Why isn't President Obama going to Flint?

[virtualobserver]

I'm a little baffled by that decision.

[librechik]

1. Bernie and/or Hillary should go

If they are accused of using it as a political opportunity, it's ok. They are running. Personally, I think it would be a fantastic opportunity for either of them.

But what am I saying? I almost believed for a second there that the voters make a difference in this shithole of a country.


http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2014/10/18/vote-all-you-want-the-secret-government-won-change/jVSkXrENQlu8vNcBfMn9sL/story.html

[virtualobserver]

3. I would feel better if Obama went...it seems weird considering that he is in town.

[librechik]

16. oh! well of course he should. But I long ago stopped thinking that Obama

or Hillary or anyone on that level is really allowed any free movement. Wouldn't that be great? It would make him seem like a real person, not a puppet.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Why should he?

He sometimes visits disaster areas but not always. Sometimes the disruption caused by the huge entourage accompanying a president is more of a hindrance than a help.

[virtualobserver]

4. He is in town at the auto show.

I think that it would put a lot of pressure on Snyder.

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. If last night was any indication...

Snyder is feeling the pressure. It's like he suddenly realized he's a national embarrassment.

That said, Obama should visit Flint, if not for Snyder then for the people who live there. They need all the help they can get.

[virtualobserver]

9. I agree..... comforting the people and totally crushing Snyder....

would be a good use of his Presidential power.

[Act_of_Reparation]

24. At this point I'd be happy if the fed would step in an do something.

Whether Snyder stays or goes, the damage is done and there's no undoing it. Those poisoned are going to stay poisoned for the rest of their lives. The long-term implications are a much bigger concern for me than punishing people in the short term. We're going to have to care for those affected for the rest of their lives, and in ways that aren't necessarily obvious.

Lead affects mental development as well as physical development, and is particularly harmful to infants and young children. This "accident" has ensured a significant percentage of an entire generation of Flint children will have below average IQ's. This will limit economic growth, which will limit opportunity, which will have a decidedly negative impact on overall poverty and crime rates in an already-suffering city. Flint's been trying for decades to pull itself out of economic ruin, and this has ensured the city will stay in dumps for the foreseeable future.

We can't just forget about this once Snyder and his cronies are out of office. We're going to have to pay for it, and keep paying for it, for as long as those affected are alive. Having some kind of assurance from the President that the fed isn't just going to forget about this once the headlines go away would come as a big comfort.

[meforbernie]

34. Snyder will enact more harmful policies so long as he stays.

If he is not punished, others will abuse the public too. This go forward strategy is dumb and encourages more abuse. They know you'll let them get away with it, and even financially reward them for being bastards to us. Wake up!

This sort of move forward, forgive and forget shit is actually the Obama administrations attitude.

[Act_of_Reparation]

50. You're right.

Once Rick Snyder is out of office, everything will be sunshine and rainbows and no one will ever do anything like this ever again because they'll be afraid of the consequences. Gotta get tuff on crime, after all. Like how crime rates plummeted to zero once the death penalty was reinstated... Oh, wait...

Incidentally, no one is suggesting Rick Snyder be forgiven or forgotten. The sentiment plainly expressed above is that our priority should be the people of Flint. These are not mutually exclusive propositions; the latter need not preclude the former.

TL;DR - I can walk and chew gum at the same fucking time.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

17. I didn't know he was in the area.

Then maybe he should put in an appearance, if possible.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

7. Daaaammmmmnnnnnn...!

OUCH!!

[hifiguy]

48. That's gonna leave a mark.

Well played.

[emulatorloo]

51. Yes I bet Obama was totally devastated when he read that snarky post on DU tonight!

[karynnj]

8. He should with the EPA, FEMA, and the FINALLY confirmed surgeon general with solutions

Last year, Obama approved a HUGE effort that built nursing facilities in Africa to treat ebola, to first contain it and then eliminate it. I think Obama should put the surgeon general or someone else with excellent credentials To pull together the best medical help for these people possible. This is owed those people and a top notched response would define methods that can be used elsewhere. In addition to the medical needs, it seems clear that the solutions for fixing this problem are very very complicated and expensive. This should be done as a mayor project even if it means totally redoing every water pipe in the system before connecting it to Lake Huron.

I hope the Obama administration - maybe lead by Biden - puts something like this together. Without that - a visit by the President, the VP etc might actually anger people who - even if they love the President - need this fixed and need to see a plan to do so.

