It’s remarkable to see the political calculus at play even in the aftermath of a natural disaster like Hurricane Helene, which has wreaked havoc on Georgia and North Carolina. These states are more than just areas on a map—they're critical swing states in the upcoming election, and the devastation has hit some predominantly pro-Trump counties the hardest. Yet, as usual, politics doesn't take a break, and comments from figures like former Obama adviser David Axelrod reveal a rather unsettling perspective.
Axelrod's statements on his podcast "Hacks on Tap" have caused quite a stir, not only for what he said but for the implications behind his words. He seemed almost dismissive of the rural Trump supporters whose homes and lives have been turned upside down by this catastrophe. His remarks focused on the idea that liberal voters in Asheville, North Carolina, despite the devastation, would be resilient and find a way to cast their ballots. "They’re upscale, kind of liberal voters, and they’re probably going to figure out a way to vote," he noted, drawing a stark line between those voters and the rural communities that lean heavily toward Trump.
On his podcast @davidaxelrod says Democrat voters in Asheville, North Carolina are smarter, wealthier and will still show up to vote for Kamala while he thinks Trump voters won’t. This is why Kamala and Biden aren’t helping, they benefit from the disaster: pic.twitter.com/CqCAY0An74
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 4, 2024
What makes this even more striking is Axelrod's suggestion that Trump supporters, facing ruined homes and damaged infrastructure, would have a much harder time navigating the voting process in the storm’s wake. It's as if he’s implying that because they live in rural areas and might be less affluent, they’ll be less capable of overcoming these challenges. There's an undertone here that seems to diminish the intelligence and resourcefulness of these voters, as if they're somehow less able to rise to the occasion compared to their liberal counterparts. This kind of commentary only deepens the divide and fuels a narrative that pits one side against the other, even in the face of a humanitarian crisis.
The real question is why the Biden-Harris administration's response has appeared so slow and lackluster in addressing the needs of these devastated communities. It’s hard not to wonder if there's a cynical political calculation at play. Swift action would mean providing aid to areas that heavily support Trump, and there seems to be little urgency in doing that. The focus, instead, seems to be on how the chaos might sway the political landscape, almost as if the suffering of these communities is just another factor in the electoral strategy.
In between laughing at the false claim that JD Vance was wearing eyeliner at the VP debate, Obama-Harris whisperer David Axelrod said on his podcast that Hurricane Helene’s victims are mainly Trump voters who will find it hard to vote. Affected Democrats from Asheville are… https://t.co/yIqJWvuomh
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) October 4, 2024
Axelrod’s comments feed into the idea that the Democratic leadership might not be in a hurry to extend a helping hand because it’s simply not in their interest to do so. Why rush to assist pro-Trump areas if the chaos could dampen their voter turnout? The insinuation that helping these rural voters would inadvertently help Trump seems to echo through the lack of urgency from the current administration. It’s a tactic that feels more like a chess move than a genuine concern for the lives and well-being of American citizens.
Even more concerning is the broader narrative this approach reveals. Axelrod’s emphasis on how the "upscale, liberal" voters in Asheville will figure things out suggests a belief in the inherent superiority of those voters—a notion that, frankly, smacks of elitism. His words insinuate that the Democratic base is smarter, more resourceful, and therefore more deserving of attention, while rural voters are left to fend for themselves. It's an unfortunate but telling example of how some political leaders view the electorate through a lens of convenience and bias.
I fear that Axelrod's point is why Harris and Biden are letting these people drown. https://t.co/UEJso4bFvU
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) October 4, 2024
The irony, of course, is that in moments like these, unity should be the driving force. Hurricanes don’t discriminate based on political affiliation—they destroy homes, take lives, and upend communities regardless of who you voted for. Yet, the response—or lack thereof—seems to depend all too heavily on whether or not the people in need fit neatly into a political strategy. The American people deserve better than to have their struggles treated as just another opportunity to game the system.