Jesse Jackson hits out at Bush, suggests race behind New Orleans' plight

afp on Yahoo ^ | 9/2/05

[NormsRevenge]

BATON ROUGE, United States (AFP) - Civil Rights leader Jesse Jackson fired off a fierce attack on President George W. Bush over Hurricane Katrina and claimed black people were being locked out of top relief roles.

Jackson raised the sensitive issue of race, simmering below the surface in New Orleans, even before the hurricane tragedy, pointing out that many of those trapped in the city by the storm were poor and black.

"There is a historical indifference to the pain of poor people, and black people ... we seem to adjust more easily to black pain."

Jackson spoke after leading a bus convoy into New Orleans to rescue 450 students trapped at Xavier University, and said he had been shocked by scenes of pain among refugees trying to flee the city.

"We reach out today for our president to lead from the ground, not the air," Jackson said, as Bush toured hurricane hit areas by foot and by helicopter after admitting government relief efforts so far were "not acceptable."

Jackson said 120,000 people in New Orleans make less than 8,000 dollars a year. "They are poor people, black people for the most part without private transportation, many of them are old and sick."

And he also criticized the role given to former presidents George Bush senior and Bill Clinton as coordinators for a fund raising effort following the Katrina tragedy, similar to their role as tsunami fund raisers.

"Why are there no African Americans in that circle?" Jackson asked.

"How can blacks be left out of the leadership and trapped into the suffering?"

Jackson also found time to throw political barbs Bush's way, claiming the president's policies had given the top five percent of Americans a tax cut and a "five billion dollar a month war in Iraq" while federal officials had neglected flood control systems in New Orleans.

"When the 9/11 tragedy struck us, the president was there in two days, on the ground embracing police and firemen. When the tsunami struck, he immediately mobilized world opinion.

"The UN relief effort for the tsunami was superior to the US effort for New Orleans and Louisiana. For American citizens, we deserve better."

Bush earlier on Friday rejected claims that expenditure or use of troops in Iraq had been partly to blame for what critics say was a sluggish, initial response by the US government to the Hurricane Katrina crisis.

"We've got plenty of resources to do both," Bush said, and also predicted that "the great city of New Orleans will rise again."

"I'm going to fly out of here in a minute, but I want you to know that I'm not going to forget what I've seen. I understand the devastation requires more than one day's attention," Bush said at New Orleans airport.

"It's going to require the attention of this country for a long period of time. This is one of the worst natural disasters we have faced, with national consequences. And therefore, there will be a national response," he said.

[kcvl]

Where are the thugs when you really need them?! It would make my day for them to kidnap Jesse and his entourage and hold them hostage.

[Trainer]

It is very very simple...Jesse Jackson is a Race Pimp! He uses race, every chance he gets, to make a couple of $$$ for him and his family.

Jesse is a Race Pimp!

[Roy Tucker]

It's a quagmire, Jesse! Pull out now!

[Centurion2000]

I'm pretty sure I saw the good Reverend carrying a TV on his way out of NO.

You mean he can pick up something besides a bloody shirt?

[Southside_Chicago_Republican]

I'll bet that deep down, there's no one more indifferent to black pain than Jesse Jackson. Except that it provides him a mouthwatering opporunity to grandstand and get his ugly mug on camera. What a loathsome s-n-of-a-b-tch. Aren't things bad enough in New Orleans with a bomb-thrower like Jackson sticking his nose in it? Guess not.

Any Chicagoans who might be tempted to vote for his son to knock off Daley need to think twice. The rotten old gasbag comes with the package.

[kempster]

I just sent his organization the following EMail.

I would just like to know why the right Reverend is bad mouthing the Bush Administration while Rainbow Push doesn't even have a mention of the disaster on its website. Maybe you could put your money where his mouth is and take up a collection to aid the people.

info@rainbowpush.org

[RasterMaster]

This will be the standard reply I'd present to all presstitutes and others who carry the water (make excuses for DUmocrats) when the subject is to blame Bush for all:

The nanny state/welfare mentality - it's always someone else's job. What part of MANDITORY EVACUATION do these fools in the media not get? The people on the coast were warned, told to leave, and chose to stick it out thereby endangered themselves and their families. That would be considered neglect when parents put their children in danger.

