Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Henrietta Hughes facing homelessness asks Obama for help

President Obama is in Ft Meyers, FL today holding his second town hall meeting and a woman named Henrietta Hughes stood up, was crying, let him know she is facing homelessness and asked for his help. He went over to her, hugged her and told her his staff will look into seeing what can be done to help her.

Ms. Hughes just became an instant celebrity and we bet media is falling all over themselves to talk to her. The good news is she might get her much needed help, however we expect her struggle to be scrutinized.

Ms. Hughes could very well become the face of the need for the stimulus bill.

This might be Obama's "I feel your pain" moment.

15 comments:

Unknown said...

WHAT A HACK, SHE WAS STRATEGICALLY PLACED IN THE CROWD FOR THE PURPOSE OF GAINING SYMPATHY!! SO SHE NEEDS A KITCHEN AND A BATHROOM WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO, GIVE HER WHAT SHE WANTS OR ARE GONNA SET HER ON A PATH TO EARN IT LIKE EVERY OTHER AMERICAN!!!! SOCIALISM!!!!!!!

Curious Texan said...

Asking the President of the United States for a new car, bathroom and kitchen reminds me of the old Janis Joplin song (paraphrased for the occasion):

Barack, won't ya buy me a Mercedes Benz?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.
Barack, won't ya buy me a Mercedes Benz?

Barack, won't ya buy me a color TV?
Dialin' for Dollars is tryin' to reach me.
I wait for delivery each day until three.
Barack, won't ya buy me a color TV?

Barack, won't ya buy me a night on the town?
I'm countin' on you now, please don't let me down.
Prove that ya love me, and buy the next round.
Barack, won't ya buy me a night on the town?

Real American said...

Boo hoo. What a loser. These pathetic figures are going so disappointed when they find out The Hope is actually The Great Dictator. What a bunch of fools.

celeste said...

You can all call her what you want-its a free country. But you can't deny that too many americans live on the edge today-paycheck to to paycheck. Homelessness is all too easy to succomb to given the right circumstances-job loss, bills stack up-and you've lost everything. A little compassion, please?

Curious Texan said...

An interesting postscript to the saga of Henrietta Hughes:

Ms. Hughes has been given a house by Chene Thompson, the wife of Florida state representative Nick Thompson. Neighbors helping neighbors, without the ubiquitous government mucking it up.

Oh, by the way, Representative Thompson (and presumably his wife) are Republicans.

When it comes to compassion, Democrats talk a good game and expect the taxpayers to foot the bill. Republicans actually do something.

Curious Texan said...

Wouldn't it be great (and in the spirit of bipartisanship), if the Obamas followed the lead of the Thompsons, and gave that big house of theirs in Chicago to some deserving homeless family in the Windy City?

I wonder how many rich politicians with more than one residence would take the hint and do the same thing.

P.S. Not to be too much of a cynic, but I've got a feeling that the Henrietta Hughes story is going to disappear, or at least the media won't report that her benefactors are Republicans.

But I could be wrong.

celeste said...

Hey, curious texan...I think most of america has had enough of what the republicans do to the economy in this country. Tax cuts to the wealthy don't work, or we wouldn't be in this situation! If we were all rich corporations, the republicans would help us! Let's not forget the war our last president got us into. Let's all get onto the same team, stop this bi-partisan war, and ACTUALLY fix these problems our country is facing. Because we are all AMERICANS. First and foremost.

celeste said...

"When it comes to compassion, Democrats talk a good game and expect the taxpayers to foot the bill. Republicans actually do something."
Yes, the last eight years with a republican president made our economy strong. He left us with a huge surplus in our budget. We are all much better off now than we were eight years ago. Hold on-our economy is tanked. The last time we had a democratic president, and he left office-there was a surplus in our budget. Our economy was doing well. And we weren't in a war we didn't belong in. Face it. Republicans can talk the talk, but the proof is so to speak in the pudding.

Curious Texan said...

Hey Celeste,
Wanna make any bets whether the Obamas give a homeless family the use of their mansion in Chicago while they're in free government housing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?

Catamariner said...

So, was she strategically placed (a Democratic plot) or was she strategically rescued (a Republican plot?) or is it just what it looked like, and there are decent Republicans still in their party just as there are decent Democrats. And Curious Texan, you should work on assembling your presidential library, now, stop posting to blogs when you have so much to do :-)

celeste said...

