Joplin Tornado Political Damage?: Forbes Predicts Congressman Billy Long Will be Looking for Work

Congressman Billy Long is in a pickle. Running on the theme he is "fed up" with big government, Congressman Long has avoided any confrontation with House leader Eric Cantor who made aid to Joplin a budget issue earlier in the week. Cantor stated there will be no federal aid for Joplin, and Long remained quiet afterwards never condemning Cantor for making this an issue.

Throughout Missouri and in much of the nation people are seeing Billy Long as a man without a backbone, not willing to even issue a statement against Cantor's coldness. A writer at Forbes believes Long's lack of support for his constituents exemplified by the very fact Long won't stand up against Cantor and for the people of Joplin will lead to a short political career for Congressman Billy Long.

Earlier this week when Duane Graham, a Joplin resident who lives two blocks from the major damage, asked Long to address Cantor's statement. Long walked away from the Joplin resident.

Forbes points out when challenged, Billy Long didn't fight Cantor. He just hoped the statement would go away--never issuing a statement of showing any fire in his belly to challenge the House leader. Remember, Billy Long ran on the platform he was "fed up" of career politicians, and Cantor fits the mold.

Forbes writes about Billy Long cowering to Eric Cantor:

Setting aside what most of us may feel about Congressman Cantor’s rather heartless engagement with this heartbreaking situation, it turns out that Joplin is represented in Congress by a Tea Party backed Republican named Billy Long – one of the angry freshmen elected to Congress on a platform of being ‘fed up’ with career politicians and who ran on the motto that he was “Tea Party before Tea Party was cool.”

So, what is a Tea Party Congressman – dedicated to smaller government and individual responsibility – to do when the very people who are hurt and in serious need of federal assistance are the same people who sent him to Congress in support of his uber-conservative beliefs?

In Long’s case, the answer -so far- has been to do nothing as he weighs his ideological commitment against the dramatic needs of his constituents and the political damage that might follow whatever decision he makes.

Oklahoma publication, Tulsa World, first reported that Long told them upon his arrival in his district following the disaster, that his first priority was ensuring that Joplin received speedy assistance from the federal government. However, upon learning of Cantor’s position on the subject, Long has clammed-up, refusing to say where he stands.

Big mistake.

Forbes concludes:

It’s time for Republicans to turn away from Eric Cantor style ideology and remember that, at the end of the day, it’s all about people. And while we can differ on the solutions that will have the best result, there are certain needs that supersede ideology and politics – and Joplin, Missouri is clearly an example of such a need.

Besides, it’s good politics.

Don’t believe it? Check in next November on the status of Billy Long’s Congressional career.

I have a feeling that this Tea Partier from a Tea Party district will be looking for new work as his inability to side with the folks who count on him – simply because he was caught in an ideological buzz-saw – will be more than enough to make him a one-term Congressman.

By the way, challengers like Michael Wardell, a former US embassy Marine, have hinted this week they are considering challenging Long next year after watching Long's lack of leadership in Joplin this week.