While our
president still enjoys his essential employees and locations: the White House
chefs, Camp David, and a military golf course, there doesn't seem to be any
question that in mercenary pursuit of a political win, this White House is
determined to unreasonably punish as many everyday people as possible. And this
includes children sick with cancer. That might sound like hyperbole, but it is not.
Although Barack
Obama's chefs have been deemed "essential," employees at the National
Institutes of Health who offer last-chance experimental cancer treatments for
children suffering from cancer have not. Worse still, House Republicans have offered to
compromise with the president and single the NIH out for funding.
The White House has threatened a veto.
Using children
sick with cancer as pawns is community organizing on steroids. And the media
are covering for him. When the media thought they could emotionally blackmail
the GOP with these sick children, telling their story was all the rage. Now
that it is Obama and Senate Democrats wrist-flicking refusing treatment for
these children, suddenly the media aren't too interested in telling their
story.
There are many
other examples of this president's cold-hearted fanaticism and willingness to
punish people for reasons that seem to have much more to with spite than what
is and is not "essential." In fact, there are a number of examples
where Obama seems to be spending more money and using more resources to close
and block and inconvenience than to just leave it alone.
The media may or
may not report on these individual occurrences, but what they will never do is
provide the American people with the full context and scope of Obama's shrill
pettiness.
Below is a list
of illogical, unnecessary, and shockingly spiteful moves our government is
making in the name of essential and non-essential.
1. Treatments for
Children Suffering From Cancer - The GOP have agreed to a compromise by funding
part of the government, including the National Institutes of Health, which
offers children with cancer last-chance experimental treatment. Obama has
threatened to veto this funding.
2. The World War II
Memorial - The
WWII memorial on the DC Mall is a 24/7 open-air memorial that is not regularly
staffed. Although the White House must have known that WWII veterans in their
eighties and nineties had already booked flights to visit this memorial, the
White House still found the resources to spitefully barricade the attraction.
The Republican
National Committee has offered to cover any costs required to keep the memorial
open. The White House refused. Moreover, like the NIH, the GOP will pass a
compromise bill that would fund America's national parks. Obama has threatened
to veto that bill.
3. Furloughed
Military Chaplains Not Allowed to Work for Free - Furloughed military chaplains willing to
celebrate Mass and baptisms for free have been told they will be punished for
doing so.
4. Business Stops
In Florida Keys - Although the GOP have agreed to compromise in the ongoing budget stalemate
and fund the parks, Obama has threatened to veto that funding. As a result,
small businesses, hunters, and commercial fisherman can't practice their trade.
While the feds have deemed the personnel necessary to keep this area open
"non-essential," the "enforcement officers" to ensure no
business is done are "essential."
5. Obama Blacks Out
Sports, Entertainment Programming to Overseas Troops - The American Forces Network (AFN) that
provides American sports and entertainment programming to our troops stationed
abroad, has been shut down. For some reason, though, AFN News will still
broadcast news, just not any of the popular and fun stuff.
Camp David is
essential, but popular programming for heroes overseas is non-essential.
6. Obama Closes
D-Day Memorial - The GOP have offered to compromise and fund the National Parks. Obama has
said he will veto this compromise legislation. As a result, along with 24 other
military cemeteries, the D-Day memorial in Normandy has been barricaded.
7. Obama Tries to
Close Privately-Funded Mt. Vernon - Although George Washington's Mt. Vernon estate
is privately funded, the feds blocked visitors from entering the parking area
because the Park Service maintains the lot. Apparently, the New Media publicity
resulted in the feds backing down.
8. Obama Closes
Over 100 Privately-Managed Parks That Cost No Money to Run - The U.S. Treasury actually makes money
from the rent paid by a private company that "employs about 400-500 camp
workers and managers across about a dozen states." No federal money is
used to operate these parks. No federal employees are used to staff these
parks. Taxpayers make a profit from these parks. Still, Obama had them closed
and as a result 400-500 employees and a private business are taking it in the
neck.
9. Obama Closes
Self-Sustaining Colonial Farm It Hasn’t Supported Since 1980 - "For the first time in 40 years, the
National Park Service (NPS) has finally succeeded in closing the Farm down to
the public. In previous budget dramas, the Farm has always been exempted since
the NPS provides no staff or resources to operate the Farm.”
10. Obama Tries to
Close State-Run Parks in Wisconsin - "The park service ordered state officials
to close the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine, Devil's Lake, and Interstate
state parks and the state-owned portion of the Horicon Marsh, but state
authorities rebuffed the request because the lion's share of the funding came
from state, not federal coffers."