I'm an American. You are an Ameican. Whether this was a plot or not, wondering about it will not give you or I the answers we are looking for. It happened. It's over. I pray nobody in this little blog have to experience homelessness due to the economic hard times we're going through.

That having been said-I won't bet whether or not Obama will give his home away. I doubt so. Do they have numerous homes? I don't know. But I do know that he was not born rich or entitled, and worked hard, worked his way through college, and also through life-and earned everything he has today. He is the American dream realized. I'm happy it is still alive today. He makes me proud to be an American-and yes, for the first time in at least eight years. Maybe more.

Curious Texan said...

I too pray that none of us will have to experience homelessness, for any reason. But if that were to happen, which would you rather have: the President of the United States give you a hug and a promise that his staff will look into it; or a private citizen with an extra house who stands up and delivers?

Do the Obamas have numerous homes? I don't know either, but what I do know is that they've got one vacant house in Chicago for the next four years. From what I've read recently, the Thompsons have given Ms. Hughes use of their second house for as long as she needs. Hopefully, that won't be more than four years. Couldn't the Obamas do the same for a homeless family in Chicago until they get back on their feet?

I believe in the American Dream, too. But the American Dream was never realized through long-term dependence on government programs. I understand Ms. Hughes's adult son has been living with her in their car. I don't know all of his circumstances, but wouldn't it be wonderful if he followed the example of President Obama and "worked hard, worked his way through college, and also through life-and earned" a bright future for himself and his mom? Hopefully, now that Chene and Nick Thompson have provided a roof over their heads, he'll seize the opportunity.

To paraphrase your original post, Ms. Thompson could very well become the face of Republican generosity.

And as far as being proud to be an American: I am too - and have been for all of my nearly 59 years on this earth. I was proud enough to serve in the United States Army for 20 years under five Commanders-in-Chief: four Republicans and one Democrat. My pride didn't depend on who occupied that position, because America is greater than any one person or political party. Has this country made mistakes over the years? You bet! But it's still the "last best hope of earth" (to quote Abraham Lincoln).

celeste said...

Curious Texan, I agree wholeheartedly with you. I do think, however-that there might be security and privacy reasons the Obamas might not be able to lend out there home for the next four years. You know, people might pay to have a tour, or someone might plant a bomb or something in it. I believe Mr. Obama has had a few death threats, so as far as that goes, I don't think its a good idea. In theory, though-its a wonderful idea.
God bless us all, and God bless America. America is indeed the "last best hope of earth" to quote both your quote and Abraham Lincoln.

Fozzie said...

Today 211 centers across the country are celebrating National 2-1-1 Day, February 11th (2-11). It's a day to be proud.
Since the FCC set aside 2-1-1 (July 2000) for general health and human service information and referral programs, 75% of the US population now has access to 211 services. Last year, 211 centers across the United States, answered over 14 MILLION TELEPHONE calls from people who were needing help and didn't know where to turn!

It's because of your on-going support that 2-1-1 is here for those who don't know where to turn when they need help!

Curious Texan said...

On final comment, and then I'll give this story a well-deserved rest.

Here's a quote from an article in the Fort Myers News-Press:

"While local and national media swarmed Henrietta Hughes for interviews, Chene Thompson, wife of State Rep. Nick Thompson, grabbed Hughes’ hand and offered them a house."

"The house is in LaBelle, the first home Chene Thompson bought after law school."

“'Just give me the opportunity to help you,' Chene Thompson told her."

"But as of Tuesday night, the Hughes had not contacted the Thompsons about coming to see the house. Their cell phone is out of minutes, so it is nearly impossible to get in touch with them." [Emphasis added]

So much for seizing the opportunity.

If I were homeless (and I thank the Lord that I'm not), I would find someone, anyone who could help me get me in touch with the one person who's offered to give me a home. It kind of makes you wonder how hard they've been trying to find employment. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.

Here's a link to the article.

Funny, isn't it, that there's no mention of the party affiliation of the Thompsons. Maybe it's because everyone in Fort Myers knows that the Thompsons are Republicans. But if he'd been caught in a compromising situation (like David Vitter or Larry Craig), it would have been "Republican State Rep. Nick Thompson."