Newsmax host Rob Finnerty and political analyst Mark Halperin clashed Tuesday over whether Vice President Kamala Harris should visit areas affected by Hurricane Helen.
According to NBC News, Harris has not yet visited affected areas in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee, but will do so “as soon as possible without disrupting emergency response efforts.” NBC News said. reported. Mr. Halperin argued on “Wake Up America” that the visit was not yet necessary given the risk of disruption, but Mr. Finnerty countered that he did not believe there was a valid excuse for not visiting. (Related: Wild scenes emerge as America prepares for deadly hurricane)
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“Rob, in my experience, cable news anchors care more about the timing of the president's or vice president's visit to the disaster area than the people on the ground who just want water, cell phone service, and roads open.” Halperin said. “So, she'll go. But I can give the impression that people in North Carolina and Georgia are clamoring for a photo op, but from conversations I've had with Republicans and Democrats. I don't think it's coming. They want federal aid. They want local aid. They don't care about photography. No.”
Finnerty later pointed out that former President Barack Obama said: visited In 2012, I surveyed the damage caused by Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey.
“He did the right thing. Did he divert resources? Did he save search-and-rescue and clean-up efforts? No, he was on the ground as a commander-in-chief and a would-be commander-in-chief. 's job is in optics. So don't say this about how the media cares about optics,” he said. “The reason the media cares about optics is because we represent the people, right? It's the trust of the people… Kamala needs to be there. She doesn't need to be standing in the water in Asheville. No. But she has to be on the ground, not in the field. [Federal Emergency Management Agency] FEMA headquarters. Mark, please. I just don't buy that. ”
The Newsmax host added that Harris' response to the hurricane could affect her loss in the November election.
“The only thing we disagree on is the question of whether it is some fatal mistake not to go to the area tomorrow or today instead of in a few days.” What I mean is: , when a president or vice president leaves office, business stops, and not just because they're trying to do the right thing, but because they just have no interest in intervening in that way,” Finnerty said. Mr. Halperin said before interrupting. he.
Hurricane Helen made landfall on Thursday, and as of Monday, the total death toll was more than 130 and up to 600 missing. According to To the Associated Press.
“Honestly, I think it's a pretty big deal about what you know. It's a story that's been told for as long as I've been alive. 'Well, presidents don't want to get into that. Because it wastes resources and takes away search and rescue and allocates police to that.'' There are ways around that. “Barack Obama knew he had to win the 2012 election with 35 days left, so he found a way around this problem,” Finnerty said. “So he was in New Jersey with the governor of New Jersey. I don't remember ever hearing anything like, 'Oh my God, everything stopped because we had Barack Obama.' It's a media person, Mark, you've been in the media for 30 years. you know it. You know that much too. She can go if she wants to. ”
Halperin said President Joe Biden and Harris are “doing everything they can to avoid suffering politically from this,” but Finnerty suggested there was more they could do. The political analyst said the administration has “done a lot,” including calling on governors and providing resources to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
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