Cantor Says Congress Won’t Pay For Missouri Disaster Relief Unless Spending Is Cut Elsewhere

[Donnachaidh]

http://thinkprogress.org/2011/05/24/cantor-disaster-relief/

Firefighters and rescue workers who arrived in Joplin, MO, found that the deadly tornado that hit the state Sunday had left a “barren, smoky wasteland” in its path. Rescue workers worked through more storms in an effort to find potential survivors, even as the death toll rose to at least 119. President Obama pledged full support to the state Monday, telling survivors, “We’re here with you. We’re going to stay by you.”

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), however, said that before Congress approved federal funds for disaster relief, it had to offset the spending with cuts to other programs. The Washington Times reports:

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said Monday that if Congress passes an emergency spending bill to help Missouri’s tornado victims, the extra money will have to be cut from somewhere else.

“If there is support for a supplemental, it would be accompanied by support for having pay-fors to that supplemental,” Mr. Cantor, Virginia Republican, told reporters at the Capitol. The term “pay-fors” is used by lawmakers to signal cuts or tax increases used to pay for new spending.

More at the link --

personally, he's another candidate for a public horse-whipping...:grr:

[rurallib]

1. Please let this get legs. Nothing could make Republicans look more

uncaring, greedy and stupid than failing to respond to a disaster like this without question.

[aquart]

I posted it on Twitter and Facebook.

I suggest we all do the same.

[Donnachaidh]

38. I did the same too

Hopefully Rachel's folks will pick up on it.

[truebrit71]

52. Me too....

...

[bjobotts]

72. See McCaskil. This is exactly what would happen if you put limits on raising the debt ceiling

[bjobotts]

73. Let this be a lesson to you.Even if money in treasury can't spend it because of spending limit u pro

propose.

[bjobotts]

75. Givethe president the clean bill he asks for on raising the debt ceiling.

[proud patriot]

62. done

[roguevalley]

42. billboards throughout the south. wake up, south. these people

hate you to death.

[Liberty Belle]

2. What monsters.

[booley]

3. All right then

How about we leave Iraq, close down that city of an embassy and use that money?

I am pretty sure we could not only rebuild Joplin and still have a few hundred billion left over for other things.

[earcandle]

13. Right on!

[LuckyLib]

70. Yes! Let's start a campaign to close that embassy, get OUT of Iraq and see some $$

for tornado ravaged communities.

[Wounded Bear]

4. Yeah, Eric! Show off that Compassionate Conservatism!

:sarcasm:

[sinkingfeeling]

19. That compassion only applies to oil corporations.

http://climateprogress.org/2011/05/18/eric-cantor-oil-speculators-block-financial-regulations/


Eric Cantor promises oil speculators that republicans will block financial regulations

[Bandit]

5. I'm sort of surprised he stopped there.

A real Republican would be saying. "Don't spend my tax money on people that should have known they lived in tornado country. They chose to live there so let them deal with their choice themselves. It is afterall God's will. God will take care of them so why should I?"

[atreides1]

16. Wrong guy

You're thinking of Ron Paul the Libertarian who can only get elected as a Republican!

[pstokely]

37. But Tornado Country is in "Real America"

Not "Sin Francisco"

:sarcasm:

[Andy823]

6. Well lets see now

FIRST take away the tax breaks for the oil companies, RIGHT NOW!

SECOND end the Bush tax cuts for the rich, RIGHT NOW!

THIRD take his pay and every member of congress who won't vote for the first two things and do it RIGHT NOW!

[Botany]

7. Cantor is a mean little prick

They haven't found all the dead and missing people, people's lives are shattered, and rescue workers just got hit
by lightening last night and yet Cantor is pushing the republican agenda ..... :grr:

BTW Clinton left a surplus for W and he and the republicans squandered it on wars, tax cuts for the rich, and an unpaid for drug plan.

[liberalhistorian]

63. Well, he'll just complain that the rescue and

emergency workers are greedy, whiny, overpaid, underworked union trash whose benefits should be cut to the bone and unions trashed, as they are, in the words of the Greed Over People party's current dahling, NJ Gov. Chris Christie, the "modern welfare queens" who are "destroying the economies of the states."

