Yea right. It's the rats that made this political.
Posted on 09/01/2005 1:44:40 PM PDT by Brian Mosely
WASHINGTON (AP) — Calling the president “weak and uncertain,” U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr. blasted Bush’s handling of Hurricane Katrina on Thursday. A lack of coordination has left the poor in critical danger, the Tennessee Democrat said.
“There are all these poor people with no place to go, and the president’s answer is ’hang in there?”’ Ford told The Associated Press.
He cited a lack of coordination between national and local agencies and called on the military to deploy “all amphibious vehicles and helicopters to assist in rescue and recovery.”
He also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and more teams of Army Corps of Engineers should be deployed, and that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should personally go to New Orleans and lead the effort.
“Now is not the time — in the face of pain, anguish and death — to be weak and uncertain,” Ford said in a statement.
Ford’s 9th District, which includes most of Memphis, borders Mississippi and Arkansas along the Mississippi River. He announced in May that he will seek the Democratic nomination to replace Sen. Bill Frist in 2006.
The White House did not immediately comment about Ford’s remarks.
Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who represents the neighboring 7th District, accused Ford of sniping.
“I’d suggest folks put the cheap shots aside for a few moments and concentrate on supporting the recovery efforts,” she said. Blackburn is headed to Mississippi to assist with the cleanup and recovery, she said.
Ford said his criticism wasn’t made for political gain.
“We have the capacity to deal with this,” he said. “I don’t want to see the president ... make anymore missteps, make any more mistakes.”
The military expects to increase National Guard deployment to 30,000 from around the country to help with security, rescue and relief.
But Ford said the response, which left tens of thousands stranded without food and water for days on rooftops, in abandoned areas and inside the Louisiana Superdome — some dying before help could arrive — was too slow.
Ford, whose own district was hit by the weakened Katrina as it moved inland, plans to raise money for the victims along the Gulf Coast. Speaking on his way to Memphis, he said he will also encourage Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen to waive the gas tax in an effort to lower rising prices.
Ford’s office issued a statement Thursday afternoon stating that in addition to assistance being offered by Tennessee schools to students enrolled at closed Gulf-region schools, the congressman is offering internships to displaced students in his offices in Memphis and Washington, D.C.
He said “for some students re-enrollment at other schools may be too difficult or they may want to wait until their records can be retrieved next semester.”
“I want to do my part to ensure students affected by the hurricane have the opportunity to have a productive academic year,” said Ford, who’s urging his congressional colleagues to follow suit. “If only half of the members of Congress participate, hundreds of students could potentially benefit.”
Congress is expected to approve $10 billion to cover immediate relief needs for all hurricane victims before the weekend under a rule that would not require most members to be in Washington.
STFU FORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This makes me so angry I could scream.
This is getting ridiculous. The yappers have crossed the line.
RINO alert
What gets me is that it is just amazing what this President has had to deal with in just 5 years in office. I don't even want to think about what the next 3 years may hold! I am just happy as hell that it is him in office and not Gore or Kerry! I know he may be lacking in areas, but God bless him for his strength and, IMHO, genuine commitment to this country!
Yea right. It's the rats that made this political.
What a kook! You'd think he'd have at least a passing aquaintance with the Constitution.
I can't even beging to speak my mind against this traitor and his band of looters in NO. I know just the place they can all move to and it's not in the Americas.
HAROLD Ford.
Hey Ford, STFU!
perhaps his criminal family should take over.
Ford's a "D".
Being a fellow Tennesseean, allow me to be the first to tell Ford to kiss my rusty ass.
I'm reminded of Sam Kinison. I didn't care for his screaming schtick, but one bit was devastatingly true - sending U-Hauls to Africa to move the people in the desert to where the food is!
Ford is a posturing sack of crap, nothing more.
Just another idiot shooting at a rescuer.
Dan
The Governor of LA is supposed to be coordinating with FEMA, isn't she?
She's totally inept.
Unless Ford is personally down there doing something himself, he needs to STFU!
STFU FORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is my reaction as well. Ford is only trying to rev up his image for a Senate run next year and doing all he can to attack President Bush.
Let President Bush get a task force together and assess the need so that he CAN help those in Katrina ravaged areas! Ford should be trying to get a team together to help himself instead of bashing the President! ARGH!
Help me out here: The press seems to be saying the mayor and the govorner are doing a fine job. That's nonsense. There seems to be no one in charge...where's the outrage??
Dear Representative Ford:
Lead, follow, or get the f--- out of our way. We don't have time for pontification and recriminations. In the time it took you to give that press release/speech and the time it took me to write this message in rebuttal, people have drowned, died of dehydration, been shot, and discovered their homes obliterated from the face of the Earth.
Be a man. Do your job. Close your mouth, role up your sleeves and start helping.
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