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Trump slams Puerto Rico: ‘They want everything to be done for them’
The Hill ^ | September 30, 2017 | Brandon Carter

Posted on 09/30/2017 6:09:38 AM PDT by Pinkbell

President Trump on Saturday criticized Puerto Rico's "poor leadership" and defended his administration's response to the aftermath of Hurricane Maria's devastation on the island. Following a plea for aid by San Juan's mayor, Trump said the mayor was being "nasty."

"The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump," Trump tweeted. "Such poor leadership ability by the Mayor of San Juan, and others in Puerto Rico, who are not able to get their workers to help."

"They want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort," he continued. "10,000 Federal workers now on Island doing a fantastic job."

San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz, who is a member of the island's Popular Democratic Party, has been critical of the federal government's response to the crisis in Puerto Rico.

Earlier Friday, she blasted acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke for calling the government's response to the crisis a "good news story."

"Maybe from where she's standing, it's a good news story," Cruz said. "When you're drinking from a creek, it's not a good news story. When you don't have food for a baby, it's not a good news story."

"Damnit, this is not a good news story," she continued. "This is a people-are-dying story." Cruz also held an emotional press conference Friday ripping the Trump administration's efforts to assist the island.

"I will do what I never thought I was going to do. I am begging, begging anyone who can hear us to save us from dying. If anybody out there is listening to us, we are dying, and you are killing us with the inefficiency," she said.

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: hurricanemaria; puertorico; whoops
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This is working its way to the top of the Twitter trends. Her comments were obviously what the media was looking for, and did you notice when she made them that there were stacks of food behind her?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41hl5RwfOVc

We have seen all of those containers of food, water, and supplies. Have they all been distributed? If not, why? She's the mayor of San Juan. It should be easier to distribute there then rural areas.

Here's a list someone on Twitter made of all done so far:

https://twitter.com/JustHalanna/status/913932918019543040

This was from the 25th of September: https://news.usni.org/2017/09/25/navy-marine-corps-providing-around-clock-hurricane-maria-relief

From the 26th of September: http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/Press-Releases/Article/1325655/update-us-northern-command-continues-humanitarian-aid-to-puerto-rico-and-the-us/

This was yesterday: http://www.northcom.mil/Newsroom/Press-Releases/Article/1330270/updateus-northern-command-continues-humanitarian-aid-to-puerto-rico-and-the-us/

Don't forget they also have the USS Comfort coming and a 3 start General in charge now too.

The media is working to make this Trump's Katrina. I do believe they are politicizing it to that end and acting as though nothing was done when a lot has been. Trump knows this, and they were all set to do it with Harvey and Irma, but the response went so smoothly to those that they couldn't.

Who gave the Mayor of San Juan a shirt that said "Help Us We Are Dying"? Someone had to make that as I doubt it was laying in her closet somewhere. Why did she take the time to have that made instead of working?

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/353204-san-juan-mayor-wears-help-us-we-are-dying-shirt-during-cnn

All of that said, from a persuasion standpoint, this is a battle Trump can't win with counter punching words. The media will show suffering people and her crying and then show Trump's words (without showing the things I posted above), and from a persuasion standpoint, the casual viewer and the hater will say that sounds cruel.

I would have tried a high ground maneuver. I would have said that seeing her deep concern for her people was upsetting and then list what they intend to be doing. I would follow that by saying that they have been working hard and trying to help and put out a list of all the things they have done so far. The media can't criticize this, and if Trump's response is good, it would in turn shine a light back on them because people would think that Trump is doing the best he can or is trying to or perhaps in turn think about Trump's point that the local government is not properly distributing the resources or doing what they can.

I recommended this the other day when I saw where the media winds were shifting. Trump and his team should have gotten out there with a press even with a complete timeline of all they had done up to that point and with future plans. Do it and nip this Katrina narrative in the bud. They didn't fully do that, although there were some public comments.

Anyway, expect bad PR for these comments as all the blue check journalists and liberals on Twitter are expressing their outrage.

