It now appears that The New York Times will never get it, not until the presses shut down for good.
Today’s article, “It’s About Aid, and An Image,” is unbelievable in its stupidity, portraying President Bush as embattled with the task of disproving “the perception that took root in his first four years in office that he is all about America first.”
So just what should the President of the United States be about first? France?
This so-called “news analysis” goes on to bemoan the fact that $13 billion has been approved by Congress for hurricane aid in Florida, “where Mr. Bush loaded fresh water and dry goods into the trunks of cars.” The piece then smugly notes that “Of course, that was home turf, and an election campaign was under way, and even Mr. Bush's critics do not expect spending on that scale for the far greater disaster in South Asia.”
Excuse me, but are we supposed to ignore our own countrymen? Is there something sleazy about helping our citizens? Is putting the United States second now the elitist requirement for America's acceptance into world citizenship? Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont “just about went through the roof” when he heard the “bragging about $35 million.” Bragging? Interesting choice of words—somewhat subjective, wouldn’t you say? I took it as an announcement of initial assistance rather than “bragging,” but what would a self-centered American like me know about it? The good Senator goes on to carp, “We spend $35 million before breakfast in Iraq." He continues by urging that part of the “largely unspent 18 billion for Iraq reconstruction be re-directed for Asian relief efforts.”
I doubt that his figure is accurate, but I understand hyperbole. What I don’t understand is the unwillingness of Americans to be on America’s side. In fact, I have reached my saturation point with anti-American Americans, especially those who are in elected office. Elected representatives have a sworn obligation to place American interests first, but some of them quite arrogantly refuse to do that. It appears that everything and everyone is a higher priority, provided it doesn’t benefit the United States.
Those millions spent in Iraq are keeping millions of Americans at home safe and protected. Are we to apologize, to elected U.S. officials of all people, for defending our nation? Are we to divert funds that will ultimately support our troops and their mission in Iraq? I think not, Senator. You might want to read over your Oath of Office when you have a moment. And oh, have you made your individual donation to the relief efforts yet? Pledged any of your government salary? Taken the money your Senate office would have spent on that free postage you receive as one of your many perks and sent it off to the Red Cross or Salvation Army? No need to answer, Senator. I was just wondering.
The tsunami catastrophe in Asia is devastating beyond our comprehension. Of course, the whole world should participate in helping, as should America. Our country certainly will give more than our fair share, indeed we are already doing so, with military as well as financial aid to the stricken regions. The United States is always the first country to step up to the plate, and it donates more to international aid than all other countries combined. That does not even touch upon the charitable foundations, non-profit organizations, and private donations that will shower upon Asia all the money, resources, and aid that it needs to recover and rebuilt after this terrible disaster.
Victor David Hanson touched on this subject with customary eloquence and accuracy in his web posting today, noting that the elitist Left can “yet somehow ignore things like over $100 billion to Afghanistan and Iraq or $15 billion pledged to fight AIDS in Africa. These academic white papers likewise forget private donations, because most of the American billionaires who give to global causes of various sorts do so as either individuals or through foundations. No mention is made of the hundred of millions that are handled by American Christian charities. And the idea of a stingy America never mentions about $200 billion of the Pentagon's budget, which does things like keeping the Persian Gulf open to world commerce; protecting Europe; ensuring that the Aegean is free of shooting and that the waters between China, Korea, Taiwan, and Japan are relatively tranquil; and stopping nasty folk like the Taliban and Saddam from blowing up more Buddha monuments, desecrating Babylon, or ruining the ecology of the Tigris-Euphrates wetlands.”
Yes, as astutely noted by Hanson, so many of our nation’s contributions to building a better world are ignored in the interests of advancing misguided political agendas. I’m sick to death of it, and so are 51 million other Americans. George W. Bush is our President for this reason. Deal with it, Lefties. And tell your buddies at the Old Gray Lady that her ship is just about sunk. The blogosphere will continue blasting her to bits unless she decides to report the news instead of retooling it to fit her fancy.
