Puerto Rico…
Exactly 1 week ago today, Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, the worst storm to hit the island in more than 30 years. So, exactly where has Donald Trump and his administration been during the 7 days the people left on the island have been suffering? MISSING IN ACTION!
Current Events
In case you’re unaware, Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of the United States, meaning its people are US citizens. This means that when the storm hit the island, Donald Trump had the same responsibility to provide assistance to the people of Puerto Rico as he did to the people of Houston and Florida during their hurricanes. However, instead of focusing like a bookworm on the island where people are still without electrical power, fresh drinking water, food, and medical care, Trump spent the past several days berating Sen. John McCain over his health care vote and feuding with black football players over the national anthem.
Can anyone spell P-R-I-O-R-I-T-I-E-S???
With the ancient electrical grid that supplied the island now dead, authorities predict the 3.4 million American citizens of Puerto Rico could be without power for up to 6 months. This means no electricity to power refrigerators and prevent food from perishing, no electric stoves for cooking, no air conditioners during the 90+ degree heat, no hot water heaters, no drinking water purifying systems for the entire island, no communication systems to connect with family and emergency personnel, as well no other basic essentials for life. Yes, Puerto Rico has been knocked back into the stone age and resembles a war zone. So, what is Trump doing about it? If you let him tell it, everything!
“All available resources, including the military, are being marshaled to save lives,” Trump said SIX DAYS after the storm hit. “We have been really treated very, very nicely by the governor and everyone else,” he continued, adding that the people of Puerto Rico “are important to all of us.”
Yeah, right!
“There was one vendor that was open, selling bottled water, very limited food. Everything was operating on a cash only basis. Fortunately we had taken out a lot of cash. A lot of people, some with small children, were running out of cash.” – American stranded at San Juan International Airport
Trump’s words may have been more believable had he not taken to Twitter on Monday night and basically mocked the island.
“Texas & Florida are doing great but Puerto Rico, which was already suffering from broken infrastructure & massive debt, is in deep trouble,” Trump tweeted to his 39 million followers. Then he added: “It’s old electrical grid, which was in terrible shape, was devastated. Much of the Island was destroyed, with billions of dollars owed to Wall Street and the banks which, sadly, must be dealt with.”
HUH???
INTERESTING THEORY:
Current Events
Today, at this very moment, Puerto Rico is on the verge of an enormous humanitarian crisis. The devastation there has been described as “apocalyptic.” Yet, instead of providing words of consolation to the millions of mainland Americans who have lost contact with their relatives on the island, and those Americans on the island who are desperate for help ASAP, Donald Trump is more concerned with what the territory owes to Wall Street and the banks??? As CNN put it, the lack of empathy is staggering!
“You don’t put debt above people; you put people above debt! When someone is in need, when someone is in dire need, when someone is in a life or death situation, there is a human, moral imperative to deal with that situation before dealing with anything else.” – Carmen Yulin Cruz, Mayor of San Juan
Thankfully, other Americans have stepped in and stepped up in Trump’s absence.
Hillary Clinton did what a president should do and called for the US Navy to be sent to the island to provide immediate assistance in relief efforts. Only a day after the hurricane hit, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo chartered a private jet and delivered thousands of bottles of drinking water, non-perishable food, and medical supplies to the island. Puerto Rican singer Jennifer Lopez, NBA basketball star Carmelo Anthony, and other artists have taken matters into their own hands, by donating millions of dollars of their own money and personally getting supplies and assistance to the Americans stranded on the island.
“Do something about our people in need in #PuertoRico. We are American citizens too.” Marc Anthony, Singer
And, where is Donald Trump? Patting himself on the back that his administration is doing a terrific job in handling hurricane relief (NOT!) and trying to come up with a law to force black football players to stand during the national anthem.
It’s a sad day in America!
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Truly, my heart is breaking for the people (American citizens all) of Puerto Rico.
That fool in the White House is a national embarrassment and total disgrace to the office of which he holds.
DJ is absolutely right. “It’s a sad day in America!”