The Issue: Sen. Tom Coburn’s calls for federal disaster aid to be offset with cuts and free of pork.
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I don’t see a problem with Sen. Tom Coburn’s position on federal disaster aid (“Making Oklahoma OK,” Editorial, May 22).
He just wants it to be spent wisely during a crisis — and there seems to be a new crisis every other day since Obama took office. On the days between crises, there are scandals.
I hope that Oklahoma’s citizens get what they need, and I hope the politicians keep their fat, greedy hands out of the pot. Charlie Honadel
Staten Island
The Oklahoma tornado is already being politicized, due to the fact that some conservative members of Congress voted against Sandy aid.
Say the Red Cross used a disaster to raise contributions and then disgracefully spent a portion of that money to buy new furniture for several of its offices far from the disaster, or to buy new cars for its executives.
Wouldn’t we have the right to object and question whether we would allow its leadership to continue?
Wouldn’t we have the right to question whether our contributions were being properly used?
So why is it fine for politicians to do something just like that with our tax dollars without being questioned and without consequences?
Those rare, brave politicians who protest allocating funds to help disaster victims, and then see self-serving crooks waste a good part of those contributions on non-disaster activities, should be praised rather than vilified. Jim Bitros
Manhattan
Such a devastating tragedy in Oklahoma. Our prayers are with you.
As always, we will open up our hearts and wallets to help you. We admire your strength.
Tommy DeJulio
New Rochelle