TheQuartering [10/1/2022]

According to TheDailyMail:

Vice President Kamala Harris was slammed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ rapid response director Christina Pushaw after the former senator made racially charged comments regarding the release of federal relief funds following Hurricane Ian. 

Speaking at the Democratic National Committee’s Women’s Leadership Forum on Friday, Harris said that it was people of color and lower-income communities who are ‘most impacted by these extreme [weather] conditions.’   

The devastation inflicted on Florida came into focus a day after Ian struck as a monstrous Category 4 hurricane, one of the strongest storms ever to hit the U.S. 

It flooded homes on both the state’s coasts, cut off the only road access to a barrier island, destroyed a historic waterfront pier and knocked out electricity to 2.67 million Florida homes and businesses — nearly a quarter of utility customers.  

Harris, 57, was discussing climate change with actress Priyanka Chopra in Washington, DC when she made her comments.

The vice president continued: ‘I know we are all thinking about the families in Florida and Puerto Rico with [Hurricane] Fiona and what we need to do to help them in terms of an immediate response and aid.’

She went on: ‘We have to address this in a way that is about giving resources based on equity, understanding that we fight for equality, but we also need to fight for equity.’

Harris added: ‘Understanding not everyone starts out at the same place, and if we want people to be in an equal place, sometimes we have to take into account those disparities.’

Just a few hours later, Pushaw took Harris to task over her comments. She tweeted: ‘This is false. @VP’s rhetoric is causing undue panic and must be clarified. FEMA Individual Assistance is already available to all Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian, regardless of race or background.’

Pushaw went on to encourage her followers who need assistance in the wake of the hurricane to call 1-800-621-3362 or log on to Disasterassistance.gov. 

Pushaw, who formerly worked as DeSantis’ press secretary, followed up her original message saying: ‘The @VP needs to correct what she said as well. A real journalist would simply ask her to clarify what she meant by those comments and why she misrepresented the relief effort.’

The world’s wealthiest man, Elon Musk, joined in on calling out Harris.