In the most recent Republican presidential debate, which took place in Flint, Michigan, Florida Senator Marco Rubio was asked about the Flint leaded water situation and how it was mishandled by Republican Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.
Rubio responded with this:
"Well, I know I've talked about it, and others in our campaign have talked about it, and other candidates have talked about it, as well. What happened in Flint was a terrible thing. It was a systemic breakdown at every level of government, at both the federal and partially the - both the state and partially at the federal level, as well.
And by the way, the politicizing of it I think is unfair, because I don't think that someone woke up one morning and said, 'Let's figure out how to poison the water system to hurt someone.'
But accountability is important. I will say, I give the governor credit. He took responsibility for what happened. And he's talked about people being held accountable and the need for change, with Governor Snyder.
But here's the point: This should not be a partisan issue. The way the Democrats have tried to turn this into a partisan issue, that somehow Republicans woke up in the morning and decided, 'Oh, it's a good idea to poison some kids with lead.' It's absurd. It's outrageous. It isn't true. All of us are outraged by what happened. And we should work together to solve it. And there is a proper role for the government to play at the federal level, in helping local communities to respond to a catastrophe of this kind, not just to deal with the people that have been impacted by it, but to ensure that something like this never happens again."
Other GOPers have said, "This isn't a Republican issue; this isn't a Democratic issue; it's an American issue."
This is a rather common tactic for the so-called party of "personal responsibility" when a Republican commits a major screw-up while in office. When light is shed on this slip-up, GOPers will say, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, let's not point fingers; let's come together and solve this problem instead of casting blame."
Yes, the party of personal responsibility often has problems accepting any responsibility for their own words and actions. Yet, when other horrific events occur and Democrats want to try prevent them from occurring again (at least with less frequency), Republicans will often say, "Let's not politicize this event," "It's too soon to be discussing this," or "It's wrong to use this tragedy for a political agenda." There are other times Democrats will offer potential solutions to a problem and, in response, Republican politicians go the conspiracy route, saying, "This is just a way for big government to garner more control over your lives! Don't let them!"
Climate change. Scientists almost unanimously believe in it and at least partially attribute the increasing number of devastating storms to it. Yet most Republican politicians cast the matter as a hoax, a government ploy to garner more control.
Gun violence. Studies consistently showcase the effectiveness of an increase of nationwide gun regulations. Yet a large majority of Republican politicians refute these studies and once again lay claim that the government is simply trying to garner more control over the people.
Women's health/abortion rights. Studies consistently show comprehensive sex education to be far more effective than abstinence-only education in preventing unwanted pregnancies and abortions. Contraception coverage in employer-based healthcare plans also produces such results more frequently than the reverse option. Not only that, as sad as it is to admit, women do on occasion get impregnated via rape and/or incest, not to mention some women face health problems due to their pregnancies. Yet a decent majority of Republican politicians favor abstinence-only education over comprehensive sex ed; they prefer employers to not cover contraception for women's healthcare plans; and deny the frequency at which women are impregnated via rape and/or incest, not to mention the health problems some face during pregnancy.
Police brutality. Studies regularly show minorities (minority men in particular) have a far greater chance than whites of being shot and killed by police, especially if they happen to be unarmed. Yet many Republican politicians like to claim police can do no wrong and there's no racism present in the occupation (or even on a grander, more general scale).
Criminal justice. Minorities are often punished more severely than whites for equal crimes. Yet once again, many Republicans refuse to the problem, and due to that, refuse to fight for criminal justice reform.
Where's the consistency? How can so many Republican politicians refer to the Flint water crisis as "an American problem," yet refer to climate change, gun violence, women's health/abortion rights, police brutality, criminal justice, and other issues as "politicized," and not worthy of a civilized discussion, let alone a reasonable solution? How can they say climate change is a partisan Democratic issue when it's affecting people all over the globe? How can they say gun violence is a partisan Democratic issue when people of all stripes are affected by it nationwide? How can they say women's health/abortion rights is a partisan Democratic issue when there are over 143 million women in this country, Republican, Democrat, and Independent alike? While many Republican politicians may declare that trying to reverse climate change through decreasing pollution is political; that trying to decrease gun violence through added regulations is political; and that increasing the prevalence of comprehensive sex education, as well as the access to and coverage of contraception is political, I simply call it common sense, which has sadly become increasingly political - as, like moderates within the party, it has been steadily decreasing in the GOP and shows no signs of changing course.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/rubio-inexplicably-applauds-snyders-handling-flint-scandal
Rubio responded with this:
"Well, I know I've talked about it, and others in our campaign have talked about it, and other candidates have talked about it, as well. What happened in Flint was a terrible thing. It was a systemic breakdown at every level of government, at both the federal and partially the - both the state and partially at the federal level, as well.
