An article in the New York Daily News today gives, if nothing else, an example of how Republican Party dogmatism conquers all, including common sense and demonstrable damage to a congressman’s own constituents.
The bombastic Republican Rep. Pete King of Long Island has given $1,000 to the Senate campaign of extremist Tom Cotton, the Republican running against U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor.
Tom Cotton??
In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Rep. Pete King said he would “not forget” House and Senate Republicans who “put a knife in the back of New Yorkers” by voting against federal aid for storm victims.
“Anyone from New York or New Jersey who contributes one penny to (them) is out of their minds,” he said.
Remember Tom Cotton couldn’t have been more disdainful of the needs of King’s people.
Nearly one year ago, on Feb. 18, 2013, Cotton spoke with disdain about the idea that his state — which receives far more in federal aid than it pays in federal taxes — should help to bail out Sandy victims in New York and neighboring states.
“I don’t think Arkansas needs to be bailing out the Northeast,” Cotton said back then.
He railed that the Sandy aid bill had been “larded up by New York politicians,” according to a report by a Russellville, Ark., newspaper.
The lesson here? If the day comes that Arkansas needs King’s vote for disaster relief, he’s free to tell us to get screwed, comfortable in the knowledge that, if his own example means anything, that Cotton would still contribute to his announced campaign for president.
King explained his support for Cotton because of his admiration for his hawkish defense posture. Guns over butter. Warring around the globe is more important to these jokers than helping people inundated by storm waters and buffeted by hurricane winds.