[jwirr]

11. Unfortunately there is little that can be done to help those

children except giving them clean water from now on. Lead poisoning causes developmental disabilities that continue for a life time. We have known that for a long time. That is why old buildings containing lead based paint are so dangerous.

Snyder did not test for lead in the water because the poor corporations would have to change their ways and if I am correct the DuPont knew about it for years. They have destroyed the lives of these children and they will need special care both medical and educational as well as care when they are adults for the rest of their lives.

I do not see that one visit from him is going to accomplish much but when he is right there in the city it is terrible that he does not acknowledge their need. He should join the call for Snyder to resign.

[karynnj]

12. I am not sure that NOTHING can be done. I agree that these people - especially the kids -will suffer

their whole lives. However, I wonder if the best medical minds in the country took this on - if they could even marginally make things better it would be for the best. I am not a doctor, have no medical background at all, but I remember from years ago when stories on kids eating lead laden paint chips were given some medical treatment to remove some of it. This could be bad memory or it could be that nothing did much.

There has to be some way - through medical help, educational help or emotional help that would not routinely be available for a poor community - that could even if just in a small way help these kids.

(or it can just be that I am guilty of the American mentality that we can always help if we work hard enough to try to do so. )

I agree that as he is in the area - not going there - is pretty strange and more than just bad optics - not being there for people who likely have held him as a hero.

[jwirr]

21. I sincerely hope that there are new ways to help the children

but as a social worker who specialized in developmental illnesses before I retired lead poisoning was one of the worst causes.

Many of those kids if they are in poor families will be getting Medicaid and will have access to any doctors they want. Or at least that is the way it should be. What we would have done in my office would have been in addition to medical care made sure that they received early education services from birth to kindergarten so that they could be helped to qualify for school.

Of course all these programs are dependent on what the state programs offer and that is where President Obama can help.

[karynnj]

22. Wow, you likely understood the extent of the pure evil done here better than most of us

Thanks for your willingness to speak of your background. It sounds like that must have been a very tough, difficult job that must have been heartbreaking at times. Thank you for a career of being there for those kids.

[jwirr]

23. TY

[Tarheel_Dem]

10. For What? A photo op? How & who does that help? He met with Mayor Weaver yesterday. There...

are tons of investigations happening all at once, and I'm sure the President doesn't want to give the impression that he's putting his thumb on the scales until those investigations are complete. I'm glad the resident BS'ers aren't in charge of this President's schedule.

Let's be honest, this President will never do anything to satisfy you & those upthread. Any opportunity to criticize him or his administration is as natural as breathing for some at BS Underground. SSDD.

[virtualobserver]

13. I'm happy that he met with Mayor Weaver...but photo ops do help.

It makes people feel that the President is supporting them, and it shows people in other locales that he would be there for them too.

This problem was caused by a Republican governor and the state appointed replacement for the local Flint government.

As for your "honest" assumption about me and my view of the President, bullshit assumption would be the correct description.

I love President Obama, but he doesn't use his considerable skills in this area or in terms of the bully pulpit as often as I would like.

[Tarheel_Dem]

14. You're talking about "politics". Some things are (or should be) above "politics".

[virtualobserver]

15. no, this disaster was caused by politics

You have to hold that political view responsible for the damage that it is causing.

It is like a blind, mindless creature killing and maiming those in its path.

This is just one of the many damaging effects of the "cost-cutting" Republican ideology.

If people merely view it as an isolated incident, the overall policy will never change.

[Tarheel_Dem]

20. Thanks to Hillary Clinton for highlighting this "incident" on the national stage. It's only been a..

few weeks since this story broke nationally. I have trust in my President that he will choose his responses & timing wisely, just not on a timetable that's been pre-approved by "virtualobserver". It's already been made quite clear that this was a total Republican f**k up, so there's nothing this President needs to do politically.

What needs to happen now is the state & federal government need to figure out how this problem gets resolved, with or without Rick Snyder, & how the residents of Flint can obtain critical ongoing medical care, clean & safe water, and upgraded infrastructure.

[virtualobserver]

38. fine, If you don't "approve" of the President comforting the people of Flint.

You are missing the point. This is a symptom of the Republican cost cutting disease.

[Tarheel_Dem]

40. Yeah, let's go with that.

One of your allies posited last week that this was "Obama's Katrina". You guys are really reaching these days. Reasonable people know who caused this problem, and the President swooping in for a couple of pictures, won't change that fact, and I suspect a majority of the residents of Flint know this.