And by the way, the politicizing of it I think is unfair, because I don't think that someone woke up one morning and said, 'Let's figure out how to poison the water system to hurt someone.'
But accountability is important. I will say, I give the governor credit. He took responsibility for what happened. And he's talked about people being held accountable and the need for change, with Governor Snyder.
But here's the point: This should not be a partisan issue. The way the Democrats have tried to turn this into a partisan issue, that somehow Republicans woke up in the morning and decided, 'Oh, it's a good idea to poison some kids with lead.' It's absurd. It's outrageous. It isn't true. All of us are outraged by what happened. And we should work together to solve it. And there is a proper role for the government to play at the federal level, in helping local communities to respond to a catastrophe of this kind, not just to deal with the people that have been impacted by it, but to ensure that something like this never happens again."
Other GOPers have said, "This isn't a Republican issue; this isn't a Democratic issue; it's an American issue."
This is a rather common tactic for the so-called party of "personal responsibility" when a Republican commits a major screw-up while in office. When light is shed on this slip-up, GOPers will say, "Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, let's not point fingers; let's come together and solve this problem instead of casting blame."
Yes, the party of personal responsibility often has problems accepting any responsibility for their own words and actions. Yet, when other horrific events occur and Democrats want to try prevent them from occurring again (at least with less frequency), Republicans will often say, "Let's not politicize this event," "It's too soon to be discussing this," or "It's wrong to use this tragedy for a political agenda." There are other times Democrats will offer potential solutions to a problem and, in response, Republican politicians go the conspiracy route, saying, "This is just a way for big government to garner more control over your lives! Don't let them!"
Climate change. Scientists almost unanimously believe in it and at least partially attribute the increasing number of devastating storms to it. Yet most Republican politicians cast the matter as a hoax, a government ploy to garner more control.
Gun violence. Studies consistently showcase the effectiveness of an increase of nationwide gun regulations. Yet a large majority of Republican politicians refute these studies and once again lay claim that the government is simply trying to garner more control over the people.
Women's health/abortion rights. Studies consistently show comprehensive sex education to be far more effective than abstinence-only education in preventing unwanted pregnancies and abortions. Contraception coverage in employer-based healthcare plans also produces such results more frequently than the reverse option. Not only that, as sad as it is to admit, women do on occasion get impregnated via rape and/or incest, not to mention some women face health problems due to their pregnancies. Yet a decent majority of Republican politicians favor abstinence-only education over comprehensive sex ed; they prefer employers to not cover contraception for women's healthcare plans; and deny the frequency at which women are impregnated via rape and/or incest, not to mention the health problems some face during pregnancy.
Police brutality. Studies regularly show minorities (minority men in particular) have a far greater chance than whites of being shot and killed by police, especially if they happen to be unarmed. Yet many Republican politicians like to claim police can do no wrong and there's no racism present in the occupation (or even on a grander, more general scale).
Criminal justice. Minorities are often punished more severely than whites for equal crimes. Yet once again, many Republicans refuse to the problem, and due to that, refuse to fight for criminal justice reform.
Where's the consistency? How can so many Republican politicians refer to the Flint water crisis as "an American problem," yet refer to climate change, gun violence, women's health/abortion rights, police brutality, criminal justice, and other issues as "politicized," and not worthy of a civilized discussion, let alone a reasonable solution? How can they say climate change is a partisan Democratic issue when it's affecting people all over the globe? How can they say gun violence is a partisan Democratic issue when people of all stripes are affected by it nationwide? How can they say women's health/abortion rights is a partisan Democratic issue when there are over 143 million women in this country, Republican, Democrat, and Independent alike? While many Republican politicians may declare that trying to reverse climate change through decreasing pollution is political; that trying to decrease gun violence through added regulations is political; and that increasing the prevalence of comprehensive sex education, as well as the access to and coverage of contraception is political, I simply call it common sense, which has sadly become increasingly political - as, like moderates within the party, it has been steadily decreasing in the GOP and shows no signs of changing course.
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/rubio-inexplicably-applauds-snyders-handling-flint-scandal
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