Republicans Want to Have It Both Ways

Many Republicans voted against FEMA funding before Hurricane Helene. Many Republicans are also complaining about federal response.

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But here’s why I can’t decide if he’s just a jerk or, like I said, a performance artist. He is the state official in the area. It’s literally his job to advocate for the people of state House District 11 to make sure they get what they need from the state. He should have been paying attention to what was happening (and judging by his Twitter feed, he knew days in advance that things were going to be bad — he had a number of tweets ahead of the storm warning his followers of its severity) and what other states in the path of the hurricane were doing (spoiler: getting their ducks in a row ahead of time). Then he should have been on the phone with Gov. Lee making sure Lee was doing all the paperwork he needed to be doing. If Lee was not responsive, Faison should have gone to U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger of Congressional District 1 or Tennessee's U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty.

Why would he come out and draw attention to the fact that he failed his district? The feds didn’t approve help until 9 at night? Because the governor didn’t request it until 5? Because Faison didn’t communicate to the governor the seriousness of the situation?

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Anyway, I think someone must have told Faison that talking shit about the people coming to help you is bad form, because now his feed is mostly, “Hey, look at this awesome thing happening! Here are some ways to help.” And “Let’s not be out here spreading misinformation, guys.” But people’s willingness to spread and believe misinformation is happening for the same reasons Faison was making digs at the feds in the middle of a disaster, and why Marsha Blackburn is out here blaming immigrants: It’s easier to blame others than it is to take responsibility.

People keep voting for politicians who want to disempower the federal government. Sens. Blackburn and Hagerty and Reps. Tim Burchett, Andy Ogles and John Rose all voted against extending funding to FEMA in the very same week a hurricane was barreling down on Tennessee. And now they have the gall to be all, “Where’s the federal government? Why is FEMA money going to immigrants?” They voted against FEMA money going to anyone. If any of these rumors of the feds not showing up are true, this is exactly what these folks voted for. This is what they want: for the feds not to show up. And this is what their voters want, and we know that because they vote for them.

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https://www.nashvillescene.com/news/pithinthewind/republicans-hurricane-helene/article_39a794c6-8359-11ef-a1a3-738a2bb30e40.html