IowaFloods: McCain Says a Prayer While Obama Grabs Shovel

[ElsewheresDaughter]

Run time: 00:42 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARt-OJKKfQY   Posted on YouTube: June 15, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: June 15, 2008 By DU Member: ElsewheresDaughter Views on DU: 6931

 

[lapfog_1]

1. That was great...

you know what would have been better?

If he had put out the word (email, web, text) that he needed a 1000 volunteers from nearby states (likely college kids, but whoever) to show up in Obama T-shirts, grubby jeans, and work glove BYOS and pitch in to help... no asking for donations, no handing out campaign stuff, no "Obama is SO GREAT! speeches... just pitch in and help... and let everyone with eyes figure things out.

But what he did speaks volumes...

[opihimoimoi]

3. HE is the MAN........

K&R

[rosesaylavee]

19. Hard to get to Iowa from Illinois

I-80 is closed in parts - some bridge is closed or too damaged to use. Hwy 20 thru Dubuque is such a constant stream of traffic due to the 150 mile detour that the local people are struggling to get across their own town. We have family there - this is more than awful.

Some counties to the north of us are struggling with high waters from the Fox River.

Locally, we have some flooding but its impact is only effecting businesses and homes right on the river - bad for them but not anything like thousands of people being evacuated.

[Grinchie]

26. I guess all the Hovercraft are in Iraq huh?

You know, the ones they haul 5 ton trucks loaded with equipment and personell to shore from the landing ships?

[T4RSR5]

43. Photo-Op

We have all seen this crap from all politicians for years. Kind of like the old town mayors kissing babies. He showed up, grabbed a shovel, took some pictures, and got free press. You all scream when Bush does it, rightfully so.

If anything Obama got in the way. These people were trying to work, and suddenly had 30 reporters all over the place with vans and cameras and grips and cables all over the place.

As far as the giant hovercrafts, that is just ludicrous.



You think this thing would be useful on city streets, and in your neighborhood? They are flooded, they have not become an ocean. How could this thing possibly navigate a city???? You don't need to be absurd, just to whine about Iraq.

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. WHOOHOOO they listened!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't ask

[Iwillnevergiveup]

4. K&R

I'm I will never give up and I approve of this video.:yourock:

[Triana]

5. Love it. Takes time out of campaigning and fundraising to HELP PEOPLE in a disaster...

..NOBODY else - no other politicians - are doing this. Not EVEN THE DAMN PRESIDENT himself or his sorry assed CLONE - and NOT EVEN FEMA, whose JOB it is.

Pffft!

Gotta love me some Obama.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Well from the coverage, I have gotten that FEMA is already

on the ground,

Good news, a little faster

Bad news... no fast enough

They have to activate the supply chain within 12 hours... and that did not happen.

Fema needs to be reorganized and to get all the cronies off the payroll

[Triana]

11. They need to move FEMA back OUT from under OHS too..

...bu$Hit stuck it under there. Doesn't BELONG there.

[dkf]

7. Where is George Bush?

Has the national govt pulled out all the stops? You'd think after Katrina they would be.

[Jack Rabbit]

22. He's off having tea with the Queen

For the benefit of DUers, that refers to the present British monarch, Elizabeth II, not to Nancy Reagan.

[Sunnyshine]

8. This says so much about his character. Working with people, to take care of the problems we face.

A potential President that truly is a terrific example for both children and adults to learn from. Volunteer your time and help your community today, because it really does feel as good as it looks in these pictures.
I hope everyone in the flood plains stays safe and can rest away from their troubles tonight. :grouphug:

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

9. Faith without works is dead

At least Obama understands that.

[classof56]

34. A great verse--thanks for posting.

And welcome to DU. Always good to have a fellow Oregonian on board.

Tired Old Cynic

[Pierzin]

10. OMG! I was just thinking today, what if Obama helped out???

And there he was, helping out!

He is the Man, and I am gonna campaign for him for sure now!
thank you for posting the video, it really lifted my spirits!

[Tutonic]

12. THIS NEEDS TO BE SEEN

This needs to be seen by every citizen--not a general election commercial but to demonstrate that our President George "I'm a Freakin Moron" Bush failed to respond to Katrina, failed to respond to the bridge collapse in Minneapolis and failed to respond to the flooding in Iowa. While the moron is crying over no interest by anybody--even IHOP to house his three page library papers, this scary "black" elitist guy from Illinois is actively assisting--something FEMA, Michael Skeletor Chertoff and John "Talk,Talk,Talk" McCain also failed to do...All hat no cattle.

[Shoelace]

40. I sent it off to KO and Jon Stewart/Daily Show

hoping that they show it and compare that to Bush's non-action in the aftermath of Katrina. Only thing the Republicrats know how to shovel is their own BS!

[Fridays Child]

13. k/r

[flor de jasmim]

14. I like it that he keeps shoveling while answering Qs instead of just posing

-- it shows he knows what the priority is!

[Hope And Change]

15. K & R!

[curiousdemo]

16. Now that's a real President......

and it's not for show as in Bush grabbing a shovel he never touch in his Life!!

[garthranzz]

17. Oh, come on, he was just grandstanding...

I mean, if he really cared he'd make a speech and bring his own electricity with him. This is a mutl-county, multi-state disaster. He should be flying over the entire region, surveying the damage, a concerned look in his face so the paparazzi could capture the sympathy. Being on the ground, actually doing something? What a futile gesture? So he filled a couple bags of dirt so someone else could get a break. So he inspired others to actually do something, you know, lead by example.

