Help for Henrietta of Fort Myers

Henrietta Hughes attended Obama's town hall in Fort Myers. She told Obama she was homeless and Obama said his staff would talk to her afterward. It was a genuine moment. Watch it here.
In between now and then, a kind human stepped up to offer Henrietta a place to stay:

News Press: Henrietta Hughes was offered a home by Chene Thompson, wife of State Representative Nick Thompson, who heard the homeless woman’s pleas for help to President Obama before a local and national crowd.

The house is in LaBelle, the first home Scere Thompson bought after law school. She told Hughes, “Just give me the opportunity to help you.”

Hughes broke down in front of thousands when she told the president that she and her son have been homeless for more than a year. They are living in a pickup truck.

What's truly sad is the begrudging, so clearly racist and despicable comments on the story. When I read stuff like that, it seems there are too many bad apples spoiling any progress that's possible. Such pathetic and small lives they lead. Funny thing, too, these people probably call themselves Christians. What will it take to bring these people up to speed? 
Here's a sampling:

Henrietta Huges is just another democrat seeking all the freebies this country has to offer. She hit the lottery today didn't she.

What's Obomber doing for all the people that worked their whole life and are losing everything because of the recession. There are people FAR worse off than her. Obomber is going to play that black card to the hilt.............., wait until you see where it gets us!

Another:

The Annoited One walks among us and, with a wave of his hand, houses the homeless and lifts up burger flippers. Wait until the next few town hall meetings. They're going to look like revival meetings with everybody standing in line for Obama freebies. Gimme, Gimme...it's what the country voted for. Well, Michelle may finally be proud of our country but I was ashamed of what I saw today.

Udpate: There seems to be as many people who are empathetic to the plight of Henrietta as there are small-minded folks. 

People who work hard and manage not to tumble are small people to begrudge someone else who tumbles and needs help.

Another update: Henrietta is grateful.

Chene Thompson, the wife of state Rep. Nicholas Thompson, R-Fort Myers, is letting Henrietta Hughes and her son stay in a house she owns in nearby La Belle rent free until they get back on their feet.

"You don't have to be a politician to put forth a stimulus package," Chene Thompson said during a joint interview with Hughes Thursday on CNN's "American Morning." "This is our own little mini-stimulus package for a person who was a stranger and now is a friend.

"Anybody can help anybody at any time. It doesn't need to be something that comes from Washington; it can come from your own home and from your heart, even if it's for a little bit."
.....
Hughes feels "overwhelming gratitude," she told CNN in the front yard of the house, "because no one would do that."

"Oh, yes they would! Yes they would!" Thompson interjected, wrapping an arm around Hughes' shoulders. "I was just in the right place at the right time." Both women beamed.

The house has remained unsold in southwest Florida's depressed market, Thompson said. She continues to be responsible for paying the mortgage, property taxes, insurance and utilities, so it benefits her to have someone occupying it to keep it from becoming run-down, she said. CNN

Stimulus Bill Squeaks On To Conference

The stimulus bill squeaks by in the senate 61 to 37. Does it even matter that the 61 people who moved the bill forward are mostly democrats? I don't think so. Now it moves on to a conference, where the House and Senate versions of the bill need to be reconciled.
Obama wants the bill on his desk Monday.
He announced the passage of the stimulus to cheering crowd in Fort Myers.
A woman in the audience, Henrietta Hughes (sp) tells Obama she needs help. She's living in a car. Obama then went to the woman and told her that his staff will talk to her after the town hall. That is the main reason I have always supported Obama. I know that he cares about the most vulnerable people. He's always talking about the middle class, but the poor are also as much on his mind, if not more. 
Ms. Hughes and Q&A portion:

Loved the exchange between the student who works at McDonald's and Obama.

Here's a transcript of Obama's intro prior to the Q&A.
Obama in Fort Myers:

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

See more photos of the day here.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist introduced Obama:

GOV. CHARLIE CRIST, R-FLA.

[*] CRIST: Well, Mr. President, welcome to Fort Myers, Florida.

(APPLAUSE) Just a couple of points I wanted to make to you, Mr. President. Our -- our budget is in balance here in Florida. We have some people that have worked very hard in our Florida Senate and our Florida House to make that possible. In fact, we’ve had to cut about $7 billion over the past two years, and we haven’t raised taxes, and we’re still in balance.

CRIST: But to be candid, it’s getting harder every day. It’s getting harder every day, and we know that it’s important that we pass a stimulus package. It’s important...

(APPLAUSE)

It is important that we do so to help education, to help our infrastructure...

(APPLAUSE)

... and to help health care for those who need it the most, the most vulnerable among us.

And let me finish by saying, Mr. President, we need to do it in a bipartisan way.

(APPLAUSE)

This issue of helping our country is about helping our country. This is not about partisan politics. This is about rising above that, helping America, and reigniting our economy.

You know, a great president once said, “The government ought to be of the people, by the people, and for the people.” That was Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday we celebrate later this week.

Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm Florida welcome to President Barack Obama .