Posted on 09/02/2005 9:02:58 PM PDT by Pete
CNN and MSNBC have had Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and others on all day claiming that the Federal response to the disaster has been slow because the victims are poor and black. The Congressional Black Caucus openly advocates that position and CNN and MSNBC are more than willing to carry their water. They have all slipped into madness.
It is more than an outrage. They are selling these lies to victims of the disaster and crushing their hope. So much so, that the people at the convention center are now convinced that they are being punished by the government because they are poor and black.
It should not even be necessary to say that these accusations are not only absurd but they defy reality. Here are some numbers:
* 40,000+ moved through New Orleans airport - 800 per hour
* 98,000 people from New Orleans are in shelters outside New Orleans and that does not include the 18,000 at the Astrodome.
* The Coast Guard has rescued more than 7,000 people from New Orleans, mostly by helicopter.
Clearly, help is already there. And that does not include all the efforts in the other affected areas - over 90,000 square miles.
Another thing. Everyone keeps saying it has taken 5 days. Wrong. On Monday night, every network was reporting that New Orleans had dodged a bullet. The levee broke some time Monday night/Tuesday morning. By noon on Tuesday it was clear to local media that there was a big problem. But the national news was unaware. So much so, that the anchorwoman on a local channel, WDSU, was literally screaming at CNN to stop reporting that everything was OK. It wasn't until late Tuesday that first real reports of the scope of the devastation hit the national networks. The Governor of LA didn't even ask for troops until Wednesday AM.
Within 24 hours of that call, the military was staged outside New Orleans and ready to enter. Within 24 hours!! That is an amazing accomplishment. Also keep in mind that it was reported that the trip from Baton Rouge to New Orleans had taken a news crew 13 hours immediately after the storm because they had to stop every 100 yards on the highway to clear trees and and debris.
However, even though the military was ready to go in, there was a problem - actually three.
First, the local and state officials had completely dropped the ball. When the Federal resources asked them where they were needed, the Mayor and the Governor not only didn't know, they had no plan.
Second, communication was completely down. The local officials had no plan for that either.
Third, New Orleans was a war zone. Again, the local officials had failed to enforce any laws early on and by Thursday, things were out of control. FEMA, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army were ready even before the military but could not go in because they could not guarantee the safety of their people. [FEMA had pre-positioned huge amounts of resources in the area even before Katrina hit.] Boats were being high-jacked. Ambulance and helicopters were being shot at.
But, by Friday, the Feds had mustered the resources to handled those problems as well. They did develop a plan and entered the city in large numbers on Friday morning - a mere 72 hours after the levee break and 48 hours after being requested - even with all the failures at the local level.
Now, having said all that, go back to the numbers. An incredible amount of work was done in the first days after the levee break even with all those obstacles.
I am so proud of all the men and women who have worked so hard to help their fellow Americans. For liberal leaders to use this tragedy for political gain by race baiting is not only outrageous, it is extremely offensive and I believe the networks promoting this idea will suffer in ratings. It is sickening. Worse than that, to suggest that the victims of the storm and flooding in New Orleans were neglected because of economic status or race is to SPIT in the faces of the brave souls who risked their very lives to pluck them from the deadly waters.
I'm so sick of this s!it.
Thank you for the perspective. This DNC talking point driven campaign has been thoroughly disgusting.
It's amazing. I really hope in this age of new media that the chickens finally come home to roost.
The DNC is totally disgusting...
Ignore them.
Great essay.
RHS, here are some facts.
Geraldo is crying on Fox now...oh boy.....
Kanye West, on the NBC concert for Katrina, went totally unhinged with a bizarre rant which ended with "President Bush doesn't care about black people."
The subsequent showing cut out the statement.
Don't confuse 'em with the facts.
Mark
Well said!
If CNN and NBC etc alphabets are trolling here, be advised. Such reports are not productive responses to this unfolding tragedy, or, to the solution that is yet to come. Playing a race card with a losing hand is not a good bet.......for fundraising or votes.
I'm checking it out as we type.
Looks like he's loosing it more than the people involved.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1476091/posts?page=42#42
"I find it interesting that the hurricane shut down so many refineries in the Louisiana area just when world oil prices are being spiked by the Saudis and the OPEC cartel. I understand the HAARP project can influence weather, i.e., cause warming in certain areas depending on the direction of their massive magnetic & electric directional discharges. Could it be they can also steer some storms? Hmmmm."
Bingo, you've nailed it DUmmies! Karl Rove used the evil HAARP death ray to deliberately steer a giant global warming hurricane straight into the oil facilities that keep him and his Halliburton buddies afloat! Brilliant, I tell you!
"President Bush doesn't care about black people."
It's getting press:
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/12549132.htm
Its hard to watch all this.....I want to help out, what organization do you think would be the BEST to donate to?The media is just too much...its hard to watch the coverage of this.
That's another thing. The reporters plop themselves down among 500 or 1000 people and start screaming that they need help NOW!! Well, no duh! But so do hundreds of other groups of 500 or 1000 - and not only in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the way it is reported, it makes it appear as if that particular group of 500 or 1000 is the only group and that they are being criminally neglected.
This is disaster is HUGE!!! As horrifying as it is to say it, the sad truth is that it is likely that not everyone who is alive right now will be saved. It's just too big.
At lunch I started to here this racist rant on TV. After lunch they came by our work stations with the donation bin for Katrina aid.
Maybe I was wrong, but I simply decided I was not going to donate. I had planned on giving $20.00
I may still donate, but not today. Not after hearing Al Sharpton.
If the Republicans really want to pick up black voters Pres. Bush and every other prominent Pubbie should come out and prominently bitch slap Jackson, Sharpton and all the other race baiters. I truely believe that millions of black voters are waiting for a politician with the balls to denounce these race baiters in public.
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