Doesn't he realize what Rush Limbaugh, the paragon of virtue, and Sean Hannity, the examplar of logic, etc. will say?

(Yes, :sarcasm:)

"Leaders don't inflict pain. They bear pain."
"The real leader has no need to lead - he is content to point the way. ~ Henry Miller"

Great post.

[curiousdemo]

24. Barak Obama has been doing stuff like this

for the last 15 years, Working on the South side of Chicago with community organizer making $12.00 and hour is no picnic in the park. Where were the cameras then. Go on the South side of Chicago and you will see what I'm talking about. Bush has never done anything like this in his life. He was too DAM drunk to organize anything to help people. Barak knows the camera is going to carry this shot around the world, but this who he is, and he doesn't have to pretend like Bush.

[Phred42]

18. The Symbolism is Excellent!

When you're drowning would you rather have someone stand on the shore and repeat incantations or would you rather have someone tie off a rope and toss you the other end?

[psychmommy]

20. great video

throughout the sadness of this flooding, that is the bright spot for me. nice video ed, very encouraging. thank you.

[yellerpup]

21. This is a job for the National Guard.

Love it that Obama is there and 'hands-on' to help, but he can put a lot more capable hands to work by bringing home the National Guard to help in such emergencies, and HE WILL when he is President. Help is on the way. Yes, we can! GObama!

[stlsaxman]

23. why so short? and where was McCain praying?

[Grinchie]

25. Neither Shrub nor McCain are able to operate a shovel and hold a conversation at the same time

This video say's it all for me.

Obama is not afraid of Physical labor, nor is he afraid to don a pair of gloves to protect his body from the work.

I'm kind of curious at how McSame would tolerate this moderate amount of exertion, while at the same time trying to put two thoughts together.

Personally, I doubt that he would be able to, considering that McSame can't put two thought's together even when focused on them with individed attention.

Shrub has already proved that physical labor is only performed when a swarm of M$M cameras are nearby.

[happygoluckytoyou]

27. if OBAMA was standing anywhere near McCain... we know what he was shoveling

[bamacrat]

28. Awesome, he actually does something instead of hoping for the best.

[TekkieDan]

29. to think about...

I agree with just about everything said here. Barack Obama is the man.

However... he should have had a pair of jeans on and a t-shirt. His handlers have got to realize that middle-America has got to seem him in their element.

I believe in his genuine spirit. I believe in his goals.

But the change needed in this effort is his clothes. :)

dan in orlando

[Blue Belle]

31. I agree...

He needs to be in jeans and a t-shirt. And I also agree with a previous poster who said he should have requested that nearby staffers and campaign workers go out and volunteer. PEople need to see that he's not afraid to get dirty and work hard.

[RNdaSilva]

36. See longer version...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x147804

[Blue Belle]

50. I know... I just saw it.

It was fantastic.

[Jack Rabbit]

30. If I didn't think Obama really cared, I'd at least give him credit for a sense of political theatre

Let's see . . . Bush has tea with the Queen; McCain says a prayer; and Obama acts like a good neighbor.

Guess who's going to carry Iowa?

[MadAnne]

32. To be absolutely fair

McCain is way too old to be shoveling.

[odelisk8]

33. look

by definition everything a president will do will be a "photo op"...but...what's obvious is that this isn't the first time the man has picked up a shovel...and, you know, this is what a President is supposed to do...he's going to make us proud...imagine, being PROUD of your President...our national nightmare is coming to an end...keep praying Macbeth...you're going to need all the help you can get...

[jeff30997]

37. You mean...

No more free back-rubs for World Leaders in public ?How sad for them. :)

[Defends Reason]

35. HANDS THAT HELP ARE BETTER FAR THAN LIPS THAT PRAY

"Hands that help are better far than lips that pray." - Col. Robert G. Ingersoll

[jeff30997]

38. Well said. n/t

[cloud75]

39. it's just a photo op really how long did he shovel

[pnwmom]

41. And McCain's photo-op during Katrina? Cutting his birthday cake.

Give me Obama's anytime.

[mcollier]

42. The McCain Campaign

is taking an idea from the Obama Campaign and have launched a new website devoted to fighting rumors and political attacks, http://therealmccain.com

[pnwmom]

44. Great site! Thanks! n/t

[Oilwellian]

46. I suppose you also think....

it was a photo op for Gore when he chartered two planes and evacuated the patients in New Orleans Charity Hospital?

There are those who help during a time of crisis and then there are those who sit on the sidelines and criticize their effort. I know which kind of person I'd rather be.

If anything, Obama's presence drew at least a small amount of attention to a devastated area, and interrupted MSM's canonizing of Tim Russert.

[vaberella]

47. Your response is the best response I've read yet for the nay sayers

Obama being there definitely brought attention to the devestation that Iowa is facing which is more than I could say about a few of our leaders or possible leaders.

[aaronbees]

48. Yup

:thumbsup:

He's acting as the President should act. And I'm sure for the people there his assistance was appreciated.

[Sheets of Easter]

45. Even if the cynic in me says "photo op," at least he was THERE.

Communicating and interacting with the people. What in God's name have Bush or McCain done? Exactly.

[vaberella]

49. I know why Obama is wearing a suit. He had met up with the Governor.

In the second vid of DU, Obama said that he was meeting with officials and the Governor. Then he came out to help out. That's why he wasn't wear jeans and a t-shirt. Probably went right after the meeting to see the location and get down to business.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x147795