Shameless: White House Burnishes Obama Image on Haiti With Timeline Release (Rush was right)

Saturday, January 16, 2010 | Kristinn

[kristinn]

The Obama administration is burnishing Barack Obama's image as intently focused on the plight of Haitians by pushing on the press a detailed-to-the-minute timeline of Obama's involvement with the response to the Haiti earthquake this week.

This shameless promotion of Obama confirms what Rush Limbaugh said earlier this week--that Obama would use the earthquake for his political benefit.

The release of the Haiti timeline is in stark contrast to the failure of the White House to similarly account for Obama's time in the aftermath of the Christmas Day terror attack on America while Obama was on vacation in Hawaii. Then, the administration told the press Obama was getting briefings in between golfing, snorkeling, picnicking and otherwise not doing his job.

The timeline lists twenty-two entries for Obama taking meetings, briefings and phone calls in the sixty-nine hour period from 5:52 p.m. Tuesday (an hour after the quake struck) through 3 p.m. Friday. Other entries note meetings convened by others at Obama's direction.

Obama seems to have slacked off some on Friday after spending the previous two days on the phone and in meetings.

The danger for Obama is that the amount of time spent on the earthquake by him has not translated into relief for the survivors in Haiti. Last night and this morning, news reports out of Haiti all told the same story: aid is bottled-up at the international airport in Haiti because noone has taken charge.

Here's a sample from the release demonstrating Obama is the hardest working man in show business, I mean the White House (via the Chicago Sun-Times):

Thursday, January 14

(The President receives verbal briefings on the situation from Denis McDonough throughout the day)

9:30 AM-- The President met in the Oval Office with several of his lead military and civilian national security team to receive an update on the situation in Haiti and on progress against al Qaeda and its affiliates.

4:17 PM - The President speaks with President Sarkozy of France about ongoing US and French relief efforts, and the need for coordination of immediate and long term international efforts to assist the people of Haiti.

4:30 PM - Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon convened a Deputies Committee for approximately 2.5 hours to discuss coordination of the United States Government's relief efforts in Haiti. The meeting included senior representatives from: State, USAID, USUN, DOD, SOUTHCOM, TRANSCOM, JCS, DHS, Coast Guard, and National Security and White House Staff.

8:54 PM -- The President speaks with President Fernandez of the Dominican Republic. The President expressed his appreciation for the role the Dominican Republic has played in facilitating the evacuation of US citizens and in the flow of relief teams and supplies into Haiti through the Dominican Republic. President Fernandez conveyed his assessment of the situation in Haiti following his visit today to Port au Prince.

10:15 PM -The President receives an update from Deputy National Security Advisor Tom Donilon on relief efforts, the situation on the ground in Haiti, and tonight's Deputies Committee meeting.

Rush Limbaugh's prescient comments:

RUSH: Here's President Obama speaking about Haiti this morning in Washington at the White House. He held a press conference. Now, I want you to remember, it took him three days to respond to the Christmas Day Fruit of Kaboom Bomber, three days. And when he came out after those three days, he was clearly irritated that he had to do it. He didn't want to do it. He comes out here in less than 24 hours to speak about Haiti...

I'm just fascinated here the country the president of the United States feels the need to apologize for, the country the president of the United States feels is immoral and unjust, can barely contain himself running to the cameras in less than 24 hours after this earthquake to pledge aid and to ask citizens who have lost their jobs because of his policies to donate to the relief effort...

Yes, I think in the Haiti earthquake, ladies and gentlemen -- in the words of Rahm Emanuel -- we have another crisis simply too good to waste. This will play right into Obama's hands. He's humanitarian, compassionate. They'll use this to burnish their, shall we say, "credibility" with the black community -- in the both light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country. It's made-to-order for them. That's why he couldn't wait to get out there, could not wait to get out there.

Sun-Times Washington reporter Lynn Sweet called the timeline release by the Obama administration an "unusual step."

Indeed, or as Rush might say, "I told you so."

[exit82]

“Who could tell?”

I busted out laughing at that line—thanks.

[mo]

typical hyper-educated elite response to a crisis...convene a meeting...listen to own voice...better yet publish “minutes” ..and then winder why the world has’nt responded to your will!!!

[SkipW]

Barack Obama has no shame. Neither does he have any scruples, morals or a sense of decency.

What he does have is a bloated, pathological ego and a deep seated belief that America is the wealthy nation that it is because it exploited third world nations.

