"Federal Family" Reunion: Obama Admin's Use Of Phrase Isn't New
Led by journalists at Fox News, media figures have mocked the Obama administration for using the phrase "federal family" to refer to federal agencies involved in Hurricane Irene relief efforts, suggesting that the administration invented the phrase as a "euphemism" for "federal government." However, "federal family" is not a new phrase; it dates back to at least George H.W. Bush's administration and was regularly used by members of George W. Bush's administration when discussing disaster relief.
Obama Administration: "The Entire Federal Family Is Working As One To Support The Affected States"
Janet Napolitano: "The Entire Federal Family Is Working As One To Support The Affected States." In an August 28 statement regarding Hurricane Irene, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said: "Now, the Department of Homeland Security will continue working to coordinate the federal response through FEMA, making sure that the entire federal family is working as one to support the affected states." [The White House, 8/28/11]
Fox, Right-Wing Media Mock Obama Admin For Using "Federal Family" Phrase, Suggest It Invented Term
August 28, 5:45 PM: Fox's Henry Tweets, "Branding Alert: Interesting How WH Dropped Word 'Government' ... Calling It 'Federal Family.' " In an August 28 Twitter post, Fox News chief White House correspondent Ed Henry wrote:
Henry later wrote that "FEMA is like an uncle to me":
August 29: Fox's Stirewalt Criticizes Obama Admin For Introducing "What May Be The Most Condescending Euphemism For The National Government In Its Long History Of Condescending Euphemizing: 'Federal Family.'" In an August 29 post on FoxNews.com's Power Play blog, Fox News' Chris Stirewalt wrote:
[B]efore Irene fizzled, the Obama White House wanted to make sure that Irene was no Katrina and that, in fact, the president and his aides would be seen in compassionate command of the situation.
Hence the introduction of what may be the most condescending euphemism for the national government in its long history of condescending euphemizing: "federal family."
This new phrase was supposed to, Power Play supposes, make anxious East Coasters feel the love of a caring federal government -- tender squeeze from the Department of Homeland Security, a gentle embrace from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The phrase was a centrally distributed talking point, appearing in op-eds, press releases and statements from across the administration.
No major hurricane had hit the U.S. mainland in the Obama era, and the "federal family" had obviously been saving up a lot of new approaches to differentiate itself from the clan under President George W. Bush.
President Obama, presumably the federal father, came home early from his vacation and addressed the nation on the progress of the storm daily. The agency heads, presumably the siblings of this caring network, fanned out to show intimate engagement with the subject, from sandbagging procedures to storm tracking. [FoxNews.com, 8/29/11]
August 29, 3:44 PM: MichelleMalkin.com: "Out: 'US Government' -- In: 'Federal Family.' " In an August 29 post on Fox News contributor Michelle Malkin's website titled, "Out: 'US Government' - In: 'Federal Family,' " Doug Powers linked to Stirewalt's article and wrote:
"The good hands people" and "like a good neighbor" were already taken, so it was the next obvious choice.
[...]
So keep in mind that even if the storm is a category 1, you can expect a caring category 5 embrace from your federal family.
[...]
If my "family" was $14 trillion in debt I'd put myself up for adoption. [MichelleMalkin.com, 8/29/11]
August 29, 6:44 PM: Fox's Shannon Bream: "Did it Strike Anybody As Odd, 'Federal Family?' " From the August 29 edition of Fox News' Special Report:
SHANNON BREAM (guest host): All right, some the language that was used this weekend by the White House and others in the administration struck people as odd because it kept referring to the federal family's response to Irene. It didn't say government. Did it strike anybody as odd, "federal family"?
