Trump Criticizes Obama for Not Visiting Flood Victims in LA. Media Mostly Silent.

Despite pleas from others, President Obama isn't cutting short his two-week vacation at Martha's Vineyard, where he played golf with the rich and famous.

By Rachel Alexander Published on August 20, 2016

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate Mike Pence took time out of their schedules yesterday to survey the devastating flood damage in Louisiana. President Obama remains on vacation, and unlike most previous presidents in times of crisis, hasn’t bothered to interrupt his two-week romp in exclusive Martha’s Vineyard to visit with those affected in Baton Rouge and Lafayette. Notably, Baton Rouge has a black population of 55 percent, one of the highest black populations in the U.S. Those black lives apparently don’t matter, especially when tee-time awaits.

Trump told a group of volunteers at the Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, north of Baton Rouge, “The president says he doesn’t want to come, he is trying to get out of a golf game.” Similarly, Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, who accompanied Trump, said, “I heard he wants to stay under par while we are under water.” Trump went on, “He will never be under par.”

On Thursday, as citizens continued struggling with the surging waters, Obama played a round of golf with Bain Capital co-managing partner Jonathan Lavine and Seinfield co-creator and Curb Your Enthusiasm star Larry David.

The Baton Rouge Advocate also called out Obama’s absence in an editorial on Wednesday, “Last week, as torrential rains brought death, destruction and misery to Louisiana, the president continued his vacation at Martha’s Vineyard, a playground for the posh and well-connected.” Other than that, the mainstream media has been mostly silent about Obama’s seeming lack of care. In contrast, the media blasted George W. Bush in 2005 for showing up to visit with Hurricane Katrina victims two days after the disaster hit — and he cut his vacation early in order to do so.

Hillary Clinton blasted Bush too, as The Daily Caller pointed out, saying the victims of Katrina were “invisible” to the President. Yet, with this natural disaster, Clinton is nowhere to be seen. On Friday, she explained her absence from Louisiana by saying “the relief effort can’t afford any distractions.” Instead, the Democratic nominee is resting up for a fundraiser Sunday in Provincetown, Mass. featuring Cher. This is Hillary’s third straight weekend off the campaign trail, leading to further speculation the true reason she isn’t traveling south has more to do with worrisome health than not wanting to be a hindrance.

Meanwhile, her rival was touring the damage, offering comfort. At one point, Trump stopped at the home of 79-year-old Jimmy Morgan and his wife Olive. They were trying to sweep out floodwater.

Morgan shared with Trump how he’s drawn comfort from the Lord these past days. “I don’t know how people get through it, if you don’t know God,” Samaritan’s Purse quotes him as saying, “I laid awake in the bed two nights and talked to him to the Shepherd — I didn’t count sheep, I talked to the Shepherd.”

According to the Associated Press, Trump asked Morgan whether he’ll rebuild. Morgan replied, “I just don’t know what we’ll do.” Trump hugged the man, later telling him, “You’re going to rebuild. It’s going to be so beautiful.”

Earlier this week, at a rally in Charlotte, N.C., Trump said, “I would like to take a moment to talk about the heart break and devastation in Louisiana, a state that is very, very special to me. We are one nation. When one state hurts, we all hurt. And we must all work together to lift each other up,” he said. “Though words cannot express the sadness one feels at times like, this I hope everyone in Louisiana knows that our country is praying for them and standing with them to help them in these difficult hours.”

The flooding in Louisiana has killed 13 people and forced 30,000 to evacuate their homes.

 

To donate to the Samaritan’s Purse relief effort in Louisiana, click here.

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