Evacuees surprise ABC with Bush praise

An ABC News reporter who apparently expected hurricane evacuees to criticize the president after his speech last night, instead heard words of praise for Bush and blame for local officials.

Dean Reynolds, in the parking lot of Houston's Astrodome, spoke with black evacuees from New Orleans, but "not one of the six people interviewed on camera had a bad word for Bush – despite Reynolds' best efforts," said the Media Research Center in a report on the segment.

"You talk about a major big media backfire, folks, this is it," commented radio talk host Rush Limbaugh during his show today.

Reynolds asked Connie London: "Did you harbor any anger toward the president because of the slow federal response?"

"No, none whatsoever," she said, "because I feel like our city and our state government should have been there before the federal government was called in."

London pointed out: "They had RTA buses, Greyhound buses, school buses, that was just sitting there going under water when they could have been evacuating people."

Reynolds asked Brenda Marshall: "Was there anything that you found hard to believe that he said, that you thought, well, that's nice rhetoric, but, you know, the proof is in the pudding?"

She replied, "No, I didn't," prompting Reynolds to marvel to anchor Ted Koppel: "Very little skepticism here."

Reynolds pressed another woman: "Did you feel that the president was sincere tonight?"

Reynolds asked who they held culpable for the levee breaks – a problem national media have blamed on Bush-mandated budget cuts:

One evacuee said, "They've been allocated federal funds to fix the levee system, and it never got done. I fault the mayor of our city personally. I really do."

"I'd like to get the reaction of Connie London who spent several horrible hours at the Superdome. You heard the president say repeatedly that you are not alone, that the country stands beside you. Do you believe him?"

Connie London: "Yeah, I believe him, because here in Texas, they have truly been good to us. I mean-"

Reynolds: "Did you get a sense of hope that you could return to your home one day in New Orleans?"

Reynolds: "Did you harbor any anger toward the President because of the slow federal response?"

London: "No, none whatsoever, because I feel like our city and our state government should have been there before the federal government was called in. They should have been on their jobs."

London: "No, no, no, no. Lord, they wasn't. I mean, they had RTA buses, Greyhound buses, school buses, that was just sitting there going under water when they could have been evacuating people."

Reynolds: "Now, Mary, you were rescued from your house which was basically submerged in your neighborhood. Did you hear something in the President's words that you could glean some hope from?"

Mary: "Yes. He said we're coming back, and I believe we're coming back. He's going to build the city up. I believe that."

Reynolds: "Now, Brenda, you were, spent, what, several days at the Superdome, correct?"

Marshall: "Well, I think -- I think the speech was wonderful, you know, him specifying that we will return back and that we will have like mobile homes, you know, rent or whatever. I was listening to that pretty good. But I think it was a well fine speech."

Reynolds: "Was there any particular part of it that stood out in your mind? I mean, I saw you all nod when he said the Crescent City is going to come back one day."

Marshall: "Well, I think I was more excited about what he said. That's probably why I nodded."

Reynolds: "Was there anything that you found hard to believe that he said, that you thought, well, that's nice rhetoric, but, you know, the proof is in the pudding?"

Reynolds: "Good. Well, very little skepticism here. Frederick Gould, did you hear something that you could hang on to tonight from the President?"

Frederick Gould: "Well, I just know, you know, he said good things to me, you know, what he said, you know. I was just trying to listen to everything they were saying, you know."

Reynolds: "Do you think this is a little too late, or do you think he's got a handle on the situation?"

Cecilia: "To me it was a little too late. It was too late, but he should have did something more about it."

Reynolds: "I mean, do you all want to return to your homes? We're hearing some people don't even want to go back."

Reynolds: "And do you expect to go back to the house or a brand new dwelling or what?"

Mary: "I expect to go back to something. I know it ain't my house, because it's gone."

Reynolds: "What is the one mistake that could have been prevented that would have made your lives much better? Is it simply getting all of you out much sooner or what was it?"

Mary: "I'm going to tell you the truth. I had the opportunity to get out, but I didn't believe it. So I stayed there till it was too late."

Reynolds: "Did you all have the same feeling? I mean, did you all have the opportunity to get out, but you were skeptical that this was the really bad one?"

Unnamed woman: "No, I got out when they said evacuate. I got out that Sunday and I left before the storm came. But I know they could have did better than what they did because like they said, buses were just sitting there, and they could have came through there and got people out, because they were saying immediate evacuation. Some people didn't believe it. But they should have brung the force of the army through to help these people and make them understand it really was coming."