BILL KRISTOL (Fox News contributor): Nothing strikes me as odd anymore. After $800 billion stimulus and Obamacare, we're all just one happy family. The president came back early from Martha's Vineyard. It reassured me Saturday to see him at the FEMA headquarters personally managing all of these things. I mean, it was a little ridiculous, frankly. [Fox News, Special Report, 8/29/11, accessed via Nexis]
August 30, 4:16 PM: Cavuto Hosts Godfather Actor To Mock Obama Admin's "Unusual" Use Of "New" "Federal Family" Phrase. On the August 30 edition of Fox News' Your World, Neil Cavuto hosted Godfather actor Gianni Russo to discuss the term "federal family." Cavuto stated that Russo was "perfect to address this issue." From the broadcast:
CAVUTO: Federal family. Hear something unusual? In the wake of Irene's wrath, the administration is replacing the word "government" with "federal family." Now, we've done a quick search on this and found that the new phrase is in several FEMA press releases like this one, and in this op-ed written by FEMA administrator Craig Fugate. My next guest says, "Beware the family," and he knows a thing or two about families. You see, Gianni Russo played Carlo Rizzi in the The Godfather. And I know what a lot of you are thinking: Well, that's just patently absurd to get someone who played a mob person to address this family thing. Actually, we thought he was perfect to address this issue.
[...]
CAVUTO: That's what they're doing with this idea. The federal family. It's popped up in a number of agency brochures and press conferences of late, to refer no longer to the government - which sort of has a - has a bad connotation these days, with federal family. But it follows in the heels of not calling tax increases "tax increases," but "revenue enhancements," no longer "stimulus," it's "projected growth," it's just new words for the same old thing. [Fox News, Your World, 8/30/11]
"Federal Family" Mockery Goes Mainstream
August 31: Tribune: "Hurricane Irene Saw The Emergence Of A Potential Replacement Worthy Of The Advertising Execs On 'Mad Men.' " An August 31 Tribune Co. article published in the Los Angeles Times on the Obama administration's use of "federal family" claimed that "Hurricane Irene saw the emergence of a potential replacement worthy of the advertising execs on 'Mad Men.'" The article noted that "[w]hile the phrase isn't new -- it was used in the last administration -- it certainly feels current." [Tribune Co., 8/31/11, via the Los Angeles Times]
But "Federal Family" Was Used As Far Back As 1992 During George H.W. Bush's Administration
In 1992, Department Of Defense Used "Federal Family" Language Following Hurricane Andrew. In an August 29, 1992, Pentagon briefing following Hurricane Andrew, Maj. Gen. John C. Heldstab said: "The Air Force continues to do yeoman's work in flowing all of the forces of the federal family into [South Florida]. [The Pentagon, 8/29/92, accessed via Nexis]
FEMA Official Grant Peterson: "We Have Brought The Federal Family Together With The Regional Operation Centers." An August 25, 1992, NPR article on Hurricane Andrew relief efforts quoted FEMA associate director Grant Peterson as saying:
We have brought the federal family together with the regional operation centers. They are relocating to state emergency operations centers and alternate operations centers in close but safe zones. So we have coordination between state and federal entities and have all federal resources on alert at this time. [NPR, 8/25/92, accessed via Nexis, emphasis added]
And "Federal Family" Dates Back To Previous Administrations "And Is Used Often By Top Officials"
Washington Post: " 'Federal Family' Dates Back To At Least 2004." From an August 29 post on The Washington Post's Federal Eye blog:
As Hurricane Irene battered East Coast states over the weekend, the Obama administration frequently noted how the "federal family" -- not the "federal government" or "federal agencies" -- responded to the storm.
The term appeared in White House news releases and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Sunday that she was "making sure that the entire federal family is working as one to support the affected states."
Some White House reporters -- not as familiar with government operations beyond 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. -- noticed the branding and surmised that the Obama administration used the term in lieu of the less popular "federal government" mantra.
[...]
Joking aside, "federal family" dates back to at least 2004 and is used often by top officials. [The Washington Post, 8/29/11]
Tribune: "Federal Officials ... Note That The Phrase Has Been Used By Top Democrats And Republicans In The Past." The August 31 Tribune article that claimed that "Hurricane Irene saw the emergence" of the "federal family" phrase nevertheless reported that federal officials "note that the phrase has been used by top Democrats and Republicans in the past as internal shorthand for the network of federal bureaucracies, or for the community of federal employees." From the Tribune article:
In a political season when mere mention of "federal government" can elicit catcalls and complaints, Hurricane Irene saw the emergence of a potential replacement worthy of the advertising execs on "Mad Men."