11. Obama Closes
Vietnam Memorial - The GOP have passed compromise legislation that would fund national
memorials and parks, and open them to the public. Obama threatened a veto.
Apparently, the "essential" government employees are those erecting
barricades, not those who could keep the memorial open.
12. Obama Closes Privately-Owned
Hotel, Police Block Parking Lot - "The operator of a 51-room inn located on
U.S. government-owned land in North Carolina abandoned his defiant stance on
Thursday to keep the property open despite being ordered to close as part of
the federal government shutdown."
October is this
inn's prime season. The GOP have offered compromise funding opening the parks.
Obama said he will veto that compromise.
State troopers blocked
customers from entering the inn's parking lot.
13. Park Service
Ranger: 'We've Been Told to Make Life As Difficult For People As We Can'
- “It’s a cheap way to
deal with the situation,” an angry Park Service ranger in Washington says of
the harassment. “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we
can. It’s disgusting.”
14. Obama Forces
Residents Out of Private Homes - "The government shutdown is being felt
close to home for some locals. They say they're being forced out of private
homes on Lake Mead because they sit on federal land."
The GOP have
agreed to fund the parks. Obama has threatened a veto.
15. Acadia Park In
Maine Shut Down - '"We’ve been training for two years at CrossFit for this hike — no
kidding,” Hart said. She added that the shutdown should be as inconvenient for
the Washington politicians who caused it as it is for average citizens.'
The GOP have
agreed to fund the parks. Obama said he will veto.
16. Historic
Restaurant Open During Last Shutdown Forced to Close - "An iconic Philadelphia restaurant
has been forced to close its doors and turn away booked parties because of the
government shutdown. …
"Restaurant
public relations director Molly Yun said they were notified there was a
possibility a closure might happen, but they were allowed to remain open during
the last government shutdown 17 years ago."
The restaurant is
part of the federal park system, which the GOP have agreed to fund. Obama said
he will veto the funding.
17. Obama Shuts Down
a Road That Goes Through CO Park: "The Forest Service announcement, in turn, led the
Pitkin County commissioners to order that Maroon Creek Road be shut down at the
height of the colorful leaf-changing season. Ahead of what is to be one of the
busiest weekends of the fall, the road is to be closed to vehicles at T-Lazy-7
Ranch, pending a resolution to the government shutdown."
The GOP have
agreed to fund the parks. Obama said he will veto that compromise funding.
18. Residents Plan
Protest of Cape Hatteras Closing - "Businesses and residents on the Outer
Banks have planned a peaceful protest of the closure of Hatteras Island's
beaches due to the government shut down.
"The U.S.
House Wednesday passed a measure to reopen national parks and monuments. It
will now go to the U.S. Senate."
In the unlikely
event the Democrat Senate passes the bill, Obama has threatened a veto of any
compromise legislation opening the parks.
19. Obama Blocks
People From LOOKING at Mt. Rushmore - "Blocking access to trails and programs at
South Dakota’s most popular attraction was one thing, but state officials
didn’t expect Congress’ budget stalemate to shut down a view of Mount Rushmore.
"The
National Park Service placed cones along highway viewing areas outside Mount
Rushmore this week, barring visitors from pulling over and taking pictures of
the famed monument.
The cones first
went up Oct. 1, said Dusty Johnson, Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s chief of staff. The
state asked that they be taken down, and federal officials did so with some of
them. The state was told the cones were a safety precaution to help channel
cars into viewing areas rather than to bar their entrance."
20. Crucial USDA
Websites Taken Down - "The U.S. Department of Agriculture has turned off its entire
website in response to the government shutdown, leaving farmers, reporters and
others with no way to access any of the agency's information online. …
"USDA's
total website shutdown goes far beyond the response of other federal agencies,
and seems to be part of an effort to make people feel the effects of the
shutdown. Thursday morning calls to USDA's press office seeking an explanation
were not answered."
This website is
down and yet the ObamaCare and White House websites are up.
21. St. Louis
Gateway Arch Closed - The GOP have agreed to compromise legislation funding the parks. Obama has
threatened a veto.
22. Park Shutdown
Bounces Rowers from Potomac - "The ripple effect of a government
shutdown has pushed rowers from the Potomac River.
"Multiple
high schools rent space at the Thompson Boat Center in Georgetown. But like
other places controlled by the National Park Service, it closed Tuesday
morning."
The GOP have
agreed to compromise funding opening the parks. Obama has threatened a veto.
23. Thompson Boat Center Closed In DC
- The GOP have agreed to fund the parks. Obama said he will veto.