Ooops, I shouldn't be giving him any ideas now.

[mwb970]

103. People like to complain about idiots like Palin and Bachmann....

But for my money, this Cantor weasel is the sleaziest, slimiest dirtbag of them all. He looks and acts like a wheedling, whining little prick to me - sort of in the Paul Ryan mode, like they are both Sean Hannity Jr. or something. Just seeing Cantor on TV makes me want to puke.

[Botany]

110. Remember Eric Cantor's my office was shot at b.s.?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/26/eric-cantor-bullet-shot-a_n_514651.html

turns out it was a random shot, the office was in a building where he rented space and had no
signage that it was connected at all to Cantor, and when the truth came out he (Cantor) wouldn't
talk to the media .... :grr:

[Raven]

8. Stupid, stupid, stupid precendent to set, Eric. What happens is

VA is hit next or some other states with Repub govs and mayors? Incredibly stupid political move not to mention the absolute depravity of it.

[oneAngryOhioDem]

97. Stupid yes, but these guys have no ability to be embarrassed...

They have no problem with simply forgetting the stand they took just moments ago to justify doing a 180 and then claim they'd always said that. Ex: “If there is support for a supplemental, it would be accompanied by support for having pay-fors to that supplemental" until it happens at home and then..."I fully support the people of my state just like I did for the people of Missouri when I advocated for help with no strings attached...yes I did....yes I did!" Must make life easy to be able to claim the exact opposite of what you actually said and believe it.

[sufrommich]

9. More proof that the GOP is now absolutely tone deaf. nt

[earcandle]

10. God should cause Cantor a major hardship for his sins against the people.

[flakey_foont]

11. heartless

These are fellow human beings who have suffered a terrible tragedy! Unbelievable, the lack of compassion

[asjr]

12. That proves it--Republicans are haters--

Democrats are lovers.

[sinkingfeeling]

14. Fine, we'll take it all out of the defense budget.

[sasha031]

15. this guy is a parasite

lets hope this gets attention in the MSM.

[toddwv]

17. Just defund the invasion of Iraq

That should MORE than cover this season's weather related disasters.

[tsuki]

82. Cut military aid to Israel. nt

[aquart]

124. Well, thank you for bringing anti-Semitism into this.

Punishing Cantor for being Jewish, are you? Really, bigotry is so appreciated right now.

[QC]

18. Hang this around his weasely little neck! Make sure that everyone in America knows

him as the guy who wants to hold the victims of the tornado hostage.

That's what our party leadership should do. I hope they will.

[elleng]

89. AT LEAST Richmond, VA must know this.

[Lifelong Protester]

20. K & R, what an ass

pushing a political agenda in the time of tragedy? A pox upon him. And his house.

As many people have said here, ending a war (or two), stopping tax breaks for the wealthy and the large corporate monsters, those things ought to cover help to our fellow citizens.

I don't get how creeps like Cantor keep on keepin' on. What a soul-less, brain-less, heart-less idiot.

[Angry Dragon]

21. I think it should come out of Congressional pay

eliminate all Congressional pensions, cut Congressional office monies, no more junkets,

[justiceischeap]

25. Amen! [phone] nt

[Telly Savalas]

74. no, just his

[rasputin1952]

22. Inhuman piece of shit...

These R's just don't get it...disasters happen, and government it there to pick up the pieces. If something happened in VA, he's be wailing up a storm. 100+ dead, devastation, and this bastard wants cuts from programs...well, cut those in VA!

[indy legend]

76. The R's get it. They just don't give a fuck.

[Ganja Ninja]

23. Funny they didn't need to cut spending when they gave a big fat tax cut to the rich.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

24. 35% tax on campaign contributions.

