Rush Limbaugh is the chief cheerleader of the Republican Right in the USA. Think Fox News, but on talkback and more angry. Here is a link to a story about his comments on why Americans should not donate to appeals for Haiti.
“This [the earthquake] will play right into Obama’s hands,” said Limbaugh. “He’s humanitarian, compassionate. They’ll use this to burnish their, shall we say, credibility with the black community – both light-skinned and dark-skinned black community in this country. This is made to order for them.” Limbaugh also warned Americans against donating money. “Besides, we’ve already donated to Haiti. It’s called the US income tax,” he said.
Absolutely disgusting.
A reminder of Trevor’s earlier post that includes links to where you can donate.
(Hat Tip: Dorothy)
This shows how it works. Again, as a percentage of income, low-income people in the US give more than high-income people. They give more, but can afford it less. On the other hand, high-income people pay a much higher proportion of the income tax due to progressive brackets. I wonder how it works out if you combine the two.
Someone once said that listening to Limbaugh is like passing by a car accident. You know it is going to look bad and you don’t really want to see it, but you rubberneck anyway. And then, yes, you want to gag.
Please don’t take Limbaugh as representative of American views…on anything. He represents maybe a maximum of 20% of Americans’ views, if that. 53% of voters chose Obama last time. Much better to think of that.
If you look at the budget, only 1.25% goes to State and international programs.
So, to say that “the US income tax” is taking care of Haiti is a pretty inaccurate statement. USAID, where most of the aid will come from, only has a budget of $36.7 billion for the *whole world*.
To a Kiwi that might seem like a lot of money, but as a percentage of the 2010 U.S. budget, $3.55 trillion, it is truly piddly. 1%
On the other hand, $500 million injected into a Haitian economy previously sputtering along at $7 billion GDP per year would seem huge. That $36.7 billion, if concentrated solely on Haiti, would completely replace their entire economy for 5 years.
Alternatively, we could just ship over crates of $100 bills and drop them out of planes, a la “helicopter Bernanke.” Bush presided over the disappearance of $12 billion in Iraq that way. It would be great for Haiti. Who would loot with a whole month’s wage floating down lika manna on a single little piece of paper?
NZ Herald is all ready to bash the US on the Haiti response. Their biased reporter is making comparisons with Katrina and New Orleans.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10620595
Ok, let’s examine this.
1. I wasn’t aware that Haiti was part of the United States.
That Obama is giving his attention to this when Bush was mute on his own *citizens* suffering, well, it says something.
2. You get a little advance warning of a Hurricane, and NONE with an earthquake.
3. US troops are already on the ground, and a LOT more are on the way. Food and water will follow them there.
4. What we really need is for Venezuela to stop sending oil aid to the US northeast as a political stunt and direct some of that money where it is really needed.
5. We need people who can speak French to go there. Hey, Canada. People are reading the manufacturing dates on the food (2008), not understanding, and refusing to eat it. How does that help anything?
Any opportunity to bash the U.S.A. is welcome, I guess.
Limbaugh is quite funny if you don’t take him seriously. He’s kind of like Laws on Radio Live except a hundred times more shocking…
At least its not as bad as Pat Robertson’s comments that Haiti is cursed because it rebelled against the French colonalists (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8460520.stm)
This is fantastic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-PEaWUduCM&feature=player_embedded
n0exit, the first time i heard Laws on radio he was ripping people to bits for opposing the civil unions bill, i’d venture he and Limbaugh probably aren’t so similar. Still a grumpy bugger of course.
Please don’t take Limbaugh as representative of American views…on anything. He represents maybe a maximum of 20% of Americans’ views, if that. 53% of voters chose Obama last time. Much better to think of that.
Thanks Andrew, good point to bear in mind. As far as Limbaugh is concerned I think that no matter what happens, even a natural disater, and he would see a wily Democrat plot.
In my opinion, the US effort in response to the earthquake has been remarkable so far in the face of extremely difficult circumstances. ‘Granny herald’ obviously decided to run the negative copy to keep the story going.
Pat Robertson’s comment is beyond belief.
I just heard that Limbaugh is now encouraging people NOT to donate to Haiti because Obama will steal your email address and the money you donate. Absolutley sick.