To Fox News Hurricane Gustav Is A Political Problem

Currently a top story for Fox News is one that is blaring this headline:

Gustav Threatens GOP Convention Plans

That’s right…The category 3 hurricane that is bearing down on the vulnerable population of New Orleans and the rest of the gulf coast, is identified by Fox News as merely a threat to the GOP. Never mind the millions of Americans in harm’s way who must be pretty anxious considering how awful this administration handled a similar threat a few years ago.

Giving Fox the benefit of a doubt, it may be entirely appropriate to report on the impact of a severe storm on what is one of the biggest events for the Republican presidential campaign. If the headline were simply an unfortunate phrasing that tipped the tone of the article toward an insensitivity that they didn’t intend, it could be forgiven. But the article contains some affirmation of the headline’s myopic self-centeredness. The constricted view is first expressed in a quote from Karl Rove, a FOX News analyst:

“The Republicans can’t seem to get a break when it comes to August and when it comes to the weather.”

According to Rove, it is the Republicans who are the victims of these dang storms. Why does God hate the GOP? Especially when they prayed so hard for him to smite the Democrats. White House press secretary Dana Perino also noticed the hardship that her party faces when she left open the possibility that Gustav could “rain on the Republicans’ plans.”

It really is all about the Republicans. At some point I may even summon up some sympathy for them. Not that they need my help. Fox News is always there to provide some positive reinforcement for the beleaguered Party who has to do battle with a political rock star:

“The Bush administration came under fire for appearing slow to react when Katrina struck New Orleans three years ago. Democratic speakers have reprised that criticism during their national convention in Denver, where so far no serious disruptions have occurred.”

Huh? In an article about a hurricane and its impact on GOP convention plans, Fox News finds a way to inject the totally unrelated notion of Democratic convention unrest. This has nothing to do with anything else in the column. It is purely an egregious attempt to sow some negativity, but with the promise of disruption that may yet occur – it just has not “so far.”

Can this get any more ridiculous? Sadly, yes.

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9 thoughts on “To Fox News Hurricane Gustav Is A Political Problem

  1. I just wanted to say I was shocked after reading this article and others similar to it. I live in Beaumont, Texas. For those of you who don’t know where that is it’s southeast texas…on the gulf coast. Along with my family, we rode out Hurricane Rita. We decided to go to Silsbee, where at the time we thought wasn’t going to be hit by Rita, and we were wrong. Along with 12 other people and 15 animals, we all tucked in that night juts hours before Rita hit. I woke up at 2:00 AM to look outside because the noises were frightening. It is terrifying to watch and to not know if that one tree will smash into the house and if this is the day you will die and become another tragic victim of the storm. Luckily, we all survived and woke up the next morning in shock. 34 trees went down and not one hit the house. After 5 days, we were frustrated. A tree was blocking our way out. We gathered all we could to break free of all the limbs to get to the outside world. We were running low on food and gas. I was taking baths in a neighbors pool. My family finally decided to leave and go to Lubbock. I stayed behind and decided to go with my boyfriend to Houston. After 2 weeks, I came back to Beaumont and went right to work at my restaurant, scrubbing and cleaning it preparing to open as the first one to open in Beaumont. My point is, why are you concerned about which party will be affected by Gustav and how it will help the Democrats? You should be concerned about the people who have to go through this tragedy like me, and everyone who has to put our lives aside to try and survive. Politics and hurricanes don’t go together. You should be worried about the people, not which party will benefit on where the hurricane hits. That is sick news to me. Really.

    • Megan, in case you missed it, I am saying the same thing that you are. I am disgusted that the Republicans and Fox News are more concerned about their political welfare than the welfare of the people who are really hurt by these natural disasters. I am saying that it is wrong for them to focus on how the hurricane interrupts their party rather than how it damages lives and property.

      I feel for you and your family and I hope that Gustav weakens and fades away. I do not wish harm to you or your neighbors or even to the Republican convention.

      • I read your comment and was not meaning to argue against it. I was just trying to elaborate on the subject with a personal touch. I am furious about all this hype about which party will benefit and depending on where the hurricane will hit who it would help. I am just 24 years old and a college student and I may fully understand how politics work but I do understand how weather works and to me and my family who have lived here all my life, weather isn’t in the same category as politics and when Hurricane Gustav hits us, I guarantee the last thing on anybody’s mind will be “Gee, sure hope the Republican party is ready for this, sure hope it won’t affect McCain’s plans. Those Dem’s are lucky if it hits Texas! We need the votes!” or whatever. This country has forgotten about the people who get up every morning and go to work and suffer and barely get by and when something bad happens all the media is concerned about is the election?

      • I had typed a lot and it deleted it because apparently I already made the comment but I just wanted to say thank you. I am only 24 and a college student and very ignorant to all the political crap but I do know the media emphasizes too much on the election even when lives are at stake. It’s sad that a vote could cost lives.

        • You’re welcome – and stay safe. The politics will work itself out. The weather is less forgiving.

    • I empathize with what you’ve gone through…. actually sympathize… I went through a hurricane when I was 7 and stuck on Padre Island.
      But dude, uh… the whole politicization of the hurricane….that’s the point of this article.
      THE REPUBLICANS are politicizing it through major Faux news media and every RW pundit as well….
      Are you just dense or a troglodyte yourself?

  2. First, I’ll say that I pray for the people in the path and wake of this powerful storm. I sincerely hope that all will escape harm’s way and those who do not, I pray that they may ride out the storm unscathed. I also feel that to put the issue of the convention success as an inconvience served above that of the potential (and seemingly immenent) tradegy that could unleashed upon the residents of some unlucky portion of the Gulf Coast, is pretty distateful, unprofessional and above all, inhumaine. For that, I would blame anyone who would say or do such a thing for their part. That said, I feel that I feel it is quite clear that the majority of you are democrats, especially you, Mark. I respect that. This nation is built upon out freedom to form our own values, and stand up for them on election days, and all others. But I can’t help but think that, if the convention order were reversed, and democrats and cnn who were being disrespectful and careless with their tongues, you might not have written such a blasting column. If I have prematurely judged, I apologize. I will say one thing. I think a lot of blame is placed on the Bush administration for its part in the mishandling (notably the delay) of Hurricane Katrina while the Democratic city administration and the Democratic State Administration involved are rarely even mentioned for their absolute failure in Hurricane Katrina. I am not saying their isn’t blame to go around, but lets spread it out appropriately and quite singling out the federal level of failure. After all, if the city can’t handle a disaster, the state steps in, if a state can’t handle it, the federeal govt steps in. Two other entities failed first. As for you in the line of this storm, GET OUT. You know its coming. LEAVE. I wish you the best, but be smart. Louisiana, your governor has recommended you leave. I feel for you; Katrina and this is a pretty awful slam waaay to soon. After its all over, I will see you down there to help clean up. God Bless.

    • I appreciate your thoughts, Michael, and I agree with most of them. And rest assured that I would have the same opinion regardless of whose convention was impacted by this. Because this isn’t about either convention, it’s about people’s lives. That is why I vigorously criticized Democrats who voted for the Iraq war. And it is why I now criticize Joe Biden for his support of the Bankruptcy bill that hurt so many people for the benefit of big banks.

      Thanks for your concerns and good wishes.

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