[Odin2005]

26. What a sick, evil SOB!!!

[JanMichael]

27. I am trying to find a different link for this

I mean, I believe it, but I would like to see it in the MSM-

[denverbill]

28. Good idea Eric! Well end oil company subsidies to pay for it. n/t

[justiceischeap]

31. Excellent idea! nt

[Ichingcarpenter]

29. Hurricane season starts June 1st he does know that doesn't he?

History of Virginia Hurricanes

Sixteenth Century Virginia Hurricanes

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/va16hur.htm
September 6, 1667 (The "dreadful hurricane of 1667"): This system is considered one of the most severe hurricanes to ever strike Virginia. On the first, this same storm was reported in the Lesser Antilles. The hurricane devastated St. Christopher as no other storm had done before. The "great storm" went on to strike the northern Outer Banks of North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. The wind turned from the northeast to due south and finally to the west, which suggested a track similar to the August 1933 hurricane, a benchmark storm for the Hampton Roads area in the 20th century (see page 33). This 1667 hurricane lasted about 24 hours and was accompanied by very violent winds and tides.

Approximately 10,000 houses were blown over. Area crops (including corn and tobacco) were beat into the ground. Many cattle drowned in area rivers and bays by the twelve foot storm surge and "many people had to flee." The foundations of the fort at Point Comfort were swept into the river. A graveyard of the First Lynnhaven parish church tumbled into the waters. Twelve days of rain followed this storm across Virginia. This system is blamed for the widening of the Lynnhaven river. Ships in regional rivers sustained great damage.

Well there is really too much history to post
but you get the idea.

http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/research/roth/vahur.htm

Karma will come back and kick him and Virgina in his keister

[juajen]

80. Yeah, hurrican season is upon us, but the states that

hurricanes affect are all red. Cantor will get crucified for this as Oklahoma and Missouri I believe are also both red. Should be interesting. The pugs are sorta imploding, doncha think?

[JDPriestly]

91. 1667 is the 17th century.

[Ichingcarpenter]

111. Look at the link and pick your own centuries

I just choose the first one as an example.

What's your point?

[JDPriestly]

125. Thanks. Looks like there was a history of really bad storms,

possibly hurricanes, throughout at least the 16th and 17th centuries. They are most likely a part of the area's weather patterns, at least on the Virginia coast.

[MilesColtrane]

30. What a piece of shit that guy is.

[DainBramaged]

32. Republican checklist for defeat 2012

They want to kill Grandma, check


They won't help the good folks in America displaced by Natural Disaster, check


They want your elderly parents to eat cat food,check



Did I miss anything?


Oh yes, I did, cut the money out of the fucking defense budget, check.

[Botany]

34. Did I miss anything?

They hate women too ..... look at their going after Planned Parenthood

They hate students, they hate gays, they hate teachers, they hate the environment, they hate workers ......

[KansDem]

33. Le's see: Plenty of money for bogus wars and tax-cuts for those who don't need them.

But no money to assist victims of destructive natural disasters.

Okay, just wanted to get that straight...:crazy:

[CanonRay]

35. The true face of Republicanism

and why I call them Rethugs.

[Uncle Joe]

36. Socio meet path.

Thanks for the thread Donnachaidh.

[CoffeeCat]

39. Terrific!! Does this mean the wars are now defunded?

Wow, if we're really going to politicize a traumatized and destroyed town that has lost so much---we'd
better find a cost-cutting solution real quick.

Here's a very quick answer! Bring home our troops from Afghanistan, which will immediately free up
billions.

But seriously...I really hope Cantor pursues this psychopathic, inhumane bullshit so EVERYONE in this
country will understand what this piece of scum and his like-minded ilk are all about.

[Bubba Kush]

40. Very well. We'll be writing in our congresspeople to amend every single Republican bill

to include funding for Joplin, MO tornado disaster - by ending two or all 3 wars and recalling all troops, sell whatever equipment the US has on base all over the world to the host country at a discount prices, shutting down the overseas bases, and cutting the defense to 1% of the entire budget and LEARNING to live with it for the next 10-15 years.

MIC funding has to end right now.

Eisenhower was right - MIC was getting too big, and warned us not to feed it. We are constantly giving it to them.

It's time to end 60 years of terrible policies.

[HopeHoops]

41. Cantor can kiss my hairy ass.

[SoCalDem]

43. Good Gawd,.. what a pompous little prick he is

:grr:

[eleny]

44. They've lost their minds

[kentuck]

45. That SOB!

Screw him! Pay for the damn wars!