[virtualobserver]

42. It is like Katrina, but only for Snyder and his gang.

You and I just have a different view about the psychological benefit of Obama's presence there.

[FSogol]

18. +1 Well said. n/t

[randys1]

35. Yep, you hit it on the nail with this comment

Let's be honest, this President will never do anything to satisfy you & those upthread. Any opportunity to criticize him or his administration is as natural as breathing for some at BS Underground. SSDD.

Sickens me, I have to hear this shit at the rightwing board, I am SICK of hearing it here

[Tarheel_Dem]

39. The similarities between the rightwing ODS & his "critics" on the left are too glaring not to notice

[KT2000]

19. he should not go

this is a man-made disaster caused by republicans. The way these things work is the leaders of the community commiserate with the president and all promise to fix things. Let these republicans stew in their own mess. They got their disaster declaration and they have access to every government agency to fix this.
President Obama does not need to be tied to this - it would only serve as archived photos years from now when the true cost of this disaster is known. They would blame Obama for coming to town with promises but we know that the damage is irreversible..

[smirkymonkey]

44. Yep...

[LanternWaste]

26. What measurable, objective affectation would it accomplish?

What measurable, objective affectation would it accomplish?

[liberal N proud]

27. He doesn't want to drink the water

Would you want to go?

[democrank]

28. President Obama should go to Flint.

[TM99]

29. Because Sanders is bad.

Duh!

[gwheezie]

30. Another example of state sanctioned racism

Obama is getting ready to speak in Detroit so I'll wait to see what he says and if he swings into flint.

[virtualobserver]

43. I agree. I hope he does.

I want the Governor to resign, but that is just a good first step. This was a criminal act that has horrifying long term consequences for the people of flint.

[meforbernie]

31. Obama and other Pritzker dems support the idea that business economists

Last edited Wed Jan 20, 2016, 06:08 PM - Edit history (1)

should takeover failed city government institutions from elected officials and he doesn't want to embarrass Snyder over it. He rationalizes "the lead thing" was just a tragic mistake, and not a natural consequence of this strategy. He believes Economists are objective people, except for liberals. It wouldn't be bipartisan to embarrass Snyder over this. Obama thinks embarrassing Snyder is divisive populism that doesn't contribute to Americans working together to solve problems.

The guy who made this decisions to use lead contaminated water is currently running a charter school. Obama and Pritzker have always supported this sort of thing, and don't believe it is dangerous. Pritzker herself sat on an unelected Chicago school board, and his buddy Rahm defended this arrangement as best for the children of Chicago. He hopes if he just focuses on business growth the issue will disappear.

[snagglepuss]

33. Fascinating info This ought to be it's own thread.

Thanks for posting . Welcome to DU!

[Truprogressive85]

32. I'm going to say this

There is no excuse !

As Micheal Moore stated he will be at the Auto Show take a trip to Flint


Keeping all the way honest: why when a tragedy happens in majority black neighbors we don't see the President ?

[hopemountain]

36. it is the right thing to do, mr. president ~

granted, he met with the mayor of flint at the whitehouse on tuesday and has sent administration reps to flint today to speak with folks regarding a course of action.

it is a grievous situation and the 100,000 citizens of flint have been ignored for so long, a visit by him would go a long way to help with the healing and the process of moving on.

personally, i would also like to see him call out the governor and have him investigated by the doj & charged with every crime he has committed. snyder deserves to rot in prison, & forced to drink lead tainted water for the rest of his life. he is dispicable along with his lying too little too late state of the state speech whereby he blames everyone and everything else - including the local, state, and federal officials - except himself. the feds and local officials?

and, when everything is cleaned up, there ought to be a white house ceremony honoring flint's mayor, the mom who persisted in her efforts to bring attention to the lead contamination & the professionals who backed her up with their data - and rachel maddow, a true journalist who over the past few months brought out the story with her professional, detailed reports.

[B Calm]

37. A 10 minute helicopter ride to Flint and point his finger at state government!

[lovemydog]

41. Maybe because it's up to elected officials

there to fix the problem, or request federal assistance. From what I can tell, aren't the relevant officials saying they don't want the President to visit, or any federal assistance?

To those in this thread who are 'calling on' the President to go there and yell at people you don't like and demand they be imprisoned: I don't know where you're coming up with this garbage.

