Haiti being politicised by non-Haitians?

[Bane]

In the last few days I've seen two people both attempt to twist the disaster in Haiti to their own means, and unforutantely I'm not making either of these up:

Pat Robertson, right wing US evangelist, was quoted as saying the quake happened because Haiti consorted with the devil (Haiti being 95% Christian...hmm). He then dug his hole deeper by stating the earthquake wasn't all bad because at least they could build new and better homes.

Nick Griffin (always good for making wildly inappropriate comments and then trying to defend them) stated that the British winter would kill more people than the quake did, attacking British politicians for putting the quake victims ahead of UK pensioners.

Am I the only person thinking both of these people's comments, true or otherwise, are in immensely bad taste when the quake only happened three days ago?

 

[Jirachi's Wish]

I do think those comments are not needed due to the fact the countries those people come from even though they have problems are able to survive at least, while the people of Haiti have a much more serious problem and do not have the resources to help themselves. I think that Nick Griffin is just using this recent incident as way to attack the politicians, while you can't really compare the two situations at all. Also that guy who said the it was the people and devil who caused it, well I feel thats a load of poop, because as you said 95% of them were Christian and plus statements like that are just usually ways to degrade people. Though I do agree that there is an opportunity to help them rebuild and get back on there feet and possibly increase their way of living.

 

[Big Lutz]

Well lets see:

Rush Limbaugh spoke out saying that Americans should not send any money to the Haiti relief effort, because of the tax dollars already sent to Haiti each year

Keith Olbermann used the event to push for the passage of the Universal Health Care bill

Danny Glover said the Quake was in response for the failure of the Climate Summit in Copenhagen

Rachel Maddow used the event to take a slam at the Bush Administration's handling of the state department.

 

[Nando]

A lot of people need their asses kicked. On both sides.

There is no excuse for this behavior. I bet if it happened in Los Angeles though, you'd see these same people clamoring over themselves to help.

 

[Every Breaking Wave]

Yep, it's being politicized on both sides; rather unnecessarily IMO. Anyone who tries to take advantage of a situation like this to try and score some points... well, from my point of view, it degrades their own humanity.

American radio host and conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh is drawing fire for controversial comments he made Thursday criticizing the international relief efforts on behalf of the people of Haiti following Tuesday's earthquake there.

When asked by a caller on his radio show about the president urging Americans to contribute to the Red Cross to help those affected, Limbaugh responded, "Would you trust that the money is going to go to Haiti? Would you trust that your name is going to instead end up on a mailing list for the Obama people to start asking you for campaign donations for him and other causes?"

"Besides," Limbaugh added, "We've already donated to Haiti. It's called the U.S. income tax."

Limbaugh went on to say that the American president "runs around the world apologizing for" the United States, and that "he now turns to us as its president and asks people who have lost their jobs because of his policies to donate to WhiteHouse.gov to the people of Haiti, and we will do it. We are the most charitable and the most generous people on the face of the earth. Each and every time a natural disaster like this happens, we step up. We are there. We have yet 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."

American televangelist Pat Robertson also made remarks on Thursday considered to be inflammatory when he suggested on his television show, The 700 Club that the current situation in Haiti is a direct result of a deal Haitians made with Satan in the late 1700s.

Robertson stated that the Haitian people in that time, "were under the heel of the French, uh, you know Napoleon the 3rd and whatever, and they got together and swore a pact to the Devil. They [the Haitian leaders] said, 'We will serve you [Satan] if you'll get us free from the French.' True story. And so the Devil said, 'Okay, it's a deal.’ And, uh, they kicked the French out, you know, with the Haitians revolted and got themselves free. But ever since they have been cursed by, by one thing after another, desperately poor. That island of Hispaniola is one island. It's cut down the middle. On the one side is Haiti on the other side is the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is, is prosperous, healthy, full of resorts, etcetera. Haiti is in desperate poverty. Same island. They need to have and we need to pray for them a great turning to God and out of this tragedy I'm optimistic something good may come. But right now we're helping the suffering people and the suffering is unimaginable."

When asked about these two statements during his press briefing Thursday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs replied to them both respectively, "In times of great crisis, there are always people that say really stupid things. I don't know how anybody could sit where [they] do, having enjoyed the success that [they have], and not feel some measure of sorrow for what has happened in Haiti. I think to use the power of your pulpit to try to convince those not to help their brothers and sisters is sad. My sense is that most people, though, because they understand we're part of an amazing world, won't listen and instead will seek to help those that they know, because it is through no fault of their own, have suffered an unspeakable tragedy."

Chris Roslan, spokesperson for the network that broadcasts Robertson's show defended the remarks stating, "Dr. Robertson never stated that the earthquake was God's wrath. If you watch the entire video segment, Dr. Robertson's compassion for the people of Haiti is clear. He called for prayer for them."

Rush Limbaugh and the radio network that carries his show still have yet to reply to the criticism from The White House and elsewhere.

