The answer to the question seems to be that they had Aaron Broussard, President of Jefferson Parish, stand in instead.
And he started out blasting the administration and President for not sending any help, and before he could be asked any questions melted down into an emotional wreck, blubbering about the someone's mother who didn't get rescued. With that Russert said, "I'll let you compose yourself, I know this has been emotional." Russert never went back to him.
Mr. Broussard never addressed what he tried to do to rescue the poor woman.
Tim Russert is having a meltdown moment himself. My God, he's attacking Chernoff, but thank goodness, Chernoff is calmly telling Russert that Russert has misquoted both him and the president. AND Chernoff is telling Russert in no uncertain terms how Mike Brown head of FEMA was on television Saturday before the hurricane hit on Monday, telling people to get out.
Now Russert is blaming Chernoff because the well-off in their SUVs got out but the poor didn't. (thats a double whammy attack...got in a swipe at SUVs too)
chernoff is setting Tim straight. TIM, THE LOCAL CITY AND STATE GOVERNMENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVACUATING THEIR CITIZENS!!!
Bravo Chernoff!!! Job well done on shuttting down Tim's obviously biased, emotional accusations. Way to go Chernoff!!
Tim Russert has completely blown his cover this morning. Emotional, accusatory, AND using incorrect quotes to do so. Tsk tsk Tim!