TPM Reader MS, with a perceptive take on “Heckuva Job” Brownie’s comments and those like his:
Every time you hear a Republican say, “Obama’s response to Deepwater was late because … he hates drilling … he’s in the pocket of Big Green … he’s an Islamic sleeper … he blew up that oil rig …” just focus on that first part, “Obama’s response was late”.
That’s what they’re really trying to push here, the notion that — like Bush’s response to Katrina — Obama responded too little, too late to Deepwater. While everyone is focused on the insanity of the claims (“Brownie said WHAT? Are you kidding??”), less noticed is the fact that that first part — “Obama was late” — is being taken for granted and stepped past to the next question, why he was late.
The insane is being used as a Trojan horse to bring in the factually incorrect.
My mind is still open to the federal government, including the White House, having been slow or ineffectual in responding to the spill. But while we work to determine those facts, MS’s assessment is worth keeping in mind.