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

That must be some new definition of "compassion" that the rest of the world is unfamiliar with.

 

[Eredar Warlock]

Honestly, no one's going to think twice about Rush saying things that are in bad taste. He's made a career out of it.

But yeah...Pat Robertson's the same moron who said the same stupid crap about New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina. He really does perpetuate the stereotype of the crazy christian.

 

[Kuji]

That must be some new definition of "compassion" that the rest of the world is unfamiliar with.

 

[ashita]

Extremely bad taste
But when your talking about Nick Griffin do u reli expect anything less?

 

[Mindy-chan]

That must be some new definition of "compassion" that the rest of the world is unfamiliar with.

Amen.

What is wrong with people? There are people dying out there, a potential half a million already dead, and we're worrying about our tax dollars/alleged devil chat (thank you, Mr. America, Pat Robertson)?

This is why I have a problem with ignorant people making public statements without having one iota of an idea of what they're saying.

We Americans have an excess of luxuries, even in our recession, and compared to the Haitians as well as a great majority of the world's population, we're, in general, more than well off. Our poverty is nothing like Haitian poverty. That is not to say that we don't need to help our own poor and hungry and defenseless, believe me, we do, but what that fuckhead Limbaugh is saying is not only insensitive, it's bullshit.

This is what the CIA World Factbook says about Haiti's economic standing.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80% of the population living under the poverty line and 54% in abject poverty. Two-thirds of all Haitians depend on the agricultural sector, mainly small-scale subsistence farming, and remain vulnerable to damage from frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the country's widespread deforestation.

Industries:... sugar refining, flour milling, textiles, cement, light assembly based on imported parts

This is what the WF says about the United States' economic standing.

The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $46,900.

Population below poverty line:... 12% (2004 est.)

I didn't post those statistics to nullify the poverty the US does have, but simply to demonstrate that we're not even close to being as destitute as Haiti.

This breakdown to whom the US taxdollars of 2009 go is from nationalpriorities.org:

Military: $662,334,000,000. National defense and security, nuclear weapons activities, and international security assistance. This includes subfunctions 051, 053, 054, 152.

...

International Affairs: $26,066,000,000. Diplomatic, development, and humanitarian activities abroad. This includes subfunctions 151, 153, 154, 155.

International Affairs includes the function area of international affairs except for international security assistance, Andean counterdrug programs and international narcotics control. The sub-function areas included international development and humanitarian assistance (minus the counterdrug and narcotics programs), conduct of foreign affairs, foreign information and exchange activities, and international financial programs.

Hmm. Seems to me that while we're donating quite a bit to "Internation Affairs," the amount going to "diplomatic development and humanitarian activities abroad" doesn't even touch what we spend on military costs.

Before people get all "OMGZZ NOOOEZ UR AGAINST DA MILITARY AND THERE4 A PEACE OF UNAMURICAN GOATSHIT" on my ass, I just want to say that I'm not really anti-military (though I do prefer diplomacy, not going to lie about that). I'm just pointing out that Limbaugh's really full of shit. Yes, we do send money to Haiti (and Israel and Sudan and many other poverty-stricken countries), but we're not sending so much to negate what damage and tragedy the earthquake created there.

As far as what Pat Robertson said... he's a crazy man who says that feminist movement is a "socialist, anti-family political movement that encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians," and that 9/11 was caused by "pagans, abortionists, feminists, gays, lesbians, the American Civil Liberties Union and the People For the American Way."

Do you want more? Well, I've got it.

On homosexuality (from wikipedia):

On the June 8, 1998 edition of his show, Robertson denounced Orlando, Florida and Disney World for allowing a privately sponsored "Gay Days" weekend. Robertson stated that the acceptance of homosexuality could result in hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, terrorist bombings and "possibly a meteor." The first hurricane of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricane Bonnie, actually turned away from Florida and instead damaged the rest of the east coast. The area hardest hit by the hurricane was the Hampton Roads region, which includes Virginia Beach, where the Robertson's 700 Club is broadcast from. While other hurricanes did hit Florida, none of them hit Disney World.

...

In 1999 Robertson said Scotland was "a dark land" overrun by homosexuals.

He's absolutely insane, so I think we should just let him go off on his idiotic and ignorant rants... in the safety of a padded room.

And the left is politicising Haiti, too, but at least they've got the sense not to be complete douchebags about the situation. Olbermann and Maddow were pressing their political agendas, like Limbaugh, but at least they seemed to show SOME level of compassion for the people hurt by the earthquake. And Glover... he's just an idiot. Global warming did not cause the earthquake, the earth's shifting plates did.

Gibbs said it best (thanks Matkin22 for posting that article):

When asked about these two statements during his press briefing Thursday, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs replied to them both respectively, "In times of great crisis, there are always people that say really stupid things. I don't know how anybody could sit where [they] do, having enjoyed the success that [they have], and not feel some measure of sorrow for what has happened in Haiti. I think to use the power of your pulpit to try to convince those not to help their brothers and sisters is sad. My sense is that most people, though, because they understand we're part of an amazing world, won't listen and instead will seek to help those that they know, because it is through no fault of their own, have suffered an unspeakable tragedy."

