The differences five years and two administrations make in regards to the reaction of the US media, elected officials and political activists over New Orleans and Haiti is undeniable. It speaks volume about the tactics that were played out in late summer 2005 and what we are seeing today.
For all the abuse President George W. Bush took over his handling of the federal response in the wake of Katrina, the untold number of deaths as a result of the flooding, the rumors that it was all a government conspiracy to weed out the black residents from the ninth ward, and FEMA's late response, all contributed to the sagging of Bush's approval numbers.
This, despite the fact that the federal government is not the first responder of sorts in any natural emergency or disaster, but rather it is the responsibility of the local authority and the state government to handle such matters as they see fit.
Regardless, the blood was in the water, and the press force-fed the idea that Bush was not up to the job of protecting Americans after all. Truly horrible. The vendetta was on, again. Bush had to be made an example of GOP incompetence, negligence and uncaring towards the poor minorities of New Orleans.
In the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, we see similarities with New Orleans. Black residents in desperation. Thousands dead, many injured and dying. Total infrastructural collapse. And, little to no government control.
Granted, Haiti, unlike New Orleans, is an independent nation. However, it's been over a week since the Caribbean plate rumbled, and humanitarian relief along with thousands of US troops have just arrived. The USNS Comfort, a hospital ship, has also docked in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Seven days it took, but they are there now, nonetheless.
Where's the outrage from the US media? Where are Speaker Pelosi and senate majority leader Harry Reid calling for an investigation into the late arrivals? Where is the manifestation of public anger at President Obama for not getting there sooner?
Frankly, I'm waiting to hear Minister Louis Farrakhan come up with a doozy, like say, the Mothership observed a United States Geological Survey vessel in the distance of the Haitian capital unload some super-secret depth charges causing the earth to shake violently so white crackers can re-colonize the black nation in order to transform it into a Club Med paradise for white blue-eyed devils.
But no. That's not going to happen. All's quiet in the American pressrooms. No visibly-shaken shouting Sheps. No dumb Kanye comment. No problems. Things are under control. The Democrats are in charge now.
But a Democrat governor, Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana, was in charge at the time of Katrina, as was a Democrat mayor, Ray Nagin of New Orleans. Right, both so-called leaders availed themselves to the comfort of safety while their own citizens were left to fend for themselves amid the ravaging storm and flood, leaving one leader, a republican, to take the flak for the combined ineptitude of two democrats.
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Lee, excellent points. What sticks out to me here is the usual double standard from the media concerning how they treated Bush and how they now treat Obama's response. Bush never claimed to be taking a lead role in New Orleans and why should he. This wasn't the first time a hurricane had struck US soil and by all accounts nothing different was done there than was done in any of the other hurricane ravaged location that year and as we remember, there were many. Enter Obama, he claimed to be taking a 'lead role' in the relief effort being involved in every aspect to ensure a swift response. here we are weeks later and people are still without basic necessities and there are reports of violence and rape in the tent cities. Irresponsible claims of occupation from both the extremes of the political spectrum have been met with silence by the administration. Like many of Obama's causes it appears as though Haiti served it's purpose of distracting from domestic issues long enough for Obama to redress his domestic agenda and roll it out yet one more time and it is surely to be met with rejection from a skeptical and suspicious public.
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