Drawing a bright line

In reponse to the Republican demand, as voiced recently by Eric Cantor, that any disaster aid has to be offset with spending cuts, White House spokesman Jay Carney throws down the White House position on disaster aid:

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Carney said the federal government’s priority should be to respond to the disaster. He also noted that Cantor (R-Va.) hadn’t demanded offsets when the Bush administration rang up “unprecedented bills.” [...]

The White House spokesman said it was premature to make a decision yet on the costs of Hurricane Irene for the federal government. “The principle (is) that when we’re having a natural disaster and an emergency situation ... our priority has to be responding to the disaster and helping those regions and states recover,” Carney said.

Holding aid to disaster victims hostage is not who we are, or at least not what we have always been, as a country. It abridges every lost "American value" that the GOPers claim to be pining for and wanting to restore. Interestingly, the post states, "some Republicans do not think disaster aid should be offset."

Really? Name two of them. And why have none of these Republicans spoken out publicly in defense of no strings relief spending? Oh right. Political suicide to suggest to their base that they show a little human decency.

[More posts daily at the Detroit News.]