Personal Matters?
People take cover at the Ft. Lauderdale Airport on January 6, 2017. (Allen Eyestone / The Palm Beach Post)
America shuttered last Friday when Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida became the scene of the most recent mass shooting.
The gunman, who is now in police custody, was identified as Esteban Santiago. Santiago opened fire at a baggage claim. Five were killed and nine were injured.
Florida Governor Rick Scott later gave a statement at a press conference and revealed that instead of talking to President Barack Obama, he spoke with President-elect Donald Trump. When pressed as to why the governor responded that,
“This is not the time to be political.”
On the internet, particularly Democrats, were quick to respond with backlash without understanding the context of Scott and Obama’s relationship.
In the past, Obama has neglected Florida. The outgoing president had refused direct contact with the governor, even when Florida experienced the worst mass shooting in history…
Backlash
Rick Scott following Pulse Night Club attack. (Associated Press)
Obama did not reach out to Scott when Orlando, Florida experienced graoss during the Pulse Nightclub shooting last June 12, 2016. However, Obama was able to directly contact California Governor Jerry Brown over the state’s wildfires. The outgoing president also reached out to Missouri Governor Jay Nixon before the report from Ferguson’s grand jury was released.
Donald Trump was one of the first people to reach out to Scott after the attack.
Adding insult to injury
Adding to this, the Florida Governor’s website released a statement revealing that Obama refused to declare a state of emergency in Florida after the shooting.
By denying the request, the federal government could not provide the $5 million requested by Governor Scott “to help with emergency response efforts, law enforcement response, emergency medical care, counseling services, and other social services to assist victims.”
Much of the funds needed to help the victims had come from volunteer work and donations as the White House had chosen to be partisan in a grave time of need.
Why Governor Scott decided that Trump was more reliable than Obama in a time of need is obvious.