This man hates America. While he is in the Oval Office he will do everything in his power to damage America. Personally, I can not stand the sight of him, which means that I get to see a lot of old movies on TV.

[GeronL]

also posted on the loneliest blog on Earth:

http://tyrannysentinel.blogspot.com

[chuck_the_tv_out]

more of a standard totally corrupt chicago manipulator in reality, but it's funny none the less

[LA Woman3]

Does the USA need a natural diaster before BHO helps Americans?

[GeronL]

Now if we could get him a fiddle and a burning America in the background. heh.

[homegroan]

Wonder if they will follow him to the golf course tomorrow? Is today basketball day? I can never remember his schedule.

I think we will have a Haitian-MLK speech on Monday...and a fly over next week.

[Mopp4]

Does anybody doubt how fast Zero would have returned to Washington if the earthquake had happened during his Xmas vacation ?

(crickets chirping...)

[TexasFreeper2009]

Millions of Americans are without jobs, the economy is in the tank and getting worse, and somehow the zero response to Haiti is suppose to help him with the AMERICAN people?

ROFL

If you think someone that has been unemployed for over a year, and is about to lose their home, gives a damn about how fast Obama responds to Haiti, I got ocean front property in Oklahoma to sell you.

[Doc Savage]

You obviously remember Ming the Merciless!

[manc]

have you heard that obama wants to bring 100,000 to 200,000 Haitians here to our state?

Now where the hell are we supposed to house, them, afford to feed them, school them, dress them, medical for them etc?

This state our state will now turn into a blue state if this goes ahead as we all know they will not go back but bring more and more of their families here.

if I give you a house and then you have to build a house which one will you have more pride in and work to keep up?

I bet you say the one one you built so why not let them stay over there and rebuild their country, I mean it was a cesspool to begin with and life was cheap , drugs and killing was easy.

obama is using this crisis not go to waste by changing our state to a blue state.
never let a crisis go to waste was said., how true.

Did you see obama insult Bush and Clinton.
as soon as Clinton was finished speaking obama came back up and said paraphasing . They will do great work but all they doing is just tapping into the American peoples heart.

WTH was that put down all about. I felt no love lost between Clinton and obama

[Fishtalk]

I’ve been thinking this for a while so I will type it softly on this thread.

Like the expert El Rushbo...I predict:

-this earthquake is going to be a doorway to corruption like none other. It’s ripe for media manipulation, Haiti’s always been a mess, a “money launder” venue for some congressional caucii...and now we have this major natural catasrophe just ripe for the plucking, as Rahm would have it. Last night I watch 20/20 and already there’s an hour long boo-hoo on the plight of the Haitians. Who, let me caution, do need help and help we will send them. Happily, with smiles on our faces.

But the Dems will overplay their hand like they always do. Next we’ll have the Haitians eating each other or gnawing off their own arms.

Relief is not arriving right this second in that damned place, which should be raking in tourist dollars and living the life of hosts that their climate would allow if not for the corruption and mistreatment of the people by their own gubmint. The roads are all blocked and Americans, despite our amazing technology, do not have wings and we can’t fly over the rubble carrying food, water, medicines, much less guns as our military is going to have to take over that island, count on it.

Meanwhile, the people are going to have to do what has to be done. They should be trying to clear roads, gathering the dead, gathering food and water from abandoned buildings. Some are still standing. With a concerted effort they can survive cause soon enough America will be there. Find the abandoned stores, homes....I’m thinking they can get the act together with some gumption and leadership, a determined will to survive.

For the media to show those people whining instead of industriously doing what they have to do is doing them no favor at all. America would be there yesterday if possible and no blessing from Obama on high will make that happen any sooner than is possible. Even here in America we are subject to the laws of physics and logistics.

Rahm’s got his crisis and it will be milked for all it’s worth.

Only this time I think it will come back to bite those who have more in mind than rescuing and aiding earthquak victims.

[greyfoxx39]

There is little difference between Obama and Mugabe. Both are self aggrandizing , self -personified politicos and tyrants. A good friend accurately calls Obama a narcist.

 

 

Saturday 16th January 2010

Dear Family and Friends,
After a short break it's always wonderful to come home to Zimbabwe and be reminded of so many things that we take for granted, not the least of which is the balmy weather and clear blue sky. Its that time of year when the new crop of birds have just learnt to fly and our neighbourhoods are alive with flycatchers and fire-finches, waxbills and weavers. The egrets and ibises are out of their nests, all fluffy and gangly and still screeching for free meals and the bee eaters and lilac breasted rollers are back, reminding us how lucky we are to witness this spectacle every day.