In a flurry of news releases distributed by the White House in recent days, the administration has trumpeted the hard work of "the federal family" responding to Hurricane Irene, eschewing the G-word altogether.
While the phrase isn't new -- it was used in the last administration -- it certainly feels current.
[...]
Depending on how you get along with your family, "federal family" is more likely to conjure up capable parents instead of bungling bureaucrats -- a support system working as a team, instead of competing agencies angling for power.
Federal officials said use of the phrase is not part of an effort to rebrand the thing previously known as the "federal government." They note that the phrase has been used by top Democrats and Republicans in the past as internal shorthand for the network of federal bureaucracies, or for the community of federal employees.
Michael Brown, who served as chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the George W. Bush administration, also used the phrase in reference to hurricane preparation in 2004.
"The term 'federal family' is a phrase that FEMA has used frequently in public materials for years, spanning multiple administrations and federal responses to disasters," said agency spokeswoman Rachel Racusen. [Tribune Co., 8/31/11, via the Los Angeles Times]
Indeed, Bush Administration Officials Regularly Used "Federal Family" Phrase
2001: FEMA Statement To The National Hurricane Conference Includes "Federal Family" Language. In an April 11, 2001, statement by FEMA director Joe Allbaugh to the National Hurricane Conference, Allbaugh stated
ALLBAUGH: Speaking for the federal family, I pledge to you our continued support through the delivery of products and services that will help all of us make it through these difficult decisions. [FEMA, 4/11/01, accessed via Nexis, emphasis added]
2004: FEMA Reports Record Aid For Hurricane Season Response Includes "Federal Family" Language. In a November 29, 2004, FEMA statement, Undersecretary of Homeland Security Michael Brown said:
The level of assistance provided to date shows how destructive this year's storms were, and through the efforts of thousands of dedicated disaster workers FEMA has delivered unprecedented aid to individuals and governments affected by the storms quicker than ever before. ... With President Bush's continuing support, FEMA and the federal family remain committed to staying for as long as it takes to ensure that all recovery needs are met in Florida and the other affected states. [FEMA, 11/29/04, emphasis added]
2005: Homeland Security Official Uses "Federal Family" Language In Senate Testimony. In a June 15, 2005, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing, Department of Homeland Security official Robert Stephan stated:
STEPHAN: in terms of the manpower and the subject matter expertise necessary to execute that mission, absolutely no exceptions, the program management responsibilities should rest with the government employee under all circumstances. That's the way the federal government operates, that's the way we assure accountability and measurable progress across what we do.
Not to say that there need to be integrated into this mix appropriately the subject matter expertise that we would need to in order to be able to have on our staff the ability to have vulnerability folks, consequence folks, threat-focused individuals that may or may not exist within the federal family or the government family at this point. [Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing, 6/15/05, accessed via Nexis, emphasis added]
2005: Homeland Security Official Uses "Federal Family" Language In House Testimony. In a November 9, 2005, House subcommittee hearing, Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Michael P. Jackson stated:
JACKSON: We really are focused on that. And that's a question the president addressed when he asked the Department of Homeland Security to review with state and local officials the evacuation planning, incident management plans of the major metropolitan areas in this country. So we have launched that enterprise, that investigation, that review collectively.