London: "And really it wasn't Hurricane Katrina that really tore up the city. It was when they opened the floodgates. It was not the hurricane itself. It was the floodgates, when they opened the floodgates, that's where all the water came."

London: "Yes. I mean, they've been allocated federal funds to fix the levee system, and it never got done. I fault the mayor of our city personally. I really do."

Reynolds: "All right. Well, thank you all very much. I wish you all the best of luck. I hope you don't have to spend too much more time here in the Reliant Center and you can get back to New Orleans as the President said. Ted, that is the word from the Houston Astrodome. And as I said, when the President said that the Crescent City will rise again, there were nods all around this parking lot."

What Reynolds heard in his ear during the broadcast:

Reynolds: "I'd like to get the reaction of Connie London who spent several horrible hours at the Superdome. You heard the president say repeatedly that you are not alone, that the country stands beside you. Do you believe him?"

Connie London: "Yeah, I believe him, because here in Texas, they have truly been good to us. I mean-"

(ABC Booth producer #1) CUT !

(ABC Booth producer #2) CUT ? Who are you, Spielberg ? We're not making a movie.

(ABC Booth producer #1) We need more ANGER, more RAGE. more COWBELL! Tell her that Bush controls the weather.

(ABC Booth producer #2) That's a lie. Have you no shame?

(ABC Booth producer #1) Shame smame! Reynolds . . remind her about her home being gone, she'll tear up.

Reynolds: "Did you get a sense of hope that you could return to your home one day in New Orleans?"

London: "Yes, I did. I did."

(ABC Booth producer #1) CUT !

(ABC Booth producer #2) CUT ? Who are you now, Quintin Tarentinno? We're still not making a movie, we're reporting news.

(ABC Booth producer #1) But, but, she's telling the truth!

(ABC Booth producer #2) Truth . . Yes . . that is rare on our network. ['Mr. Burns' (tm) Simpson's laugh redacted]

(ABC Booth producer #1) I know! Ask her a leading question . . . something about anger or rage . . .something that assumes bush was late. That'll send her off

(ABC Booth producer #2) It will never work . . .

Reynolds: "Did you harbor any anger toward the President because of the slow federal response?"

London: "No, none whatsoever, because I feel like our city and our state government should have been there before the federal government was called in. They should have been on their jobs."

(ABC Booth producer #2) See? Told Ya. Asking a question that assumes a lie only pisses people off.

(ABC Booth producer #1) Ok, that was a little to much, I have to admit.

(ABC Booth producer #2) Are you going to listen to me next time?

(ABC Booth producer #1) Do you have any idea how much the DNC spends on adds here? Tens of Millions each campaign year, not to mention the affiliates. We have to find synergy, SYNERGY MAN!

(ABC Booth producer #2) What? Now you're Michael Eisner?

[shill comment redacted]

(ABC Booth producer #1) I know! respond as if her last comment was just insane.

Reynolds: "And they weren't?"

London: "No, no, no, no. Lord, they wasn't. I mean, they had RTA buses, Greyhound buses, school buses, that was just sitting there going under water when they could have been evacuating people."

(ABC Booth producer #1) Cut!

(ABC Booth producer #2) Ok, so now you're Copala?

(ABC Booth producer #1) She just keeps telling the truth over and over.

(ABC Booth producer #2) That's news.

(ABC Booth producer #1) If we don't find a way to rescue this interview we can kiss all that Soros money good by.

(ABC Booth producer #2) What do creepy old rich guys have to do with the news?

(ABC Booth producer #1) Oh screw it, just go to the next person. Remember to remind her of her lost home . . . she'll cry.

Reynolds: "Now, Mary, you were rescued from your house which was basically submerged in your neighborhood. Did you hear something in the President's words that you could glean some hope from?"

Mary: "Yes. He said we're coming back, and I believe we're coming back. He's going to build the city up. I believe that."

(ABC Booth producer #1) Cut!

(ABC Booth producer #2) Enough with the cut crap, we're live.

(ABC Booth producer #1) Building up? Optimism? Hope? aww man, Soros is gonna freak out on us! No tears, no anger, no rage!

(ABC Booth producer #2) I know, go back to the home gone thing.

(ABC Booth producer #1) We already tried that, but ok.

Reynolds: "You believe you'll be able to return to your home?"

