governor Christie of New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy destroyed so much of New Jersey as they put politics on the back burner even as Romney and Republicans got mad at Christie for hosting the President.  Today Obama is back in New Jersey with Governor Christie to tour the Jersey Shore and other places to see the progress that has been made.  Jersey Shore is now open for the summer and the State of New Jersey will be seeing the results in their tax revenue.  There is still a lot of rebuilding to do but they are making great progress in New Jersey.  This picture of the two is from the Jersey Shore today:

Obama is not meeting with the most likely Democrat for Governor to oppose Christie today because this is about him being President and meeting with the Governor of New Jersey on recovery efforts not as a Democrat.  That is something I have admired in the President for a long time and one reason why I supported him in 2012.  If I had it to do over again, I would have supported him in 2008 but I swallowed the GOP koolaid which has turned to vinegar now.
The response of the Oklahoma delegation toward President Obama has been beyond disgusting since the night of the Inauguration in 2009 when Sen Coburn met with other Republicans to map out how to obstruct the President.  We witnessed Sen Inhofe make a fool of himself over Secretary of Defense Hagel's confirmation and then Benghazi.  Just days before the tornado hit, Tom Cole was infuriated over the IRS scandal which turned out to be a joke BTW only 1/3 of conservative groups have been scrutinized while  2/3's of liberal groups were put under the microscope of IRS.  Cole is friends with Issa who has a real sketchy background and should have never been named to investigate anything. 
On the night of the Moore tornado, President Obama called Cong Cole after he had talked to Governor Fallin asking how Cole was doing since he lives in Moore.  He promised that FEMA would be there to help out - that was an understatement as they moved in rapidly and now have dump trucks removing debris.  With all the knowledge of the attacks against the President by the whole Oklahoma delegation, he shoved that to the side to come to Oklahoma Sunday as the President of ALL the people to see first hand the devastation and what needed to be done.  Then he promised the people of Oklahoma that the Federal Government will be helping out for the long haul.  
Some people in Oklahoma are slowly waking up the reality that Obama is standing with Oklahomans while part of our delegation led by Coburn sees no need for the Federal Government to be involved.  Some of the hard right legislators used the Baptist Prayer Service Sunday night for photo ops for their campaigns.  Guess the Baptists forgot that not all of Oklahoma are Baptists.  
Time for Oklahoma to fully wake up and realize that the hard right agenda is not good for the State or the Federal Government and vote for common sense candidates for office.  Time to throw out anyone associated with the Tea Party.