The President cannot remove state and local officials from office.

[meforbernie]

45. His justice department can investigate and prosecute them.

He can order an investigation from the EPA. Also the officials that did this are not elected. They are appointee emergency managers. Who gives a shit whether Snyder doesn't want him there. Obama has a right to be there and responsibility too.

What is the point of showing up and damn car show? That has absolutely nothing to do with government.

[lovemydog]

46. The point of showing up at a car show

is that it's the auto industry, which as you may recall the federal government assisted and was repaid for in order to preserve quality jobs. That was vehemently opposed by the right wing, by certain elements of the left wing and by libertarians.

Yes, the President can order investigations. I never said he couldn't. I would bet his Administration is looking into all of that as we speak.

Why do you think he has a 'responsibility' to be there? Do you think it could cause more trouble than staying away from there? It would be a symbolic gesture any way. I think it's up to the discretion of the President. I understand the reasons why he might or might not decide to visit. You seem to understand reasons why he should visit so I won't go over them here.

Among the reasons why he might not decide to visit, they include a political atmosphere of anti-federal government distrust or hatred, by both elected and non-elected officials in that area. I trust the President to make a good decision, and his Administration to make strong decisions. I don't know if him visiting there would really make much of a difference. It's what he does behind the scenes to help the people of Flint that matters most.

[lovemydog]

49. Good points.

I'm not sure why he isn't visiting Flint but I'd guess he has some good reasons. Maybe he doesn't want to be seen as politicizing a very painful situation. Besides there being a lot of liberal democrats in Flint, there's also a lot of people around the country who would politicize it if the President visited there. Maybe he or his advisers feel the negatives would or could outweigh the positives.

[lovemydog]

59. I don't think it's fear of using the bully pulpit

or even an attempt at bipartisanship. I think it's more that using the bully pulpit judiciously can make you more effective when indeed it's used. More of the 'walk softly and carry a big stick' approach. Not positive on this stuff, just expressing my feeling. I can understand yours as well.

[applegrove]

52. Because they are distributing bottled water and all and

a presidential motorcade and security would mess with that.

[LittleBlue]

54. He doesn't need votes

2 term limit

[virtualobserver]

55. now that's a little cynical

[LittleBlue]

56. Politicians made me this way

[underahedgerow]

57. That's exactly right. He can't solve anything in Flint either, nor is any of it his fault

in any way.

This is a convoluted, technical problem with the blame lying in the hands of incompetent and unelected officials who made a long series of bad choices, without regard for the consequences. It lies within the long term problem of the Senators and Governors unwilling to spend money on infrastructure and long term solutions to and increasing avalanche of problems.

It's an economics problem, a cooperation problem, and a social problem, and while technically the solutions are clear, so to speak, there is no money in the government coffers to fix this problem, short or long term.

None of the candidates can offer up any solutions, heck, even engineers and water technicians have no solutions. It's all about time and money. It's not the time for it to be an election issue, it's too complicated to use as a voter appeals...

Sanders could be more likely to benefit from this as he is more of a locally oriented issues guy, but even then, where is the statement to bring the benefit? He can't stand there and say, 'I can fix this problem, Trump and Clinton can't!'

[lovemydog]

60. Well-said.

There's another way of looking at it too. Sanders called for the governor to resign. Clinton basically said the governor was stupid to not ask for federal assistance. The next day or so, the governor asked for federal assistance. Maybe the two differing approaches in tone can work in tandem with each other for a better resolution for the people of Flint. Kind of like the carrot and the stick. Or good cop / bad cop.. I don't know. I hope that's the case. It's sickening and saddening that they've been let down for so long by their leaders, both elected and unofficial. I don't even know too much about the situation, but it sounds horrific. And libertarian and / or right wing approaches, I believe, certainly won't resolve it or prevent things like this from happening in other places. It truly saddens me that so many people vote for republican governors whose approach seems to be 'if it's good for big business that's good enough for me.'

[romanic]

61. He's already spoken with the Mayor

and I'm sure he'll make statements about Flint. But really what can Obama do aside from allowing federal aid to Flint? Take pictures next to the Flint River?

[rodnacious]

62. Local Politics is taboo...

For the President of the United States to become involved in local politics is never a good idea. The Governor of Michigan is the leader of his State, and unless the governor personally invites the President to his State, it is not a good idea.

A national disaster is quite another issue. The President should visit and survey the situation personally and is expected to do so without an invitation.