Obama anger at MI water crisis

President Barack Obama was in Detroit this week, touting the accomplishments of an industry he actively worked to help in the early days of his administration.

“If I were a parent up there, I would be beside myself that my kid’s health could be at risk”, Obama said after touring a auto show in nearby Detroit. On Tuesday, he met with Mayor Karen Weaver at the White House to discuss the water crisis.

“I’m not gonna tell you all what I’m buying now”, Obama said when people in the crowd started shouting out suggestions for his next vehicle purchase, though he did admit that his first new auto was a Jeep Grand Cherokee.

“It is a reminder of why you can’t shortchange basic services that we provide to our people”, Obama said.

But he declined to make a major disaster declaration, finding that the situation “does not meet the legal definition of a ‘major disaster'”.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder asked Obama on Wednesday to reconsider his denial of a federal disaster declaration to address the drinking water crisis, saying its severity poses an “imminent and long-term threat” to residents.

Complaints about Flint’s water began within a month after the city switched to Flint River water in April 2014 to save money. Corrosive water from the river, known locally as a dumping ground, caused more lead to leach from Flint pipes than Detroit water did.

In addition, the White House also sent Nicole Lurie, the deputy secretary for preparedness at the Department of Health and Human Services, to coordinate federal efforts in Flint.

The White House said that Obama reiterated to Weaver that his administration will continue to support state and local officials in their response.

Hillary Clinton brought more attention the problem – and its potential political ramifications – when she declared during Sunday’s presidential candidate debate that “every single American should be outraged” by the water crisis. After counting loan repayments, dividends and stock sales, the federal government recovered $70.5 billion.

Obama is portraying himself as a leader who doesn’t take the easy way out.

Automakers use the show to unveil new products and technology.

When he wanted to help US carmakers, the president said, many were opposed.

Even three years later as Americans looked back, a slight majority said they disapproved of the bailout, with Republicans opposing it by a 3-to-1 margin, Gallup said.