Kentucky is an example of Good Democratic Government working together to save lives

[TheBigotBasher]

The far right have been trying to spread an insidious race hate story that Obama hates whites and is leaving them to die in Kentucky. The stories have already infected the usual places and now AOL has picked this up

http://news.aol.com/political-machine/2009/01/31/barack-obama-doesnt-care-about-white-southerners/

Especially during a recession and national disasters we should not allow the far right to get away with spreading this. Every time they spread that immigrants are to blame for the recession or that Obama does not care about white people, all Democrats need to slap them down.

Far from evidence of hating white people this Kentucky is evidence of Good Democratic Government working together to save lives.

The storms started Tuesday and got severe by Thursday. An emergency order was given and FEMA was in place by Friday. This quick action saved lives. For those calling for Obama to immediately go to Kentucky, they know flooding is a major risk as the ice melts and the last thing to deal with is the added complication of the Presidential Security.

In Kentucky around 11 people have been confirmed as dead - from a combination of the cold and of crashes while driving.

The 40 odd number being reported by the right is nationwide and not limited to Kentucky. This is because the States of Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois, Arkansas, Ohio, Tennessee and Indiana have all been hit by the same or similar weather patterns. It is strange that the story just concentrates on Kentucky though. It makes you think about their real intent.

The Governor has been in control and that Governor is a Democratic.

The Associate Press reported on the actions being taken

FEMA delivering supplies in Kentucky
February 01, 2009 17:54 EST
FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency continues to deliver supplies to Kentuckians who were pounded by an ice storm that knocked out power and disrupted communication to much of the state.

FEMA spokeswoman Mary Bell Lunsford said Sunday that trucks are leaving Fort Campbell at least hourly with water and food.

The supplies are being sent to locations in Paducah and Greenville. She said state and local officials decide where to send them from there.

She said generators to help power hospitals and nursing homes have arrived and requests for them are being processed so that they can be delivered.

Lunsford said FEMA would stay in Kentucky “until the state’s needs are met.”

The Kentucky newspaper did an FAQ on what would be done by FEMA as part of the rescue.

http://www.kentucky.com/787/story/678068.html

Here’s a look at some of the many questions Kentuckians are asking as the recovery continues:

What is FEMA doing to help?

The federal agency’s initial efforts are aimed at supporting critical emergency facilities — such as shelters, nursing homes, hospitals and other health facilities — with food, water and electrical generating equipment.

Requests for fuel and communications also are being filled. Initial shipments began arriving at Fort Campbell on Friday, and were being turned over to state officials for distribution to areas where they are needed, said Mary Hudak, a FEMA spokeswoman in Atlanta.

FEMA is acting under President Obama’s emergency declaration. Much of the aid will go to the more than 140 shelters that have been opened around Kentucky.

What Kentucky counties are covered under the president’s emergency declaration?

The 61 counties are Allen, Anderson, Barren, Bath, Boyd, Boyle, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Butler, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Clark, Crittenden, Daviess, Edmonson, Elliott, Estill, Fayette, Floyd, Fulton, Garrard, Graves, Grayson, Hardin, Harrison, Hart, Hickman, Hopkins, Jackson, Jessamine, Johnson, Larue, Lincoln, Logan, Lyon, Madison, Magoffin, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McCracken, Meade, Mercer, Metcalfe, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Nicholas, Ohio, Owsley, Perry, Powell, Shelby, Todd, Trigg, Union, Washington, Webster, Wolfe and Woodford

The Governor has called out 4600 National Guard. They are going door to door and clearing roads.

All deaths are unfortunate but government working together SAVES LIVES.

[Starry Messenger]

1. k & r

I like your new screen name, too!

[TheBigotBasher]

2. Thanks

I tought it reflected what I want and can do to help over the next term, which is to fight back and respond to right wing memes on forums before they take hold.

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

3. i can never even look at aol comments because of how ignorant they are. nt

[Skittles]

4. I checked 'em out because of what you said

gawd I wished I had not :o

[Cash_thatswhatiwant]

5. back around Sept. 11, I remember having aol.com as my homepage...

the amount of racist comments on related stories was downright scary. those comments aren't bad at all compared to back then..

[Hippo_Tron]

6. I found them to be quite insightful, Obama is apparently a selfish self centered ahole

I always thought that being selfish and self centered at the same time was a bit redundant but apparently Obama is totally capable of being both at the same time. Yea he's that awesome, apparently.

[Hekate]

7. Thank god the National Guard is there to help out. This is how Katrina should have been handled...

Who is head of FEMA now? Looks like we have professionals in charge again.

Hekate

[TheBigotBasher]

8. The far right

(and I include all of their front organisations in that as well) are already saying that President Obama should be out there and that he is eating (etc) while they are freezing. Until the situation stabilises the last thing needed in any of the States affected (not just Kentucky) is having the added complication of the Presidential Motorcade and his security.

[PVnRT]

9. 24 dead now

All I had heard about FEMA was that they were trucking in water and diesel, but I suppose when they do their job right, no one really hears about it. The response has been generally good down here - given the weather and how much ice there was, the utility companies have actually done very well in getting power back on.

And seeing National Guard troops evacuating people from their houses in Hummers - why couldn't this have been done during Katrina again?