"Fine, whatever, just leave me alone"

After ignoring reporters the last few days to have the world's most political non-political events, Mitt Romney found himself needing to say something about FEMA given his earlier statements that he would sure enjoy killin' that varmint with one of his bullet-shooting devices.

As one could imagine saying you want to keep the Federal Government out of tasks it clearly needs to be involved with just as such tasks are badly needed is, well, bad politics. Compounded by your surrogates doubling down on it.

So Williard had to come forth today and say something between gritted teeth:

"I believe that FEMA plays a key role in working with states and localities to prepare for and respond to natural disasters," Romney said in a statement supplied by his campaign Wednesday. "As president, I will ensure FEMA has the funding it needs to fulfill its mission..."

He then said he was in a hurry to go lie about JEEP some more.

Of course, Obama's budget proposals are not exactly covered in glory in regard to FEMA funding; his budget has a cut of 3%.  However Romney, nebulous assurances notwithstanding, has proposed cuts in FEMA of approximately 40%.

I imagine the money that's left can go toward setting up competitive bids so Romney's corporate buddies can get the contract to clean up (i.e. go all Galveston) after Hurricane Biff or whatever frat name he'll order they be given.

[Cross-posted at Firedoglake]