Posted on 09/03/2005 5:12:38 AM PDT by My Favorite Headache
Wexler: Bush Administration's Response to Hurricane Katrina a Disgrace
(Washington, D.C.) - Today, Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL) issued the following statement from the floor of the House of Representatives in response to President George Bush's failed handling in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:
Mr. Speaker:
Like all Americans, my heart goes out to the millions of people displaced and suffering from one of the largest national catastrophe in our nation's history. I hope all the victims of Hurricane Katrina know that our prayers are with them in this most difficult hour. I strongly support today's initial aid package to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
However, the Administration's response to this catastrophe is nothing short of a national disgrace. How is it possible that the Administration did not realize earlier what a catastrophe this is? There is a 90,000 square-mile footprint of disaster; and yet, last night FEMA's director Michael Brown admitted that the Administration had no idea exactly how bad the situation was. Even worse, he had previously characterized the security situation in New Orleans as "pretty darn good" and stopped just short of blaming the residents of New Orleans themselves for not evacuating.
The Bush Administration failed the American people in advance of the hurricane by cutting critical funding in spite of pleas by the Army Corps of Engineers -- money that would have been used to reinforce the very levees that broke and flooded New Orleans. We had plenty of money to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans but none to save the poorest Americans with an ounce of prevention.
And in terms of the response to the disaster itself, what we have seen there is unquestionably too little too late. While the President today said the relief efforts so far were "not acceptable," how can he possibly be surprised by this deplorable response? How can he say that the flooding wasn't anticipated? Quite to the contrary, it was expected. It was predicted. What is not acceptable is the President's response.
One year ago we had the opportunity to learn from the disasters in Florida. Floridians experienced the consequences of FEMA's failure to deliver aid to communities who needed it the most. We saw the most vulnerable in our society - the elderly and the poor - being left out or overlooked. Last year we had the opportunity to prevent this from happening again. At that time, I called for the resignation of FEMA head, Michael Brown because of his grievous mismanagement. The President did not heed that call, nor did he see fit to make any substantial changes in FEMA.
Last year, when the President's election was in question, his response to the hurricanes in the swing state of Florida was tremendously fast -- even passing out ice in the immediate aftermath. Where was he in the immediate aftermath for Gulf coast? Where were the trucks of food? Where were the water buffalo? Where were the tents of aid that are just now being established? The President and Congress dropped everything and flew back to Washington on Palm Sunday to intervene on behalf of Terri Schiavo. Why did the President delay so long for an entire American city in crisis? These are desperate people who need food, water, shelter and safety, not a photo op - which even itself comes 5 days late. Every asset of the American military in this hemisphere should have been devoted to America's humanitarian crisis starting on Monday at 5 PM.
I was in Aceh in Indonesia last month. I saw first-hand the greatness of the American aid efforts. Our response in the aftermath of the tsunami was one of America's finest hours. I was extremely proud as an American to see all the work our country had done to stave off famine and disease. Our aircraft carrier was off the Aceh coast within two days. If we can do that thousands of miles away in Indonesia, why not New Orleans? If we had even just met that same standard, help would have been in New Orleans on Wednesday. It should have been self-evident on Monday that now is the time to use our strength for the benefit of our own people.
Hurricane Katrina is another tragic wakeup call for America. After the immediate crisis has passed, we must create a national disaster fund. We must restructure FEMA. And, we must do more than talk about disaster preparedness. We must do everything possible to ensure that we are fully prepared for a national disaster and the possibility of a terrorist attack.
Congressman Wexler is a senior member of the House International Relations Committee and is a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
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Lale M. Mamaux Communications Director Office of Congressman Robert Wexler 213 Cannon House Office Building (202) 225- 3001 lale.mamaux@mail.house.gov
Yo, Wexler, keep up the partisan whine. It helps our side all the more.
How about this:
The people of New Orlean's response, who are mostly black, to this catastrophe is nothing short of a national disgrace.
I think what the media is doing to play to all this is absolutely outrageous. They keep showing these people in new orleans shaking their fingers and giving the finger,at the cameras and putting down our govt and our President, and than you see the pix from AL and MS and what a difference, those good folks in MS and AL have suffered devastation and you dont see them or hear them talking against our govt.
Great photo! We need to plaster this all over so the damn dems don't get by with THEIR culpability in this mess.
Look, I want someone to explain to me where I'm going wrong here. The fed response to this disaster is going to become a perception problem for Bush. In a country with the resources America has, this should have NEVER happened in the magnitude and aftermath of this hurricane. It doesn't really matter whose fault it is, this disaster will be laid squarely on Bush's shoulders.
If you guys think the MSM/dems will not take every political advantage they can of this catastrophe you need to wake up. Hopefully I'm wrong, but from what I've seen so far Bush is going to have a huge problem convincing people that something couldn't have been done to prevent this calamity. Add to that the outrageous price of gas and you're talking whirlwind criticism from a majortiy contintion of the population!
And, the supplies were in the planning stages ( something the mayor of N.O. and the gov of LA does not comprehend ) at least a month in advance for Afghanistan.
Hey Congressman Wexler your behavior as member of Congress and an American citizen is a disgrace!!!
I love that General.
And I concur with the other sentiment. If it comes down to survival and a Democrat is in the way, we're tossing them overboard. They are a complete waste of space as Wexler illustrates SO well here.
And it could well be said:
Mayor Nagin's response to this catastrophe is nothing short of a national disgrace.
BINGO!
Absolutely-- I think that when all the dust settles ( the floodwaters receed? ) and the spinning stops, the President will look very good, indeed, and all these weasels carping and sniping and criticizing will look like the clowns they are. At least I hope so.
Damn right! Wexler and every DEM on the planet are going to blame Bush. In the meantime the people reponsible for all the chaos are Democrat Governor Blanco and Democrat Mayor Nagin. Two of the most incompetent people in the political history of Louisiana and that my friend is quite an accomplishment.
Drives me crazy as well,but I suppose that just as soon as one of them decides to say anything they will be the ones accused of politicizing the disaster.
How long did it take Clinton to respond personally to the Oklahoma bombing,a couple of days as well,if I remember correctly.
True to dem form,he climbed on the corpses of the dead to accuse his political opponents of being the ultimate cause.Disgusting.
Wexler is a disgrace to Florida!
I don't share your optimism, most Americans only get their news in sound bites from the MSM.
And you will just like the MSM perpetuate that lie and cover the truth of the ineptitude and almost criminal incompetance of the No and LA local and state govts.
Let them bitch. But I don't see any blue states doing a damn thing. They are more than welcome to jump in and do something.
In fact, they can do it all.
I've sent it to everybody I know-- that storm track and the date on it make an irrefutable point.
Nagin and the dim-bulb governor will be forever known as the two boobs who drowned New Orleans.
Even an idiot like Wexler can occasionally get something right.
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