In the midst of what may be the worst crisis in our nation's history, the coronavirus pandemic with nearly 50,000 dead, our country is led by cruel, heartless idiots.
Sen. Mitch McConnell thinks states that are facing economic disaster because of the coronavirus should just declare bankruptcy and shouldn't be "bailed out" by the federal government.
Yep, that's what he said Wednesday in two network interviews. He was also quick to point out that somehow it's mostly Democratic-majority states that are suffering the worst, like New York.
“I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route,” McConnell said. “It saves some cities. And there’s no good reason for it not to be available. My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don’t have to do that. That’s not something I’m going to be in favor of.”
And our genius, ever-so-wise, empathetic president, asked this evening in his daily press briefing if he thought bankruptcy was a good idea, equivocated as usual, but said the idea has been discussed. "We'll look at it...we'll see what happens."
Really? But then why should we be surprised. Trump is the king of bankruptcy, right? Remember those casinos?
“This is really one of the dumb ideas of all time,” New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) said Thursday, warning that bankruptcy declarations by multiple states would lead to “a collapse of this national economy.”
Incredible.
Haley Tweets In
Then, former South Carolina governor and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a tweet that she pretty much agreed with #MoscowMitch. "States should always plan for a rainy day just like any business," she said. "I disagree that states should take Fed money or be bailed out. This will lead to taxpayers paying for mismanagement of poorly run states. States need to tighten up, make some cuts, and manage."
Uh, uh. Rainy day fund? So for New York state to have prepared for the devastation of the coronavirus pandemic, they would have needed a tsunami fund, not a rainy day fund.
Haley's post came as Covid-19 deaths neared 50,000 in the U.S.; 49,885 to be exact had been recorded as this is written at 7 p.m. April 23.
Trump, in his comments at his briefing, seemed to agree that states that have struggled financially even before the coronavirus struck -- many of them what he called "Democrat states" -- may not deserve financial help, although he said another aid package would be negotiated with Congress, and "we'll see."
The Last Word
Cuomo got it right when he called McConnell out for his idiotic statement. (See video above for more.)
"Yes, airlines are important. Yes, small business is important. So are police, and fire, and healthcare workers who are the frontline workers. And when you don't fund the state, then the state can't fund those services. It makes no sense to me."
"States should declare bankruptcy? That's how you're going to bring this national economy back?" Cuomo asked. "You want to see that market fall through the celler? Let New York State declare bankruptcy."
Cuomo continued:
"Vicious is Sen. McConnell saying this is a blue state bailout. What he's saying is that if you look at the states that have coronavirus problems, they tend to be Democratic states....Don't help New York State because it is a Democratic state. How ugly a thought. Just think of what he's saying. People died. Fifteen thousand people died in New York, but they were predominately Democrat. So why should we help them? If there was ever a time for humanity and decency, now is the time.
"And if there was ever a time to stop your political, obsessive bias and anger, which is what it's morphed into, now is the time. And you want to politically divide this nation now with all that's going on? How irresponsible and how reckless."
Reckless, divisive, cruel. But typically Republican.
This pandemic is tough enough on every American, especially those who have suffered, lost loved ones, lost their jobs and incomes, and who are working day and night without proper protection and equipment -- because of Trump's failings -- to keep other victims from dying.
Lucky for Republicans, though, because, if you hear McConnell and Haley correctly, the coronavirus is a Democratic disease and Republicans are immune.