[louslobbs]

46. So the party of F**K You unless you give me what I want strikes again as people suffer and die, well

I'll give them one thing, they're consistent little devils. So in order to raise the debt ceiling, they hold the country hostage to get budget cuts that will continue to hurt the poor and middle class, when they wanted their tax cuts for the rich, they held the country hostage by not allowing extensions to um employment for suffering out of work Americans and their families, and now these domestic Republicon terrorists want to hold the country hostage, until they get what they want (more budget cuts for the poor and middle class), or they won't allow help for the suffering people of Joplin? Wow, I've always said they were sick, but this just goes beyond sick. Isn't it time for us to stand up as Americans and say "we're sick and tired and we're not going to take this anymore"?
Lou

[Skidmore]

47. Make it viral.

[Modern_Matthew]

48. Let's get this going viral on Facebook...

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=question&id=2088239606732&qa_ref=qd

[eleny]

49. kick

[lunatica]

50. Republicans are the spawn of satan

[and-justice-for-all]

51. pukes are just fucked in the head

and I want to slap the taste out of cantors mouth. Worthless piece of shit.

[jpak]

53. Biden needs to go to Joplin ASAP and reassure them

Cantor = complete asshole

yup

[butterfly77]

54. Kick...

[Blue Owl]

55. A Truer Republican't There Never Was

C'mon Cantor, let the world see what a fucking asshole you are.

[RagAss]

56. They have to be deliberately trying to run the GOP into the ground !

I mean what the fuck is this????

[MadHound]

57. Well, if this gets legs, it insures a McCaskill win next year

SW Missouri is a Republican bastion. If Cantor and the 'Pugs don't come through with disaster relief, he just screwed the 'Pug candidate's chances right into the ground.

[B Calm]

58. Missouri has a Democratic Governor, NUFF SAID

[kickysnana]

59. His salary and benefits is a great place to start. n/t

[Drew Richards]

60. What is even worse?

No main stream media tv print or online besides TP has the story up.
It would be nice if this story got to all the Joplin residence so they can see what voting republican gets them.

[liberalhistorian]

61. Well, Eric, 'ol boy, you and your fellow

Greed Over People party fellows could make a good start to that by cutting your own very generous salaries, perks and benefits, including your gold cadillac health plans, that WE THE PEOPLE pay for, including the people you're so anxious to fuck over in MO. What say you about that?



The silence is deafening, ain't it? Suh-prize, suh-prize.

[Fuddnik]

64. Cut every penny that goes into his district.

And Boners too.

[Pakid]

65. I know one place to start

lets cut all spending on health care for GOP house and senate members then lets cut there staff by 95% and cut there pay by 95% that should be a good start!

[sakabatou]

66. Time for another round of CLUE-BAT!

[Pakid]

67. I know one place to start

Lets start by cutting all health care benefits for all GOP House and Senate members then lets cut 95% of there staff and pay! How do you like me now Cantor?

[jtuck004]

68. So what's the best way to put his face and these comments in front of people?

'Cause I think most people really wouldn't like seeing a picture of his face and words up next to a picture of a devastated neighborhood.

Caption something like "Haven't we lost enough already, Eric?"


Selfish, uncaring jerk.

[DirkGently]

69. Republicans: Standing strong against humanity.

[Beartracks]

71. Is that Eric Cantor (R-Asshole)?

Again, where was all this hue and cry and "fiscal conservatism" when the "war on terror" was launched? They used the Clinton Surplus as an excuse to give tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations, but now use the deficit as a reason to CONTINUE those tax cuts -- yet DEMAND social programs be cut to pay for disaster relief? How about relief from the disaster the GOP has caused? What a bunch of hypocritical blowhards. Talk about transparency in government: the motives of conservatives are awfully transparent now!

--------------------------

[markmyword]

77. I LOVE IT !

I just love these Republicans. Is Cantor nuts or what? 

Now the Democrats need to draw a line in the sand and say NO
CUTS to any programs. 
If we have no cuts, then the Republicans will be hung out to
dry for the public to see.
REPUBLICANS WILL NOT HELP STATES WITH DISASTER EMERGENCIES.
Let's see what all those Republicans think of their party now.


Just asking: Aren't Missouri, Texas and a lot of other
southern states, who've been hit with disasters, the very same
states  that don't want government interfering?  So why are we
(Obama)offering to help them out with their disasters? 
Why are they accepting help?

