Posted on 01/01/2006 1:47:08 PM PST by Libloather
Clothes also make the woman trying to look smart amid disaster
Leonard Pitts Jr. / Syndicated columnist
New Orleans cultural ambassador, Irvin Mayfield, plays a tribute to first responders as Mayor Ray Nagin, left, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, second from left, Lt. Gov Mitch Landrieu, and Gov. Kathleen Blanco, center, listen during an Interfaith Celebration in front of the Superdome in New Orleans, La., Sunday Jan. 1, 2006. The event was sponsored by Louisiana Rebirth celebrating the strength of those dedicated to the rebirth of Louisiana. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Apparently, Brownie wasn't the only one.
You remember the grief that fell on Michael Brown, former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, last month after the release of some embarrassing e-mails. They revealed that as Hurricane Katrina was submerging New Orleans and shredding Biloxi, Brown and his aides were exchanging e-mails on trivial matters, including the question of which clothes would make him "look more hard-working" on television. The e-mails were released at the request of a Democratic congressman to embarrass Brown, whose agency is widely felt to have bungled the federal response to the storm.
Now, as a means of ensuring the goose is served sauce similar to that presented the gander, Republican aides to a House panel investigating that response have released e-mails sent by subordinates of Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco. Suffice to say, they do not present her administration in a heroic light. Rather, they prove — not that proof were needed — that shallowness is not solely a GOP value.
"Please put (Blanco) in casual clothes, a baseball cap, etc.," wrote Liz Mangham, a PR consultant to the governor on Sept. 2, four days after the storm. "She needs to visit a shelter in prime time and talk tough, but hug some folks and be sensitive."
Mangham added that Blanco "looks ... too comfy in her suit. Please put the secretaries in caps and jeans. ... I don't care if they are in the field or not ... they should look like they are."
Kim Fuller, another gubernatorial flack, echoed that theme two days later, suggesting that Blanco "might dress down a bit and look like she has rolled up her sleeves. I have some great Liz Claiborne sports clothes that look kind of Eddie Bauer, but with class, but would bring her down to (the) level of getting to work."
Fuller also thought it would be good if the governor could be seen "doing something 'physical.' ... Maybe if she is with the troops she can put a few bags of ice in the hands of the citizens who need it. Make sure she is not wearing a suit, and make sure she has rough-looking shoes."
For the record, people were dying as these e-mails were being sent. In that context, they are nothing less than vulgar.
I'm reminded of a T-shirt I once saw in church. Front side: Jesus is coming. Back side: Look busy. Not "be" busy, you understand. What matters most is simply to look the part.
Is it really necessary to point out that when people — your countrymen, no less — are homeless, hungry and dying in the face of natural disaster, your first duty as an official, not to mention as a member of the human race, is not to do political calculus or worry about how you look on camera? It is to give help.
Apparently, that no longer goes without saying. If there's more damning evidence of how superficial, one-dimensional and petty our political life is in this country, I can't name it.
I am neither unaware of nor unsympathetic to the ways in which television has changed politics in the past half century. Nixon lost a presidential debate and a presidential campaign, some say, because he looked haggard onstage next to the handsome and virile Kennedy. Kennedy understood the importance of television imagery. His opponent did not.
That importance has only grown as television news — to say nothing of Internet news — has morphed into a communications megaplex that never sleeps.
Perception becomes more important than reality, so perception has to be micromanaged, even at reality's expense. Remembering to wear Liz Claiborne sports clothes that look kind of Eddie Bauer, but with class, comes to seem an issue of life-and-death importance.
But where Katrina was concerned, life and death were not about perception. They were about, well ... living and dying. They were about a reality that could not be stage-managed.
It is shameful that some of us even tried.
Well, whoever suggested it deserves a raise.
No argument there. Merely suggesting that Blanco is surely far from alone among politicians in relying on image consultants.
Well, if anyone ever needed image consultants, it has to be Blanco! She also needs brains & smarts consultants too!
"You are never going to be reimbursed by neither NOLA nor FEMA, but I thank you."
Regardless, from a female perspective....that man certainly fills out a uniform nicely!
On second thought, my real favorite is the one where he's catching the football like the biggest dork in junior high school.
I've lost count of my favourite Kerry pics, there were so many, and many brought mirthful tears...I'm an Aussie, if they made me ROFLMBO I can only imagine what they did for you...
I have suggested a number of times that a Freeper starts a thread MY ALL TIME FAVOURITE KERRY PICS and we could all contribute. Great way to start the new year, don't you think?
Everyone who lives in a trailer park is trash, don't ya know? Ask James Carville. In addition, they attract tornadoes. :-)
"Wass up with Mary? Pondering her reelection chances?"
No, prolly just tightening the guy wires that hold up her collagen-injected lips.
At first glance when I saw the picture of Kerry holding up the black quack, I thought he had shot Al Sharp-Not, I mean Sharpton.
Didn't Blanco earn her Spurs in boys town?
Oh, no Ciudads in NO...
Shucks, House of the Rising Sun! But, of course!
What is amusing here...is that Rudy G never for a moment thought about what to wear, what to say, or what to do after 9-11. Rudy did what came natural. Blanco isn't in Rudy's class....in fact...she could not even manage to make a on-the-spot speech if she had to.
I thought Rudy did a good job after 9/11, but how do we know he never thought about what to wear, say or do? I recall press conferences [can't remember if it was 9/11-related or at other times] at which Rudy would turn up in a police windbreaker. I don't think something like that is entirely spontaneous.
Here's Rudy with Gov. Pataki. Looks like it's immediately post-9/11. You'll note he's wearing a Fire Dept. cap and jacket.
Well, at least he shows up for his photo ops.
I do know that Rudy was almost literally in the middle of it right before and during the collapse of the WTC.
Heck of a job, Katie. (You too, Ray.)
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