1 posted on 09/30/2017 6:09:38 AM PDT by Pinkbell
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To: Pinkbell
Some people on the ground who have praised Trump's response: https://twitter.com/sliderblaze/status/913926709602390017 Another (posted to YouTube) From Charity Munoz in Puerto Rico: I got online for the first time in days and one of the very first things I saw was an out and out lie about the government's response to the crisis I am in the middle of. I don't care if you hate or love Trump, using the crisis in Puerto Rico to spread political lies is disgusting! I am literally across the street from the airport, and the hotel I am in is where many of the first responders are staying, so here is what is going on from someone who is actually here seeing it. The government is here and has been here! Every single day plane after plane full of FEMA, FBI, homeland security, army, Air Force, Marines, and extra police officers from all over the country shows up. Cargo plane after cargo plane and ship after ship full of supplies shows up. There is a hospital ship off the coast that I can see from the beach. The response was quick and it keeps coming! They are out every day from sun up until sun down. This isn't a political issue, it is a humanitarian one. The lies being spread about the response aren't helping the people here, it is just fueling hate based on lies! If you want to help Puerto Rico, donate money or supplies and pray. If you want to play politics find something else to argue about! Not like there aren't hundreds of topics for you to choose from! Edited to add this- Roads have been completely destroyed in many areas, especially the remote one. The military and FEMA are going out to these places on foot with 100 lbs + packs on their backs. It is requiring them to cut their way through flooded areas to get there. It will take time to reach everyone when conditions are as bad as they are.
2 posted on 09/30/2017 6:13:54 AM PDT by Pinkbell
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To: Pinkbell
"The Mayor of San Juan, who was very complimentary only a few days ago, has now been told by the Democrats that you must be nasty to Trump."

Great counter-propaganda statement calling out the Mayor.
3 posted on 09/30/2017 6:15:24 AM PDT by \/\/ayne (I regret that I have but one subscription cancellation notice to give to my local newspaper.)
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To: Pinkbell
Try again with formatting:

Some people on the ground who have praised Trump's response:

https://twitter.com/sliderblaze/status/913926709602390017

Another (posted to YouTube) From Charity Munoz in Puerto Rico: I got online for the first time in days and one of the very first things I saw was an out and out lie about the government's response to the crisis I am in the middle of. I don't care if you hate or love Trump, using the crisis in Puerto Rico to spread political lies is disgusting! I am literally across the street from the airport, and the hotel I am in is where many of the first responders are staying, so here is what is going on from someone who is actually here seeing it. The government is here and has been here! Every single day plane after plane full of FEMA, FBI, homeland security, army, Air Force, Marines, and extra police officers from all over the country shows up. Cargo plane after cargo plane and ship after ship full of supplies shows up. There is a hospital ship off the coast that I can see from the beach. The response was quick and it keeps coming! They are out every day from sun up until sun down. This isn't a political issue, it is a humanitarian one. The lies being spread about the response aren't helping the people here, it is just fueling hate based on lies! If you want to help Puerto Rico, donate money or supplies and pray. If you want to play politics find something else to argue about! Not like there aren't hundreds of topics for you to choose from!

Edited to add this- Roads have been completely destroyed in many areas, especially the remote one. The military and FEMA are going out to these places on foot with 100 lbs + packs on their backs. It is requiring them to cut their way through flooded areas to get there. It will take time to reach everyone when conditions are as bad as they are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOyw18RCrTc

4 posted on 09/30/2017 6:15:53 AM PDT by Pinkbell
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To: \/\/ayne

It appears that Puerto Rico is more like the 9th ward writ large than Houston or Florida. No images like the nun with a chainsaw in Florida but plenty of pictures of healthy young men in relief lines.


5 posted on 09/30/2017 6:21:44 AM PDT by dogcaller
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To: Pinkbell

Dear President Trump: Do NOT make US taxpayers bail out the banks and bond holders who foolishly lent too much money to Puerto Rico that will NEVER all be repaid!


6 posted on 09/30/2017 6:22:42 AM PDT by JustTheTruth
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To: Pinkbell; Kartographer
Entitlement society. True dregs upon our nation. I'll never forget after Katrina, while up to our knees in nasty water while patrolling with the 39th BCT able-bodied black ADULTS berating us soldiers; "When you gonna fix mah house?" "Where mah money!?" "Why you don't give us any food?"

It was a disaster in slow motion. Those people REALLY thought the National Guard was there to clean their house, repair their roof, stock their pantry, pay them for sitting on the porch. It was really, REALLY pathetic.

