'I've Got Your Back,' Obama Tells Residents Of Flint, Mich., Amid Water Crisis

[Octafish]

Source: National Public Radio (NPR)

"I will not rest, and I'm going to make sure that the leaders at every level of government don't rest until every drop of water that flows to your homes is safe to drink, and safe to cook with, and safe to bathe in," President Obama told an energetic audience in Flint, Mich. "Because that's part of the basic responsibilities of a government in the United States of America."

Obama met with community members in the crisis-stricken city, where a federal state of emergency has been declared as a result of lead leaching into the water supply.

He told the crowd at a Flint high school that this was a "man-made disaster," and a result of a "broader mindset":

"I do think that part of what contributed to this crisis was a broader mindset, a bigger attitude, a corrosive attitude that exists in our politics, that exists in too many levels of our government. And it's a mindset that believes that less government is the highest good, no matter what. It's a mindset that says environmental rules designed to keep your water clear, or your air clean, are optional or not that important or unnecessarily burden businesses or taxpayers.

"It's an ideology that undervalues the common good — says 'We're all on our own, and what's in it for me and how do I do well, but I'm not going to invest in what we need as a community.' And as a consequence you end up seeing an under-investment in the things that we all share, that make us safe, that make us whole, that give us the ability to pursue our own individual dreams."

He added: "That attitude is as corrosive to our democracy as the stuff that resulted in lead in your water."


Read more: http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/04/476783315/ive-got-your-back-obama-tells-residents-of-flint-mich-amid-water-crisis

[houston16revival]

1. Oh! LOVE IT

This is so good!

Obama has been larger than the Republicans from the day he took office,
and now he's rubbing their noses in it with a paternal, caring, government

Absolutely love it.

There just is NO comeback for the GOP on this one

[haikugal]

2. I hope he does a better job for them than he did for the people of the Gulf states when he allowed

the spraying of corexit.

[YOHABLO]

3. Is he a little late to the dance here. Shouldn't he have come to their rescue months ago?

[tularetom]

4. I would not blame the citizens of Flint

If they reacted to his assurances with just a bit of skepticism. He's known about this for a year and all he can offer is talk.

[Dont call me Shirley]

5. When is Obama going to prosecute the Criminals who perpetrated this act of mass poisoning

and murder? This was an intentional criminal act, a crime against humanity! It's not just an act of Less Gubmint!

These kids are not going to be okay! They are permanently damaged! WTF!

[Duckfan]

6. Yup. A Day Late And A Dollar Short

Spending too much time figuring out how to nominate Hills to maintain the gravy train.

[malthaussen]

7. Somehow, I think he will rest.

Otherwise, he'll be a walking sleep-deprived zombie after a week or so.

Since Congress, which controls the purse strings, doesn't seem to feel a need to take action about this, it doesn't much lie within his power to do anything but make mouth-noises.

-- Mal

[freebrew]

8. His favorite catch phrase?

He says it a lot.

"I've got your back, (issue of the day)."

It's hard to believe him these days.