Plane with Jason Altmire on board flying to Haiti to pick up orphans

[RamboLiberal]

A plane carrying a medical team from UPMC left Pittsburgh for Haiti today, and it is expected to return tonight with 61 orphans from a facility run by two sisters from Ben Avon.

KDKA-TV reported that U.S. Rep. Jason Altmire, the governor's office, the State Department and UPMC had arranged the flight, which was expected to arrive in Haiti late this afternoon.

The mission came in response to messages last week from sisters Jamie and Ali McMutrie, who said this month's devastating earthquake endangered the health of 130 orphans in their care.

Since then, officials have been trying to organize an evacuation of the facility while groups in the Pittsburgh area have been holding fund raisers.



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10018/1029164-100.stm#ixzz0czNmrNZn

[blue neen]

1. Great news!

"The offices of Reps. Mike Doyle and Sens. Bob Casey and Arlen Specter also were involved in arranging the flight. Tess Mullen, spokeswoman for Mr. Altmire, would say only that he was "doing everything he can to bring Jamie and Ali home safely."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10018/1029164-100.stm#ixzz0d063gWTK


Thanks to the PA delegation!

[PA Democrat]

2. I heard a live interview of Ali McMutrie when she arrived in Pittsburgh.

What a wonderful person. She and her sister would not leave until arrangements were made to place ALL of the children in the orphanage. The remaining children will go to France and Holland. The other sister, Jamie, was unable to make the flight because one of the children in the group going to Pittsburgh got lost and the military transport could not wait due to the tight scheduling of flights in and out of Haiti. The child was found and is coming to the US on a flight to Florida along with Jamie McMutrie.

It was a heartwarming story. PA Governor Ed Rendell was on the mission and described the children breaking out in song on the trip out of Haiti.

[blue neen]

3. Those sisters are very special people.

The responsibility they have shown towards caring for those children's well-being is profound. :)

[PADEMJES12]

4. Good for Jason....

Having supplies for these kids for a matter of days is a challenge according to a special I watched.

[MrMickeysMom]

5. Let's not forget what a photo op it is ...

Imagine the look of disgust on my face as I uploaded photos showing Jason Altmire and these kids.

For reasons that are obvious, I cluck my tongue at both he and this non profit health care system in those same pictures. It's a strange message to see the rescue efforts when both Altmire and that non-profit routinely worked to gut care to the under-served (but not under-census) in Braddock, PA. Their little ole health care lobbyist - worked for them for years. Yeah, they delivered these orphans safely to the US, and I'm glad that these kids have care and families waiting to adopt... But, think about it... these are the same families who the non-profit could care less about when it comes to serving the poor in their own back yard.

Jason the lobbyist has been in their court for years, doing his best to gut that same care to people who are a sick episode away from bankruptcy here.

Hey, good for you, Jason, you graduated from lobbyist to Congressman, turning your back further on health care reform from your congressional seat.

[PADEMJES12]

6. i Agree MrMickeys...

I guess there was an article in the paper about Buchanan politically jockeying with Altmire to get the Haiti kids. Ill try and find it.