Jackson Blasts Bush Over Katrina Aid (IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME)

Associated Press ^ | 9-2-05 | Doug Simpson

[GianniV]

Racism is partly to blame for the deadly aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said, calling President Bush's response to the disaster "incompetent."

"Today, as the President comes to Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi for his ceremonial trip to look at the victims of the devastation, he would do well to have a plan more significant than a ceremonial tour," Jackson said Friday.

"His whole response is unacceptable."

Bush has acknowledged that the federal response has not been acceptable, but promised that the government would get supplies to survivors and crack down on violence in New Orleans.

Jackson questioned why Bush has not named blacks to top positions in the federal response to the disaster, particularly when the majority of victims remaining stranded in New Orleans are black: "How can blacks be locked out of the leadership, and trapped in the suffering?"

"It is that lack of sensitivity and compassion that represents a kind of incompetence."

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russell Honore, head of the military task force overseeing operations in the three states, is black. His task force is providing search and rescue, medical help and sending supplies to the three states in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Jackson was in Baton Rouge to take part in a local project using a caravan of buses to pick up people stranded in New Orleans and transport them out. He spoke at a news conference at the state emergency center.

The civil rights leader said the flooding that caused thousands to be trapped inside the city was caused by a lack of federal funding for its levee system and hurricane planning. The resulting tragedy, he said, has largely hit New Orleans' black residents, because they were too poor to evacuate before the storm hit.

"There's a historical indifference to the pain of poor people and black people" in this country, he said.

Jackson also said the news media has "criminalized the people of New Orleans" by focusing on violence in the city.

[rdb3]

It's been more than 8 hours. You asserted in #33:

Betting riots start in other areas of the US in 8 hours from the time TV picks up on this

Have any evidence yet for your assertion which makes it true?

I'm broadcast live in front of a pre-recorded studio audience.

[vrwc0915]

I do not! And I am glad you were right, I do think that making the evac of NO a race issue still has the potential to cause massive unrest

[Dog Gone]

[Right_in_Virginia]

Jackson questioned why Bush has not named blacks to top positions in the federal response to the disaster, particularly when the majority of victims remaining stranded in New Orleans are black: "How can blacks be locked out of the leadership, and trapped in the suffering?"

Over the top, even for Jesse.

[SpinyNorman]

"The very first warning was – “If you live in low lying areas that are susceptible to flooding, or if you live in coastal areas susceptible to storm surge – GET OUT. Seek high ground."

A particularly important point when the nearest "high ground" is the Mississippi River!

The pictures of the school buses sitting in 2-3 feet of water is a particularly damning critique of the mayor and governor, and just closes the door on the "we too po' to get out of NO like the rich white people!"