WH refuses help from foreign firms on oil spill
By dboman
@dboman (457)
United States
June 15, 2010 9:14am CST
http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2010/05/06/us_not_accepting_foreign_help_on_oil_spill
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/obama-refuses-to-waive-law-to-allow-foreign-help-with-oil-spil
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/06/14/1680503/fla-republicans-ask-obama-to-waive.html
Apparently foreign firms, and 13 government entities have offered their expertise and resources to help clean up the spill but the White House has refused their help.
The reasoning behind the refusal of help is the Jones Act, which is apparently a Union-favored law. Bush waived the law after Catrina, and now people are wondering why Obama hasn't done so.
What do you guys think? Do we need help from foreign firms? Why would Obama not waive this law like Bush did? Isn't this the first thing that he should've done when it was realized this spill was a big deal?
2 people like this
6 responses
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I don't care who comes down here to help...the more help we get, the better! I don't know why Obama won't waive the Jones Act...I haven't had the time to look into it...but it should be waived.
1 person likes this
@dboman (457)
• United States
15 Jun 10
According to the second link, it is because the Unions hate when the Jones Act is waived and we all know Obama's relationship with the Unions. This is based on one source, so may be inaccurate. I could do research, but I prefer to just use this equation: Obama + Unions = Reason for many things. :)
1 person likes this
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
15 Jun 10
During the campaign some were talking of his lack of real world experience or lack of management experience. As a community organizer his job was to find problems and victims and yell and scream about them and not offer any solutions other than to ask for more money for his group to help find more victims. We spent 1 trillion in stimulus money to save Union Jobs and now he wants another 50 billion to again save union jobs. Why would he want to receive help from someone who could not vote for him?
1 person likes this
@dboman (457)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I was one of those people talking about his lack of experience, and his role as a community organizer. I'm not above saying "I told ya so" to anyone who disagreed with me.
"Why would he want to receive help from someone who could not vote for him?"
Very funny, I never thought of it that way.
1 person likes this
@nzinky (822)
• United States
15 Jun 10
Does that surprise you.......It doesn't surprise me cause he's to stupid too ask for help or even except it or maybe they don't plan on giving him any of the money to clean up........What is this doing to the envirement..........Look at all the jobs that are lost, the animals, fish, birds and people who has been lost in this.....
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
15 Jun 10
We need help anywhere we can get it. Obummer just talks the the talk but does not walk the walk. Tonight he will give another blah, blah, blah speech when we need action.
1 person likes this
@clrumfelt (5490)
• United States
15 Jun 10
I think the USA should accept all the help we can get, FROM ANYONE!! Thousands of people and animals are suffering because of the oil spill. It has been gushing for nearly three months and it appears the govt. is sitting on their hands, going to Paul McCartney concerts, golfing, etc, and turning a cold shoulder to the American people (and everyone else) many of whom are angry, concerned, and crying out to help alleviate the results of the spill. I'm wondering if they are playing this situation for some sort of political gain. If so, any excuse to deny the offers of help could be used. Do they enjoy the suffering of others? It is appalling how they are handling this.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
15 Jun 10
During Katrina Bush was blamed for not taking action. He was blamed for sending the LA National Guard to Iraq. My son was in Iraq at the time and was able to listen to the BBC. They reported that President Bush had to explain to the LA Governor that only Infantry Units were deployed to Iraq and that the construction and engineering Units were in LA and that the surrounding state had units that could be used if she would ask for them. He also explained to her that it was her responsibility to call up the National Guard as she was the Commander in Chief of the Units. Maybe he should contact Governor Palin and ask her for her advice on how to handle the situation as she has had more experience in running a government unit.
1 person likes this
@dboman (457)
• United States
15 Jun 10
There are rumblings about Obama using this as a chess piece to get cap and trade passed, and I think his speech tonight will confirm that. For someone who supposedly cares so much about the environment, he seems to be taking this in stride, huh?
1 person likes this
@clrumfelt (5490)
• United States
16 Jun 10
Good point, bobmnu. It is sad the US can so readily handle overseas operations but when the crises is on our own soil everyone's hands are tied by red tape and it takes months to get anything done.