Mary: "Yes, I do."

(ABC Booth producer #2) See, told ya.

(ABC Booth producer #1) That loss of home has got to work.

(ABC Booth producer #2) Just keep responding as if she's nuts.

Reynolds: "Why?"

Mary: "Because I really believe what he said. I believe. I got faith."

(ABC Booth producer #2) Faith?

(ABC Booth producer #1) Faith?

(ABC Booth producer #2) We have to think of something, and fast.

(ABC Booth producer #1) Move to the next person, find someone else.

Reynolds: "Back here in the corner, we've got Brenda Marshall, right?"

Brenda Marshall: "Yes."

Reynolds: "Now, Brenda, you were, spent, what, several days at the Superdome, correct?"

Marshall: "Yes, I did."

(ABC Booth producer #2) Just try a straight up question.

Reynolds: "What did you think of what the President told you tonight?"

(ABC Booth producer #1) That was Soros on the phone, he said he wants anger and tears. He says he spent that add money here for a reason, so that we can deliver for him.

(ABC Booth producer #2) We're screwed! They keep telling the truth!

Reynolds: "Was there any particular part of it that stood out in your mind? I mean, I saw you all nod when he said the Crescent City is going to come back one day."

Marshall: "Well, I think I was more excited about what he said. That's probably why I nodded."

(ABC Booth producer #1) I'm putting a stop to this. Reynolds, work the bush credibility thing, and maybe we can save this.

(ABC Booth producer #2) Yes! Synergy!

Synergy!

Reynolds: "Was there anything that you found hard to believe that he said, that you thought, well, that's nice rhetoric, but, you know, the proof is in the pudding?"

Marshall: "No, I didn't."

(ABC Booth producer #1) More truth (sigh)

(ABC Booth producer #2) The same truth over and over, it's as if they where coached!

(ABC Booth producer #1) You mean like we coach Reynolds?

(ABC Booth producer #2) Yea, but we're good at it.

(ABC Booth producer #1) Soros doesn't think so.

(ABC Booth producer #2) Oh Hell, go to the next person, maybe he will dance.

Reynolds: "Good. Well, very little skepticism here. Frederick Gould, did you hear something that you could hang on to tonight from the President?"

Frederick Gould: "Well, I just know, you know, he said good things to me, you know, what he said, you know. I was just trying to listen to everything they were saying, you know."

Reynolds: "And Cecilia, did you feel that the President was sincere tonight?"

Cecilia: "Yes, he was." R

(ABC Booth producer #1) Another phone call. First Soros, and now Stephy . .and they're pissed!

(ABC Booth producer #2) SHIT! Reynolds, just tell them how to answer ! Lead, dammit Lead!

Reynolds: "Do you think this is a little too late, or do you think he's got a handle on the situation?"

Cecilia: "To me it was a little too late. It was too late, but he should have did something more about it."

(ABC Booth producer #2) Go back the missing home thing, I'm telling you they'll cry

(ABC Booth producer #1) Stephy on my 2 way, wants a meeting with us first thing in the morning [panicked].

(ABC Booth producer #2) Work that home thing hard.

Reynolds: "Now do you all believe that you will one day return to your homes?"

Voices: "Yes" and "I do."

Reynolds: "I mean, do you all want to return to your homes? We're hearing some people don't even want to go back."

Mary: "I want to go back."

Reynolds: "You want to go back."

Mary: "I want to go back. That's my home. That's all I know."

Reynolds: "Is it your home for your whole life?"

Mary: "Right. That's my home."

Reynolds: "And do you expect to go back to the house or a brand new dwelling or what?"

Mary: "I expect to go back to something. I know it ain't my house, because it's gone."

Reynolds: "What is the one mistake that could have been prevented that would have made your lives much better? Is it simply getting all of you out much sooner or what was it?"

Mary: "I'm going to tell you the truth. I had the opportunity to get out, but I didn't believe it. So I stayed there till it was too late."

Reynolds: "Did you all have the same feeling? I mean, did you all have the opportunity to get out, but you were skeptical that this was the really bad one?"

Reynolds: "Do you blame anybody for this?"

London: "Yes. I mean, they've been allocated federal funds to fix the levee system, and it never got done. I fault the mayor of our city personally. I really do."

(ABC Booth producer #2) (Sigh) 2-way Stephy that we will see him at 9 AM. Get my resume on Monster.com.

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