Zimbabwe is, however, a place of such contrasts that often you just shake your head and laugh at the absurdity of it all. A visiting relation phoned the airport last week to reconfirm her ticket and check on the departure time of her flight to the UK. "Aaaah," said the woman on the Air Zimbabwe Information desk, " just pitch up!"

We did indeed "just pitch up" as instructed and what a bleak place we found a little before midnight at our country's ironically named International Airport.
The only thing alive was the car park - charging an outrageous 2 US dollars for a period of less than 15 minutes. Inside the main terminal there is no departure or arrivals board, no information at all on which flights are coming or going and even the main Information and Enquires desk was closed and deserted despite the scheduled departure of an international flight. The shops were all closed too so no chance of a cold drink or newspaper or that last souvenir to buy. This is Zimbabwe's front desk, the shop window for the world to see and what a sad disgrace it is.

Getting home from the airport a little before one in the morning, after a hair raising journey where there are no road markings, no cats eyes in the tar, no street lights and most passing vehicles with faulty, missing or non existent lights and reflectors, the delights of Zimbabwe grow dim. An enormous spider is sitting on the kitchen door. Dark brown and very hairy and with fearsome fangs, the baboon spider is easily the size of the palm of my hand and he just sits, waiting.

This is very much the state of Zimbabwe in this first month of the new decade - we are sitting, waiting. Waiting for our leaders to stop arguing, waiting for farm grabbing to stop, waiting for law and order to be restored and waiting for a new constitution leading to a free and fair election. An election where winners are winners and take power and losers are losers and step down.

Despite all our troubles here, our hearts go out to the people of Haiti after the devastating earthquake, our thoughts are with them.
Until next week, thanks for reading, love cathy.

 

More letters from Cathy Buckle here

[SkipW]

I think your fear is well founded. I believe that it has taken decades of dumbing down and indoctrination of students in public schools to create a population clueless enough to vote for Barack Obama.

The only bright side to his presidency is that he is so fanatically radical and tyrannical that even the brain dead people who voted for him will not do it again. I think they will also kick a bunch of Democrats to the curb this year.

[chuck_the_tv_out]

mainly from the dumb 80s movie ha

[manc]

the white house also sees a great time now to not let this crisis go to waste and bring over hundreds of thousands of Haitians thus making my state of Florida a blue one..
the immigrant rights groups, the black caucus and the NAACP have been trying for years to get Haitians here like they do for the Cubans and now is their chance.

I’d like to know how the hell can we afford to and how will they ever go back, they wont.

We need to set up tented areas on the beach etc and have military field hospitals where armed guards stand on the perimiter as Haiti was a crime infested island before this where life was cheap .
I see the media don’t mention any of this though or how even their own president has said he will not stay as he can’t now live in his palace

we are not responsible for their country but we are doing a service to them and for that they should be thankful but it does not mean we take hundreds of thousands in to our own country

[manc]

you are so wrong on that if you think there is no political goal for the left with this.

The white house is on about bringing 100,000 to 200,000 Haitians over there on top of making the illegals become legal.

They are all heading to my state of florida and you know what that makes this state a solid blue one.

this was a crisis not to go to waste and there is a political gain in this for the left but sadly many who watch the media are still getting griped in by their hearts and not minds

[manc]

exactly
we have a crisis here and people being homeless

now some including obama wants 100,000 to 200,000 of them coming here.
thus making florida a blue state and some want to help obama do this
obama is not to blame for anything as we as a country are not responsible for their country and certainly not bringing them over there..

it’s time to ween countries off our money , we have given billions to them in the last few years for what???

it’s our money and no tax money should go to this , the money should come form those who want to donate and charity groups

[manc]

exactly
we have a crisis here and people being homeless

now some including obama wants 100,000 to 200,000 of them coming here.
thus making florida a blue state and some want to help obama do this
obama is not to blame for anything as we as a country are not responsible for their country and certainly not bringing them over there..

it’s time to ween countries off our money , we have given billions to them in the last few years for what???

it’s our money and no tax money should go to this , the money should come form those who want to donate and charity groups

they’re complaining they’re not getting enough, like it was a paradise there before and if that makes me heartless then so be it