Posted on 09/02/2005 11:31:24 AM PDT by radar101
Black members of Congress expressed anger Friday at what they said was a slow federal response to Hurricane Katrina.
"It looks dysfunctional to me right now," said Rep. Diane Watson.
She and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus, along with members of the Black Leadership Forum, National Conference of State Legislators, National Urban League and the NAACP, held a news conference and charged that the response was slow because those most affected are poor.
Many also are black, but the lawmakers held off on charging racism.
"The issue is not about race right now," said Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones. "There will be another time to have issues about color."
President George W. Bush, who visited storm-damaged areas Friday, acknowledged that the initial federal response was unacceptable and pledged to do more.
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., son of civil rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson, said too much focus has been placed on the looting, taking away from what should be the priority: getting food, water and stability to the tens of thousands of displaced victims.
Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick noted that the city of Detroit has offered housing, food and clothing for 500 families displaced by Katrina. She urged other cities to do the same.
Watson and others also took issue with the word "refugee" being used to describe hurricane victims.
"'Refugee' calls up to mind people that come from different lands and have to be taken care of. These are American citizens," Watson said.
(Excerpt) Read more at freenewmexican.com ...
"Abandoned Merchandise Recovery Agents (looters)"
ROTFL!
Cue the Hand Out Chorus.
I watched the Black Cockeye in action this morning on FNC. They blamed President Bush (What else is new!)and played the race card. As a result of the remarks of Kaw-liga Cummings from Maryland, I will not give one more penny to this mess. Cummings and his Cockeye can fix it. I'm PO'd at them playing the old race card with this. It makes me sick. As far as I'm concerned, the problem in New Orleans is over.
Ebonics for "It is all about race"
Although Diane Watson is a shameless opportunist and a race-baiter by trade, I must agree that refugee is a very inappropriate term.
Definition of Refugee from
the Immigration and Nationality Act
The Immigration and Nationality Act defines "refugee" in Sec. 101(a)(42) as:
(A) any person who is outside any country of such person's nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, is outside any country in which such person last habitually resided, and who is unable or unwilling to return to, and is unable or unwilling to avail himself or herself of the protection of, that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, or
(B) in such circumstances as the President after appropriate consultation (as defined in section 207(e) of this Act) may specify, any person who is within the country of such person's nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, within the country in which such person is habitually residing, and who is persecuted or who has a well-founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. The term "refugee" does not include any person who ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. For purposes of determinations under this Act, a person who has been forced to abort a pregnancy or to undergo involuntary sterilization, or who has been persecuted for failure or refusal to undergo such a procedure or for other resistance to a coercive population control program, shall be deemed to have been persecuted on account of political opinion, and a person who has a well founded fear that he or she will be forced to undergo such a procedure or subject to persecution for such failure, refusal, or resistance shall be deemed to have a well founded fear of persecution on account of political opinion
It's Not as if the NAACP disaster relief fund got there before anyone else did.
It appears these black leaders think the feds are gods, capable of anything. Geez. This was natural disaster. Which means, if you believe in a creator, it was an act of God. Otherwise, its an act of nature. The President said just today, the overall response is acceptable, the results are not acceptable. Whatever is humanly possible, is being done.
It's "not about race" because they're still waiting for the donations to come it and don't want to alienate guilty-feeling whites. As soon as they start cashing THESE welfare checks, THEN it will be time to place the race card.
Just curious, did FNC cover the entire event? I watched it on C-SPAN. JJ Jr. is dumber and more of a racist than his old man - if that's possible.
They covered some of it. Cummings and Jesse Jackson's spawn. Then they went over to some guy doing a press conference somewhere else. I can't remember who it was. Smoke was coming out of my ears. A woman called Hedgecock on Rush's show and felt the same way I do. I don't get offended easily but they can KMA. I'm not a fan of the race card and making "whitey" feel guilty.
The bible thumper was Kaw-liga Cummings, BS-Maryland. One real, race-baiting sicko as far as I'm concerned. He's a disgrace to this country.
This is hillarious coming from a group that couldn't confirm a judge in less than 2 years!
(I know, wrong group. I just couldn't resist.)
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