And an important part of what we're all talking about here is a more vigorous exercise program together with the federal family and our state and local partners. Without that, we will not have the preplanning and the knowledge in advance of these events to be able to manage them effectively. [House subcommittee hearing, 11/9/05, accessed via Nexis, emphasis added]
2006: FEMA Statement On TX, OK, NM Wildfires Includes "Federal Family" Language. In a January 3, 2006, FEMA statement on the Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico wildfires, acting FEMA director David Paulison said:
The entire federal family continues to monitor the fires in New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas extremely closely. ... The National Interagency Fire Center in Boise is supporting the operational needs of all states. FEMA will continue to provide coordination and support at the regional and national level as needed. [FEMA, 1/3/06, emphasis added]
2007: FEMA Statement Includes "Federal Family" Language. In an October 31, 2007, statement made by FEMA officials following California wildfires, Paulison said:
We know we have some significant issues coming down the road, particularly, like I said, with housing and debris removal. FEMA, the rest of the federal family is here for the long haul and we're going to make sure that we see this through to the very end. [FEMA, 10/31/07, emphasis added]
2008: FEMA Press Briefing On Hurricane Gustav Includes "Federal Family" Language. In a September 1, 2008, FEMA press briefing regarding Hurricane Gustav, Adm. Harvey Johnson said:
We just concluded about an hour and a half Videoteleconference to look at the post landfall situation with Hurricane Gustav, now at Category 2. Our Videoteleconference, as you know, includes all the Federal family, it includes each of the states that have been impacted by the storm and a number of others that have an equity in how well prepared we are and how we're going to respond to the impact of Hurricane Gustav. [FEMA, 9/1/08, emphasis added]
We've known for some time that republicans have no understanding of causality.
It certainly wasn't because of his substance or his previous record.
No he didnt. God but you brainwashed morons are pathetic. He won the nomination because he was saying what resonated with Dems. His mad oratorical skills helped tremendously of course. You just keep on spewing what you were told to think though. I love to laugh at morons as stupid as you
You're comparing a weak Cat-1 hurricane, with no structural damage other than some flooding in flood zones, to a Cat-4 storm that ripped through a city that was 15-ft. below sea level? Really???
I'd love to hear a third accomplishment...... *crickets*
And don't say ObamaCare....unless of course you work for an employer or a union that was granted a waiver. Then you can call it a win.
You are a LIAR. He speaks off the cuff quite often. Like when he went by himself to a republican caucus and kicked their collective butts to the point they were sorry it was covered. We know you dont CARE how many Americans die per year from lack of access to healthcare but HRC helped bring in people currently uninsured that should help that. Might not be a win for a selfish, brainwashed soulless cretin such as yourself but for most of America it was a step in the right direction. Too weak and we should have gotten single payer like the rest of the civilized world but half a loaf and all that
No structural damage? Tell that to the Republican Governor of North Carolina, who's thrilled with FEMA and Obama, by the way - they lost 1100 homes, according to her. Tell that to dozens of people who lost homes in Connecticut due to storm surge. Tell that to the people in New Jersey who got flooding twice - once on Sunday into Monday, and then again on Tuesday and Wednesday as rivers rose again. It wasn't just "flooding in flood zones", and even if it was, what do you think all of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are but "flood zones"?
Katrina wasn't a Cat 4 storm when it hit New Orleans. That's why people at first said that they'd dodged a bullet, just like you're claiming that we dodged a bullet with Irene! See, the NWS and HPC can't guarantee storm intensity, but they've never promised that they can. It's just ill-informed people like you who think that category level is the only criteria that one should look at - actually, there are 4 different things one should look at to determine the damage a hurricane can do, and folks in the potential path of a storm need to prepare for the worst case scenario, and hope that it doesn't happen!
Obama speaks extemporaneously very well. He's a smart guy who chooses to use a teleprompter when he can, so that he doesn't have to waste time memorizing a speech. Only fools read from paper copies of speeches anymore, and he's not a fool. Just because some of your heroes and heroines are too big of fools to know to use a teleprompter at every opportunity, that doesn't make your attack on him accurate or reasonable!
And many times people here have provided links and lists of Obama's accomplishments. You don't want to see that list, because if you really had wanted to see that list, you could have easily found it yourself, just like the people who've posted it here found it! And because it's clear that you don't really want that list, no one should feed you, troll, by giving it to you!
Stupid grammar.
A trick is something a wh0re does for money.
