Posted on 01/18/2006 4:15:27 AM PST by Ellesu
NEW ORLEANS, LA — New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin's comments about a chocolate city and God punishing America with strong hurricanes ended up on the front page of most major newspapers across the country. National Public Radio carried the story. So did all of the national morning newscasts.
U.S. Senators landing at Lakefront Airport on Tuesday were all well versed on the Mayor's shoot from the hip statements.
Louisiana Senator David Vitter brought his colleagues on a tour of the hurricane damaged city. Vitter called Nagin's comments that New Orleans is a chocolate city because that's the way God wants it, unfortunate.
"I think they were very divisive at a time when we need unity to invite everyone back to the Greater New Orleans area, white and black as quickly as possibly," said Vitter.
Former Senator John Breaux is now lobbying Congress for Louisiana and was also at the airport to greet the delegation.
"I think that it's important that everybody say, what they say, very carefully," said Breaux. "People around the country want to know and members of Congress want to know that people are working together. That there's not a separation of races or political parties."
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco did not want to criticize Mayor Nagin, but called his Martin Luther King Day ranting a "cry for help."
"Crying out for help is the only thing most of us know how to do right now," said Blanco. "This is a plea. Help us. Don't let us down now in our time of need."
Former Democratic Vice-Presidential nominee Senator Joe Lieberman said he was willing to give Nagin the benefit of the doubt.
"Mayor Nagin is a good friend of mine so I would say he enjoys all the benefits of the first amendment," said Lieberman. "Secondly, one of the things I think that's always appealed to all of America about New Orleans is it's great diversity. I'm sure that the mayor will work hard to preserve that diversity."
There are strings attached to every dollar that comes down from Washington to the hurricane damaged area. Senators want to make sure that money is spent fairly and wisely. Senator David Vitter says Nagin's statements didn't help efforts to convince Congress the state is on the right track.
"I think they have people shaking their head and rolling their eyes again at some of our leadership here on the ground," said Vitter. "That's something we unfortunately lived through after the storm and it didn't help us in our national efforts."
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco did not want to criticize Mayor Nagin, but called his Martin Luther King Day ranting a "cry for help."
"Crying out for help is the only thing most of us know how to do right now," said Blanco. "This is a plea. Help us. Don't let us down now in our time of need."
Snort. Tell it to Trent Lott.
In the past I gave Nagin the benefit of the doubt and speculated that there may have been a bit of infighting between Nagin and Blanco while the hurricane was approaching. With these remarks, any credibility that Nagin may have had is now in the dumpster.
I love that..LOL!
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I wonder if the Senator has a clear understanding of where advocacy ends and fraud begins ... ?
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