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First Lady Michelle Obama is planning a visit to the Gulf Coast oil spill region in the next few weeks. The visit to the devastated area will follow four visits by President Barack Obama and one visit by Vice President Joe Biden in recent months.
While it's easy to understand why the First Lady is going to the Gulf Coast to express her concern and support for the people of the region, does anyone else think that all of these visits from Washington, D.C., officials not only point out the government's futility in the situation but are photo-ops to deflect attention from our other woes?
It was April 20 when the British Petroleum-owned Deepwater Horizon rig exploded killing 11 men and bringing us daily images of oil-stained beaches, dead wildlife and a lost way of life for Gulf seamen.
While I'm not sure what business gets done with Obama's frequent visits, one must admire Obama's stance in the face of this tragedy.
Unlike Tony Hayward, the CEO of BP, who played the "blame everybody but me" game during his Congressional testimony, Obama has made it clear the disaster happened during his watch and that he will find solutions to mitigate the suffering.
But every time Obama or Biden visit the region, it leaves me shaking my head in disbelief that this mess is still going on. There've been almost 3 straight months of oil pumping into the Gulf now and it leaves me wondering what the frequent visits to the crisis zone really accomplish.
No doubt, some Gulf Coast resident will take comfort when the First Lady shakes her hand or whispers a few words of encouragement during her upcoming visit.
I guess that's important but the notion that the suffering of people in the Gulf Coast might be used as window-dressing to push the image of a caring, sympathetic president (and now First Lady) is troubling.
Comments: (4)
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By: BG on 7/08/2010 5:45PM
Very troubling.
I can't even fathom Mrs.Obama's political's stance in this. I don't know of what political benefit.
I can't even understand the political gain of Obama's series of visits.
You can go there a dozen times all you want. You cannot stop the spills, you have a problem. Or you can stop the spill at the first time and you are a hero.
I don't know why criticism from the Republicans has to keep bringing Obama to the Gulf as many times as he did.
Sometimes, I think Obama has to stay his ground.
When George W. Bush was lambasted for not meeting with the NAACP, he stayed his ground by still refusing to meet with them as though, they are less significant.
He won the second time.
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By: Top 3 Sites on 7/09/2010 2:25AM
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By: Judy on 7/09/2010 7:20AM
She needs to be in Az. helping to keep these criminal illegal alian mexicans out of our country. Obama needs to be doing his job for a change and protect our country. God Bless America.
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By: linda rae on 7/12/2010 2:25PM
THEM 2 BLACK FOLKS NEED TO BE DOING SOMETHING BESIDES FLYING AROUND SPENDING OUR MONEY. THEY ARE JUST LAUGHING AT US.
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