It is troubling when the partisans take advantage of catastrophes. I remember the carping about President Bush and Mayor Giuliani going to Ground Zero after 9/11 and being accused of grandstanding and photo ops. But, if they hadn’t, they would have been sniped at for not showing leadership, even though they didn’t have any better answers than the first responders.
Now we have partisans from the other side here that are accusing Gov. Inslee, and I’m sure President Obama when he arrives, of grandstanding. As noted in the Saturday article in the Herald, a bearded older man “joked” at a Darrington informational meeting to “save your questions for April 22nd for the big guy (Obama).” Just accept that figureheads show up with the (our) money as they have done at bombings, tidal waves, hurricanes, oil spills, fires, droughts, etc., for years, and will continue to do so. But they only have answers to big, policy questions. Not little questions like when will the road open, when can we visit the area, and when can we rebuild. In others words, do as your mother probably told you, “If you can’t say something nice, then just shut up.” At least at human tragedies.
Bill Severson
Stanwood
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