These Republicans are such hypocrites. Let them take care of
themselves!

[xmas74]

84. Over and over again on this site I've stated that

Missouri has many progressives still living here!

Conservative, liberal-who gives a damn! There are people dead, people missing, people homeless, people hurt and injured. An entire city is in ruin.

Who cares about their political affiliation?

[Marr]

78. If the disaster area were in California, that position would be popular with their supporters.

If it were in New York, or Chicago, or Minnesota... that line would be just fine. We're not "real Americans" like they are.

[jillan]

79. Pay your fucking taxes Cantor and stop trying to make people suffer, you heartless Prick!

[Hugabear]

81. If anyone ever needed PROOF that rethugs are evil fucks, here you have it.

what an evil, evil fucking thing to do to people in need.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

83. I agree. Spending is very important Thus, all corporate $$ donated to him, or PAC

should be "appropriated" for the good of the country to provide relief to the victims of the tornadoes! :D

What a sorry excuse for a human being

[Citizen Worker]

85. That's easy, cut the defense budget, bring the troops home and close ALL overseas military bases.

[pa28]

86. The GOP is taking hostages yet again and they'll use this tactic as long as it keeps working.

Who will the next victims be? Maybe you, maybe me, or Medicare recipients or schoolchildren . . . who can be sure.

Democrats need to learn the word "no". It might be their most potent weapon.

[geomon666]

87. What a disgusting, evil shit.

Using victims as political poker chips.

[kestrel91316]

88. Go ahead, Cantor. REPUBLICAN SUICIDE.

[JDPriestly]

90. The good people of Missouri deserve better than this.

I made a joke at their expense earlier, but in reality, I think that the country has to stand behind them as well as behind the tornado victims in Alabama.

The Republicans have no alternative but to raise taxes on the rich. There is no other realistic choice.

[Hubert Flottz]

92. Cantor is very busy writing his ticket home.

His voters can't be stupid enough to reelect a POS like that?

[democracy1st]

93. K & R

[davidthegnome]

94. Sorry but...

is anyone actually surprised by Cantor's behavior? I mean, really?

Cantor is a republican, of course he's not going to be eager to support us little people. Cantor is a republican, of course he's going to use whatever scheme he can call himself "fiscally conservative".

Horse-whipping? Oh hell yes. Sadly, a great number of people, even in tornado valley, will think he's right. They'll vote against their own best interests, thinking that perhaps there just isn't any money to help them. But there is, it's being spent in Iraq, in Afghanistan, it's being spent on wages and benefits for congress members, Senators, etc. It's being spent on weapons development, it's being spent in the frequent contributions to Israel and Pakistan. It's being spent in these areas a hell of a lot more than in support of the American public.

Cantor is ignorant, arrogant and far from compassionate. Nonetheless, he's not likely to lose a whole lot of support for pretending to be fiscally conservative. I almost wish hell really existed, it could be such a special place for folks like Cantor.

We all know that the right does not support the general public or even those who have suffered in great disasters such as have been seen here. They're just slowly, as the years go by, being more honest about it. They have books, media icons, music, etc. all to "explain" their apparent complete and total lack of morality and compassion. They have religious idealism and religion itself in the place of reason and empathy.

Men like Cantor may lose a few moderates over this or similar statements, but it won't truly damage the right. Should it? Well, in any reasonable society, Cantor would quickly become a figure of public shame, an example of what not to say or do in public office. This isn't a reasonable society.

[SpiralHawk]

95. Ugly, ugly, ugly Republicon blackmail

How do the people of Joplin feel being held hostage by the Republicon cabal O' cronies.

"Give us what we demand, or Joplin gets another massive kick in the heart. Sneer." - Republicons

[steve2470]

96. Democrats need to run his remarks in camapaign ads.. shows how hard hearted they are nt

[deutsey]

98. It will be interesting to see how many of our friends in the "liberal media" will report on this

:eyes:

[liberal N proud]

99. That is fucking blackmail and is a criminal act

Holding people struck by disaster ransom is just sick but these fuckers will get away with it.