I guess that, if the Republican party is Gob Bluth, that makes Michael Steele their Franklin Delano Bluth.
Irene didn't "fizzle." It wasn't as bad as it could have been. That doesn't mean it fizzled. And Obama's FEMA did a much better job than Bush's FEMA. Part of that is because FEMA now understands that part of its role is to be better prepared - to be proactive, rather than reactive, and part of it is because Michael Browne's not in charge of it and the Bush administration isn't mucking things up.
The federal family includes the Coast Guard. They're not part of FEMA. It's includes the National Guard. It includes NOAA and the DOT. It's described as the family because it's not just FEMA! Rather than having to list all the units involved, it's shorthand for all the units involved!
Obviously an adult with a basic understanding of how a first world nation functions would understand that and have no problem with using such a phrase like Federal Family for a convenient shorthand.
Conservative media, on the other hand have dumbed down their audience to a bunch of childish whiners and toadies who salivate in anticipation of the next smear against the "people who don't think and act and look exactly like us".
Within the federal government, there's a "federal family" that deals with disasters like this. How anyone could misinterpret this is beyond me.
(sarcasm, in case you couldn't tell)
Paul Krugman got it right when he described the current Republican party as the Beavis and Butthead Party: "The intellectual incoherence is stunning. Basically, the political philosophy of the GOP right now seems to consist of snickering at stuff that they think sounds funny. The party of ideas has become the party of Beavis and Butthead." Though Krugman was pointing out Bobby Jindal's criticism of "volcano monitoring", Krugman's point is just as valid now -- "Heh, Heh, he said 'federal family', heh, heh".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTXufk4ig4Q&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1
This "federal family" word game is nothing but a DISTRACTION. Republicans are angry that possibly the last chance to brand an "Obama's Katrina" has passed them by WITHOUT TRAGIC INCIDENT, and they can not and will not let their viewers proceed forward without attaching SOMETHING NEGATIVE to the president relating to Hurricane Irene.
And GHWB was a one term administration. You apparently thought that the first usage of this term didn't happen until GWB's term. It happened earlier than that.
As I already explained, they called disparate groups within the federal government who are cooperating in this relief effort the federal family.
That means that FEMA, along with some small portions of the Dept of Transportation, and small parts of the Dept of Defense (Coast Guard helicopters, for example) and National Guard troops and MRE's, and many other groups that aren't under the control of FEMA are working together.
But it's not the entire federal government. It's specific bits and pieces that have designated roles. So, it's a shorthand way to describe these different groups - they're a family.
Not many are fooled with your side's crap. It's sad for our nation that anyone is fooled!
Try to remember how stupid you are. Obama isnt trying to fool you. Besides the rightwing screechmonkeys that do ALL of your thinking for you are busy fooling you as a full time job. GOD but you are pathetic
Can I play "both sides do it" too?
-Death tax (estate tax)
-Obamacare (health care insurance reform bill)
-socialism (applied specifically to programs like food stamps)
-illegals (rather then illegal immigrants)
Just a few off the top of my head.
death panels (for end of life consultations)
homicide bombers (for suicide bombers)
pro-life (anti-abortion)
job creator (any rich person)
terrorists (Muslims)
enhanced interrogation (torture)
Republican (hypocrite)
If you hate America so much feel free to go live on a tropical island somewhere. That Federal government is who won WW2. built the highway system, gave us rural electrification, ended Jim Crow, went to the moon, and gave us the internet. I am sure you hate anything they do so why dont you get the hell off of the internet? You have made enough of a fool out of yourself already
Using the "Federal Family" phrase --IOKIYARTB (ReThug/TeaBagger)
I especially love seeing Fox News' Chris Stirewalt posting his sheer and utter stupidity on his Power Play blog, demonstrating to one and all just how biased, incompetent and lazy he truly is!
He obviously did not "plunder" or bother "reading the copy" of or even "have a conversation with" any other writers on this subject before spewing out his ignorant and toxic venom about it!