Exploiting disaster: McCain, Gustav, and the 2008 Republican Convention

By Michael J.W. Stickings

Hurricane Gustav is set to hit the Gulf Coast tomorrow, disrupting plans for the Republican Convention and prompting McCain to order changes to the program. Indeed, according to McCain -- as reported by CNN in an awful article that reads more like a GOP press release (Hullabaloo's tristero says it "[i]t sounds like a trial balloon, to test how the idea of a telethon might play") -- the Convention will be a "call to the nation for action," not the usual "celebratory event."

Yes, you can always count on the Republicans to try to score political points from disaster (see 9/11). "Look," they will say, "we are putting politics aside and doing what needs to be done in a time of crisis," a message that will feed right into the McCain "bipartisan maverick" mythology. And the media will lap it up, as usual.

As TPM's Will Thomas suggests, "this is one of those times when political posturing aligns with the right thing to do." After all, McCain and the Republicans have to respond to Gustav in some way. Doing nothing -- and going ahead with the Convention as planned -- would leave them open to post-Katrina-like charges of arrogance and insensitivity. So it is no doubt for the best that Bush (trying to look presidential and avoid repeating post-Katrina blunders) and Cheney have decided (for now) not to show up and that the party is changing the program.

"That being said," Thomas continues,

I find it disturbing that McCain and Palin have decided to go down to Mississippi this week. A trip like this is worse than opportunism. Let us not forget that McCain doesn't travel alone; he brings along staff and Secret Service agents, all of whom require the time and attention of local officials. The situation is reminiscent of Rumsfeld's infamous 9/11 response to rush outside the Pentagon and give orders: the images on TV inspire confidence, at least until one remembers that our leaders are neglecting the responsibilities that are truly meant to keep us safe.

Neither McCain nor Palin offer any unique advantage to New Orleans with their presence -- they are not Southern politicians, they don't have any particularly useful contacts in the area and they aren't emergency responders. (Meanwhile, Obama will not travel to the region but has said he will use his fundraiser lists to coordinate volunteers once damage is assessed.) However, McCain could be particularly helpful from his Senate position, if he so chose.

So while Obama is actually doing something productive in anticipation of what is to come, McCain and Palin are exploiting the situation with a trip to the region. There has even been talk, believe it or not, of McCain giving his acceptance speech next Thursday "from the devastation zone."

Which would take the exploitation, photo ops and all, to an even more appalling low.

Anything for Bush, McCain, and the Republicans to look like they care.