Most people think that Limbaugh and Robertson are absolute fucktards looking for a rise in liberals and rational people, so I'm not worried that Americans are going to hesitate in donating to the Red Cross and other organizations to aid Haiti.

Sorry this was so long.

 

[Netto Azure]

Not really much of a surprise. It's the same people saying the same things over and over again. Oh well.

 

[Goodbye Blue Monday]

As far as politicizing the Haiti situation, we've covered the ways in which non-Haitian political pundits have used it to harp on about their own political issues, but...

is anyone else annoyed by the fact that coverage in the U.S. seems to focus disproportionately on Americans, particularly the white, well-off ones (like college students and missionaries), who were affected by the earthquake? Not to say that we shouldn't worry about them, but I feel like focusing particularly on those people gives the message that the everyday poor, black Haitians who were affected in much larger numbers, aren't as important as the handful of white, middle-class Americans affected by it. It turns the everyday Haitians into a statistic when compared to these Americans to whom we give 10-minute Hallmark moments on the national news.

Then again, I wonder if it's a necessary evil because there are going to be some people who just don't care if it's some faceless person in another country who is affected, and so focusing on people they can "relate to" will encourage them to give aid.

 

[Every Breaking Wave]

It bothers me a bit, but people (or at least the media) always seem to be more concerned about their own than anybody else. From the coverage I've seen here in Canada there's been talk about the locals, but mostly in regards to the death toll. Most of the other discussion regarding the people is about individual Canadian citizens.

 

[Nekusagi]

and "possibly a meteor."

POSSIBLY.

The area hardest hit by the hurricane was the Hampton Roads region, which includes Virginia Beach, where the Robertson's 700 Club is broadcast from. While other hurricanes did hit Florida, none of them hit Disney World.

Sounds like the Almighty was trying to tell him something.

In 1999 Robertson said Scotland was "a dark land" overrun by homosexuals.

...I don't even.

On that note:

Some karate masters get their power by inhaling demon spirits

 

[Terra Force]

Who in the name of Zeus comes up with these dumb lies?! I hope whoever did gets killed mercilessly, and is left in the middle of nowhere to rot for making up such terrible lies about this tragedy. Except for the destroying capitalism part, which is what I want to happen, along with a comeback for communism, but that's a different story!

 

[Gligar13]

Just wow.
People are dieing in a foreign country and these people say stuff like rush limbuagh did, and thats just sad.

 

[Big Lutz]

Well you can add another nut jobs name to those trying to politicize Haiti. Hugo Chavez

"I read that 3,000 soldiers are arriving, Marines armed as if they were going to war. There is not a shortage of guns there, my God. Doctors, medicine, fuel, field hospitals, that's what the United States should send," Chavez said on his weekly television show. "They are occupying Haiti undercover."

"On top of that, you don't see them in the streets. Are they picking up bodies? ... Are they looking for the injured? You don't see them. I haven't seen them. Where are they?"

Chavez promised to send as much gasoline as Haiti needs for electricity generation and transport.

A perennial foe of U.S. "imperialism," Chavez said he did not wish to diminish the humanitarian effort made by the United States and was only questioning the need for so many troops.

The United States is sending more than 5,000 Marines and soldiers to Haiti, and a hospital ship is due to arrive later this week.

The country's president said U.S. troops would help keep order on Haiti's increasingly lawless streets.

Venezuela has sent several planes to Haiti with doctors, aid and some soldiers. A Russia-Venezuela mission was set to leave Venezuela on Monday carrying aid on Russian planes.

Chavez said Venezuela's planes were the first to land in Haiti after Tuesday's 7.0 magnitude earthquake, which wrecked the capital Port-Au-Prince and killed as many as 200,000 people.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60G2DW20100117?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Seriously, I would become a Obama loving Republican who would vote for him in 2012 if he would just send one sharp shooter over to Venezuela and take care of this psychopath. Just one itty bitty sharp shooter.

 

[Nekusagi]

Oh right, Hugo Chavez who uses HIS military to keep Venezuelans in line criticizes the US for using their military to help people.

You stay classy, Hugo.

 

[Every Breaking Wave]

Remember guys; as detestable as some of these opinions and opinion-holders may be to our particular viewpoints, openly wishing for their deaths is a contravention of the Soap Box rules. Keep the discussion centered on how the event is being politicized, okay?

 

[Big Lutz]

Remember guys; as detestable as some of these opinions and opinion-holders may be to our particular viewpoints, openly wishing for their deaths is a contravention of the Soap Box rules. Keep the discussion centered on how the event is being politicized, okay?

Ugh I can't believe I posted that. Remember guys its best not to post right after you finish a grueling nine hour shift at work. Anyway I apologize usually I am better at catching that stuff.