The day after proclaiming we're all got to come together (for his sake), today Barack Obama callously flips the bird to those who sacrificed their health and well-being in the aftermath of 9/11. It's difficult to comprehend how a man can recklessly spend trillions of dollars yet he can't find the need to spend a puny portion of that helping those with illnesses related to their time spent at Ground Zero.
The word inhumane springs to mind. Oh, and to further rub it in, he'll have us spend a billion dollars holding trials in lower Manhattan for the monsters who you could say caused these illnesses.
Such callousness stuns even the Democrats representing New York.
The Obama administration stunned New York's delegation Thursday, dropping the bombshell news that it does not support funding the 9/11 health bill.Eleven billion dollars over 30 years, an amount dwarfed by the now $860 billion stimulus slush fund at his employ.
The state's two senators and 14 House members met with Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius just hours before President Obama implored in his speech to the nation for Congress to come together and deliver a government that delivers on its promises to the American people.
So the legislators were floored to learn the Democratic administration does not want to deliver for the tens of thousands of people who sacrificed after 9/11, and the untold numbers now getting sick.
"I was stunned — and very disappointed," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who like most of the other legislators had expected more of a discussion on how to more forward.
"To say the least, I was flabbergasted," said Staten Island Rep. Mike McMahon.
The 9/11 bill would spend about $11 billion over 30 years to care for the growing numbers of people getting sick from their service at Ground Zero, and to compensate families for their losses.
Staggering.
The legislators were shocked the idea was falling lower on the administration priority list than other parts of the war on terror and financial bailouts.Obama has no problem endowing the full menu of constitutional rights upon our worst enemies but blithely dismisses the health and well-being of their victims. It's as if he's hoping the New York Democrats are defeated this fall.
"She made it clear that the administration does not support any kind of funding mechanism that goes into the bill," said Bronx Rep. Eliot Engel. "I think it's fiscal restraint… but you know what? They find money for everything else, they need to find money for this," Engel said.
"We were attacked because we're a symbol of our country." McMahon was furious that caring for the heroes of Sept. 11 would take a back seat to anything but military funding.
"I thought there was a complete lack of understanding of the issue by the secretary and quite frankly, I did not expect that lack of compassion and failure to understand the urgency of the issue."
Thanks to Allahpundit for the link.
Total cost: $11 billion … over 30 years. The optics of this are so appallingly bad, especially in light of the rumors circulating about the U.S. and UK offering the Taliban $1 billion to play ball in Afghanistan (which may be paying off), that I can’t believe there’s no ulterior motive. Is this actually some sort of kabuki aimed at giving Obama an excuse to reverse himself about the spending freeze? There’ll be a public outcry, The One will accede and agree to fund the 9/11 bill, and then Gibbs will use it every day going forward as a lesson in how they can’t cut spending because the compassionate American public simply won’t let them make hard choices about denying services to those in need. Or maybe they’re planning to add this to ObamaCare, as a lesson in how desperately some people need health care? Or am I overthinking this because I simply can’t believe they’ve become this tone deaf? What’s up, seriously?
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