The Governor and Mayor's extreme ineptitude is what the bozos in the lame-steam media should be focused on. It was their job to prepare their constituents, NOT the federal government. There was ample time to prepare, and most responsible adults took to the road for safety. Yet all that was offered on the state level was another poor evacuation plan from the dimwit dimocrats. Either using "one way out" stuck in traffic or holing up in the dome, what choices!

Before the storm, they could have used all the school & city buses to evacuate those who couldn't make it on their own to higher ground further inland. But they chose weakness in the face of real danger instead.

After the storm, all resources were put at their disposal, yet they delayed making the request as well as delayed the delivery when aid arrived. Martial Law was declared and yet they still sat on their hands allowing lawlessness to erupt. Neither can handle their jobs, yet refuse to step aside and allow someone else to handle it.

If President Bush hadn't announced the evacuation order, there would be more loss and suffering, mainly due to the clueless Democrats who failed to do anything - who, by the way, have been in charge of that state long before Bush ran for office.

When you have your hand extended, you shouldn't b!tch about getting aid when you were told to prepare for 3-5 days of food and water. When it comes to your family's safety, waiting on government to solve your problems is no better than waiting on a welfare check instead of getting off your arse and finding work.

But I guess wading around in sewage and griping about it is a much more pleasing alternative if you always pull the "D" lever when it's time to elect leadership. The failure of a democrat-led state is why the media is out in force trying to point fingers at Bush, when they all know the reality of the situation...their own failures cause many more to die than would have if they hadn't been slow to react.

[Unmarked Package]

Astronomers should take the opportunity to study Jesse Jackson as he clearly is the black hole nearest to the Earth in our galaxy. He sucks in everything around him, particularly light, and returns nothing to our universe. Those that draw close to him risk eternal oblivion.

[joesnuffy]

Jesse once again shows his great deficit of character
the content of which MLK says we should judge him on...

[NormsRevenge]

What I want to know is

WHERE'S REV. AL?

[Calpernia]

That is an awesome freep. And I support it.

I'm really very bothered by the fact that you are the only one that posted to me...when I posted some REALLY disturbing info on this thread.

I support your email protest; but since you are the only one emailing...then you will be ignored.

Why does this group have MIL server space?

Why isn't this group UPSET that the poor people died because the Mayor had no OEP group?

WHY isn't this group upset that people DIED and are STILL DYING because NIGEN cashed in on grants and HS funds for a group that was directly responsible for THIS HURRICANE and evacuation of the citizens?

Ok, ranting to me here. Not expecting any response. Blah blah blah.

[msnimje]

Don't forget their equally incompent white governor

Yep, she is the second biggest threat to those poor folks

[kempster]

All good questions, but unfortunately we will never get the answers to them anymore than they will respond to my EMail. It just makes us feel better.
He is a sacred cow that no media person will touch. Only Jesse Lee Peterson tells the truth about Reverend Jackson.

[antaresequity]

excuse my language...

Jackson has eclipsed Cindy Sheehan as the preeminent tragedy pimp...

What a Race Baiting A$$hole...and what a tragedy he himself is to the very people he claims to represent...

Disgusting...

[sydbas]

"Why are there no African Americans in that circle?" Jackson asked.

Well who is stopping any of them from stepping up? Who is stopping Jesse Jackson from stepping up? The mayor of New Orleans is black and instead of stepping up he is moaning and groaning and blaming everyone else. It seems all they can do is race bait and complain. If there is a real leader among them let's hear from them. Jackson, Sharpton, Rangel, Meaks, Waters, Lee, McKinney, anyone, any of you. You guys are pathetic.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Now is not the time to get into a pissing contest with these fools. Get the job done. When the time comes much will have to be said and fingers pointed. Starting with the condition of urban areas after decades of democratic political dominance and it's (non)effect on lifting people up out of poverty and teaching self-respect and responsibility instead of wasting time/energy preaching racial hate.

Not to sound like Jesse Jackson but... "people need education not reparation" or "educate, not misappropriate"

[wardaddy]

Jesse should be denouncing the more obvious transgressions

reminds me of the mullahs

[Red6]

Political ambulance chaser.

A scumbag.

Red6

[Chena]

Sharpton and Jackson are a disgrace. Not just to America but to all black people everywhere.

[Chena]

Well said, combat_boots.