As far as helping "them" (the entitlement class), a lifetime of conditioning to be a sheep cannot be reversed by your mercies. Only the crucible of disaster will purify or destroy them....and when it gets bad, really bad, THEY will turn on you. THEY will be the cannibal army in books such as "the road" and "lucifer's hammer".

I used to give Kartographer heck for his silly Star Trek quote, but its true. Take away creature comforts and they will turn feral.

7 posted on 09/30/2017 6:23:06 AM PDT by DCBryan1 (No realli, moose bytes can be quite nasti!)
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To: Pinkbell

Reminds me of the old joke about the man who was using dynamite to fish...when the game warden approached the mans boat in his boat, to scold him about the legality of it all, the man handed a LIT stick of dynamite to the Warden, and said, “Are you gonna talk, or, are you gonna fish”?

Trump should just drop off all the supplies, and tools, and tell the mayor, and governor, “Are you going to Lead, or, are you gonna just cry and bitch?”


8 posted on 09/30/2017 6:25:57 AM PDT by FrankR (On the knees is not a good place to be...a man on the knees is only half a man.....)
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To: FrankR

Just found out from a reporter that the White House invited her multiple times to visit the FEMA center, and she would not go. Why?


9 posted on 09/30/2017 6:31:22 AM PDT by Pinkbell
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To: Pinkbell

Was watching some videos from PR this morning.
Impassable roads, destruction, and people sitting around twiddling their thumbs.
Yes, just like Haiti. Waiting for someone to fix it for them.


10 posted on 09/30/2017 6:34:30 AM PDT by Vinnie
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To: \/\/ayne

Democrats used exact same strategy against Bush with the Louisiana governor.


11 posted on 09/30/2017 6:35:45 AM PDT by Williams (Stop tolerating the intolerant.)
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To: Pinkbell

Trump isn’t going to let the press do to him what they did to Bush during Katrina.


12 posted on 09/30/2017 6:38:20 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Vinnie

They don't care about PR being constantly broke just as long as they can cash their welfare checks. Why do we tolerate them? Kick them out on their own and let the chips fall where they may.

13 posted on 09/30/2017 6:39:10 AM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola.")
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To: Pinkbell

The Mayor is doing a lot of talking and not much leading.


14 posted on 09/30/2017 6:41:52 AM PDT by Retired Chemist
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To: Vinnie

Hillary and Bill’s Foundation will fix it for them


15 posted on 09/30/2017 6:47:43 AM PDT by Karoo
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To: Pinkbell

In Peurto Rico’s defense, they are all Democrats.


16 posted on 09/30/2017 6:48:07 AM PDT by Uncle Miltie (The difference between Rs and Ds is what lies they tell to get power over you and steal your cash.)
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To: Pinkbell

I heard her screeching on the radio, yesterday. My first thought?

“Fine! We’ll just pack up all the supplies and food we’ve brought to you at great expense and effort, and take it back! Screw You, Lady!”

Man, I just LOVE how President Trump stands up to these ingrates!


17 posted on 09/30/2017 6:48:55 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set!)
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To: dogcaller

As a native New Orleanian I hesitated to draw comparisons between Katrina/9th Ward and Puerto Rico since all I know is coming from the MSM, mostly. But I’m thinking that is the main problem coupled with the island location. ARE the locals pitching in to help themselves? Why can’t they get truck drivers to deliver the aid already there? Crime? Is Puerto Rico-as an island tourist dependent economy-an island 9th ward re. the attitude of local inhabitants? Is it even viable if we bulldoze and rebuild? Will it take a continuous stream of mainland,college students to do the rebuilding? Disaster is undeniable but what’s the true story re.self sufficiency and local politics?


18 posted on 09/30/2017 6:50:14 AM PDT by ClearBlueSky (ISLAM is the problem. ISLAM is the enemy of civilization.)
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To: Pinkbell

Entitlement mentality infects all people.

They should be having our help in rebuilding themselves, not us doing it for them.


19 posted on 09/30/2017 6:52:26 AM PDT by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: Pinkbell

The Dems want Puerto Rico “refugees” to resettle in Florida before 2018.


20 posted on 09/30/2017 6:53:00 AM PDT by stars & stripes forever (Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12)
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