24. Obama Closes
Military Commissary - "Military members, veterans and families who shop at local tax-free
store are shocked to discover the store's doors locked; no progress to end
stalemate in Washington."
While the
government has deemed the White House chefs "essential," working
class military personnel have lost their tax-free store privileges.
Military
personnel and their families tell me that they have never lost these privileges
in previous shutdowns.
25. Arizona Offers
to Fund Grand Canyon, Obama Says 'Drop Dead' - "Obama has ordered
the Grand Canyon to stay closed, even after the state of Arizona and local
businesses have offered to cover the costs necessary to keep it open. In other
words, the shutdown isn’t about the money — it’s about hurting the American
people just because he can."
26. Amber Alert
Website Taken Offline - CNN reported that bad press was a factor in the site going back up.
Why would White
House chefs and Obama's golf course be categorized as "essential,"
while the government classified as "non-essential" the Amber Alert
website?
Of course, this
is the same Obama threatening to veto cancer treatments for children.
27. Miramar Air Show
Canceled With One-Day Notice -“The emotional and economic impacts of losing
this year’s event are great, and I’m extremely disappointed in the political
dysfunction that brought us to this point,” Gloria said.
"Proceeds
from the event go to programs that support families of military personnel, he
said."
28. At Start of Peak
Season, Shutdown Closes Peaks of Otter Lodge - "Although the Blue Ridge Parkway
remains open to travelers, the Peaks of Otter Lodge cannot stay open while the
National Park Service is not operating during to the government shutdown. With
no Congressional compromise reached by the end of the day Monday, the lodge’s
restaurant shut down and guests were given 48 hours to find somewhere else to
stay."
The GOP have
agreed to compromise and fund the parks. Obama has threatened a veto.
29. Federal Prison
Guards Not Getting Paid, Inmates Are - "Most of the employees at the federal
prison in Forrest City are working without knowing when they will get a
paycheck because of the government shutdown, but some of the inmates who get
paid for the work they do inside will have no problem collecting their
money."
30. Family that Paid
$2,000 for Permit Not Allowed to Raft - "Sorry for the inconvenience," it
read.
That's when rangers told them they wouldn't be able to put in on the river the next day, despite having paid $2,000 for a permit to do so.
The news was shattering, Scott Lee said.
That's when rangers told them they wouldn't be able to put in on the river the next day, despite having paid $2,000 for a permit to do so.
The news was shattering, Scott Lee said.
The GOP have
agreed to fund the parks. Obama has threatened a veto.
31. Although Privately
Funded, Historic Ford's Theater Closed - "Ford's Theatre,
which is a private non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, does not use any federal
funding or federal employees for its performances. During previous government
shutdowns, the theatre has continued performances."
32. King Crab Season
Threatened by Government Shutdown - "The Alaska king crab season is set to
start soon, but all the fishing boats will have to stay docked because the
government must sign off on permits and quotas.
"Fisherman stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars unless lawmakers make a compromise."
"Fisherman stand to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars unless lawmakers make a compromise."
Obama's golf
course is open. So is the website for Michelle Obama's "Let's Move."
33. Children Might
Lose School Lunches - "Minnesotans are adjusting to the
partial government shutdown, but if it lingers too long, there is a chance the
300,000 kids who rely on free or reduced lunches at school could go
hungry."
The White House
chefs have not been furloughed.
34. Feds Shut Down
Major Roadway, Puts Children's Lives at Risk - "Nearly a third of Blount County is
inside the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. So when the federal government
shut down the park, it also shut down one of the area’s chief sources of
revenue.
"The
children live in the eastern Tennessee community of Top of the World – serviced
by School Bus 49. Normally, the bus travels along the Foothills Parkway. Other
roads leading to the isolated mountain community are impassible by bus.
"“It’s
dangerous,” said Nancy Kemp, the spokesperson for Blount County Schools.”It’s
very curvy and straight up the mountain. It’s just not a safe route.”"
The GOP have
offered compromise legislation funding the parks. Obama has threatened a veto.
35. Road to Brasstown Bald Closed
During Peak Season - "It's not unusual for the road to the top of Brasstown Bald, the
highest point in Georgia, to be closed in the winter months but in early
October, with "leaf-looking" season just around the corner?
"The Georgia
Department of Transporation (GDOT) announced Monday, though, that it is, in
fact, closed. Why? At the request of the U.S. Forest Service and because of the
government shutdown. The forest service operates the facilities on top of the
mountain as well as the visitors center at its base."
The GOP have
offered compromise legislation to open the parks. Obama has threatened a veto.
