Obama - McCain - Gustav: A study in contrasts

The difference between the two candidates are clearly drawn in their response to Hurricane Gustav. McCain rushed to the scene for a photo-op, with no clear purpose other than to appear 'presidential.' Barack called Gov Jindal and asked how he could help and as Jindal requested, helped promote the evacuation orders in a series of telephone interviews.

McCain ordered a showy fundraising telethon for the teevee. Obama quietly contacted his email list and asked them to donate to the Red Cross for the relief efforts. Obama also made one brief speech in Milwaukee. Here's an excerpt:

When we least expect it tragedy may strike. And what has always made this country great is the understanding that we rise and fall as one nation, that values and family, community and neighborhood, they have to express themselves in our government. Those are national values. Those are values that we all subscribe to. And so that the spirit that we extend today and in the days to come as we monitor what happens on the Gulf that’s the spirit that we’ve got to carry with us each and every day. That’s the spirit that we need in our own homes and it’s the spirit that we need in the White House. And that’s why I’m running for president of the United States of America.

Because if there’s a poor child out there, that’s my child. If there’s a senior that’s having trouble, that’s my grandparent. If there’s a guy who’s lost his job, that’s my brother. If there’s a woman out there without healthcare, that’s my sister. Those are the values that built this country. Those are the values we are fighting for.

Read the full excerpts at this link. It's a moving speech.

Thankfully Gustav, although a bad storm, wasn't the tragic event we all feared and it provided a real life glimpse of the candidate's character for the voters. McCain ended up looking like the implusive opportunist he is and Obama shows himself to be a level-headed, efficient responder to a crisis. One can only hope enough people find out about it.


[More posts daily at The Newshoggers and The Detroit News.]