[steve2470]

100. Make sure Joplin knows about this. I already sent an email to their local paper nt

[mwb970]

101. Heartless, cruel, evil. These have become synonyms for "republican".

I can't stand these un-American, un-Christian, inhuman jerks much longer. Why did we elect so many republicans last year? Does America have a death wish?

[lunatica]

102. If this isn't proof of Republicans being sociopaths I don't know what is

They must feel quite confident that they've got enough power to show their true lack of souls.

[The Wizard]

104. Every time I see or hear Eric Cantor

anal leakage comes to mind. His parents must be embarrassed.

[Enthusiast]

105. Democrats, including Obama, should see

this as an opportunity to pound Cantor on this issue. He should be made so ashamed that he will give a public apology and lose his seat next election.

[deacon]

106. Or, how to create a bright blue state. He and ryan are equally insane. n/t

[obxhead]

109. I doubt that.

VA is a traditional red state. Northern VA is sliding to the left, but many that live in that area work in Gov or Gov contractors so it's still a close split. SE VA also tends to vote blue as well. Otherwise most of the state is a bright red, especially Cantor's district and everything to the west and south.

He's an asshat, but he took 65% of the vote in his district in 2010. I doubt anything he says and does will change that much.

x(

[sulphurdunn]

107. No problema Mr. Cantor.

Y'all just need to take back some oil company tax giveaways and send the money to Missouri. O8)

[roody]

108. So cut war spending.

[CTyankee]

112. Way to go, Eric! May we quote you?

May we quote you every day in every way possible?

How about putting that to music! A nice, little country/western song...yep, that'll do!

Oh, and you thought the "throw granny off the cliff" ad was over the top? Wait'll we get the footage of the Joplin disaster going with some music and then YOUR WORDS in big letters on the screen...

[Turbineguy]

113. Thank you Mr. Cantor

you do our work.

[gordianot]

114. I hope this plays in Southwest Missouri home of some of the most odious Republicans anywhere.

They keep electing them decade after decade. Just maybe they will get the message if it is communicated to the victims. .Republicans could care less about your misery, loss of life and property. Cantor compares well with the Republicans produced by Southwest Missouri. I wonder if Cantor's line would have been different if this was his district. One common thread with the modern GOP is they forget who elect them and they are short sighted.

[NewJeffCT]

115. OK, Democrats, now is not the time to "keep your powder dry"

1) Propose to rescind the oil company tax breaks to pay for disaster relief. When Republics refuse, hit them with an ad saying that Republics would rather protect ExxonMobil and it's $30 billion of profits in 2010 than spend a small fraction of that money to help disaster victims. (show images of the devastation in Missouri)

2) After that refusal, propose raising taxes on millionaires by 2 or 3% to help pay for disaster relief. When Republics refuse, hit them with an ad saying that Republics would rather protect Paris Hilton and (insert decadent celebrity here) than spend a small fraction of that money to help disaster victims. (show more images of the devastation)

[HowHasItComeToThis]

122. THE REPUBS ARE BULLIES..... ALL OF THEM

THIS DISASTER CALLS FOR A TAX BREAK.
SUCH A DEAL

[ehrnst]

116. If the GOP can use the recession to get their agenda through, we can use the disasters as

a way to show America what their agenda really is.

[Le Taz Hot]

117. I'm sure he'd be saying EXACLTY the

same thing had it been a devastating hurricane hitting a major metropolitan area of Virginia, right? Somebody needs to remind this bozo that we're the UNITED states. Oy vey!

[Pacifist Patriot]

118. Hmmm... getting one Fortune 500 Company to pony up on their fair share of taxes...

could probably more than cover it.

What a heartless bastard!

[roxiejules]

119. Thank you, Eric Cantor

For pushing the voters to the left, just as Paul Ryan has done.


My sympathies to the great people of Missouri.

[glinda]

120. No one should let this one die. What an ass Cantor is. Sociopath.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

121. Eric Cantor

Start by cutting all funds to his Virginia District. Then go onto all the other Republican Districts and cut about $500 million/year from each of them. If spending is the problem and not revenue, then let them lead the way.

[blackspade]

123. Rethugs, Bringing the love

for their fellow citizens!

What an utter asshole.