Local black columnist shills for Bush RE: Katrina. very disturbing

[expatriot]

Race card played in New Orleans disaster

This column was printed a week ago, was going to share it earlier but never got around to it. It made me so fricking mad.

Race card played in New Orleans disaster


New Orleans has had a majority black population, composing about 67 percent of the population, and was solidly Democratic. This is red meat to a certain kind of politician, the kind that seeks a political payoff by playing the race card. A number of national figures used race to seek advantage in the days following Katrina, and continue to the present. Their game is political advantage, not helping the people. This is nothing new and pops up whenever the opportunity arises.

The black residents of New Orleans were, and are, no different from their white neighbors in suffering, in pain, in distress, clinging together for support, in scraping food for their children, and looking for help wherever they could find it.

It was not hard to place myself among the people in lines at the convention centers, scrambling for whatever sustenance was available, wondering when buses for evacuation were coming. They could have cared less what political party was in power. The concern was for their very lives.

Such a concern was given lip service by a number of so-called “leaders” — Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Howard Dean — and major players in the media trying to tie the disaster to race.

...............


Those who thrive on playing the race card for political advantage are no better than the racists. In fact, they're worse. They deliberately exploit the vulnerable when and where they are weakest. They're like the “poverty pimps” dressed in stylish suits, talking trash to anyone who'll listen, speaking gushingly about the poor, while robbing the poor to enrich themselves.

[Proud_Lefty]

1. I got this the other day and responded

Here's my response. I was furious for days after getting this.

This is bullshit. I followed this whole thing while it was happening and I know for a fact that this is nothing but spin. The federal government completely dropped the ball, they all demanded that no one point fingers and they've been pointing fingers ever since. They say the local government didn't do their job. The local government was there and did their job the very best they could.

Where was Bush? The storm flew in over the weekend. Monday, Bush went golfing in Arizona and shared birthday cake with McCain, then went to a fundraiser in San Diego on Tuesday. He only cut his 5 week vacation a few days short after people started sharply criticising him for completely ignoring the worst disaster in our country.

Where was Cheney? On vacation and didn't surface until more than a week after Katrina hit.

Where was Rice? She was seen Wednesday in New York, shopping for expensive shoes. When someone approached her and asked her why she wasn't dealing with the country's worst disaster instead of entertaining herself, she had her special police remove this citizen from the store.

Where was FEMA? When Michael Brown was interviewed towards the end of that week, he didn't even know where massive amounts of people were being housed.

Where was Homeland Security? They were standing around with their fingers in their butts.

The local authorities contacted the federal government BEFORE Katrina hit. Right afterwards, they contacted the government again and said "GIVE US EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT." The federal government didn't seem to understand that this meant they needed everything they've got. FEMA and Homeland Security denied that they were contacted that early, but it is DOCUMENTED!!!

Blaming the victims based on morals is unbelievable. These people didn't get out because they had no means. Very little was done for those who couldn't afford it. The massive amounts of federal money given for these people have gone to no-bid contracts with Halliburton, Dick Cheney's former company that has increased in profits over 3,000% since Bush and Cheney took office. They are stealing us blind, leaving thousands of people out in the cold, dead bodies floating around for weeks (that causes the spread of disease) and then they try to have us to point at the morals of these poor people in New Orleans. Good God!

A republican strategist came out and noted that if they don't allow the blacks back into New Orleans, the Republicans will dominate New Orlean by 57%. Yes, this was on Meet the Press a few weeks ago. So, thousands of people are being kept out of their homes, thrown out of their temporary housing and will not be allowed to come back at all for political advantage? Bush immediately repealed the Bacon Act so that Halliburton could come in with their big federal dollars (millions and billions) and pay locals BENEATH the minimum wage. Screw the people - help the corporations. Is that what this country is all about?

Tomorrow, the new bankruptcy law goes into effect. The American people are all screwed thanks to this government. As heating goes up enormously this winter, people will just have to figure out how to feed themselves, buy gas, stay warm and stay on top of their credit card payments. No relief for us in cases of emergency. If you can't figure it out, sorry Charlie. The buck stops here. But those energy companies and credit card companies are well protected. So, do you feel safer now?

People need to pay attention to all the rights we're losing. As long as it doesn't affect us directly, we're all happy to ignore it. How many times people say, "I'm not really into politics." When people see that these politics are killing our lives, our freedoms and our kids, unfortunately that's when it'll may be too late to do anything about it.

These types of emails don't change their lies into facts; it only makes people more ignorant to what's really happening. Don't allow yourself to be manipulated.

[Kipper58]

3. That's a superb response to this despicable crap, Proud lefty

n/t

[Proud_Lefty]

7. Thanks

Normally I ignore these emails, but this one really hit a cord. I can't remain silent anymore. I titled my email response, "Blaming the Victims?" That's exactly what they doing. It's simply appalling.

[expatriot]

11. you got this column emailed to you? wow. this is just some

local guy that wrote a column in the local paper. wow. he's famous :sarcasm: infamous is more like it.

[atommom]

2. Pointing out obvious racism is not the same as "playing the race

card for political gain." Expressing horror at the injustices in society does not make a person a "poverty pimp." I haven't seen a more offensive whitewash since Ronald Reagan explained to us that we needn't help the "welfare queens." :banghead:

[expatriot]

8. not only are Dems "poverty pimps" but they are "worse than the racists."

unbelievable. nt

[atommom]

9. Interesting, isn't it, how they are demonizing compassion?

This has been going on for a long time, but it has gotten so ridiculous that I don't see how anyone could be taken in. :shrug:

[papau]

4. FEMA got to NH for flood help in 90 seconds - but then the crowd

was color was a shade or two different than it was in New Orleans -

(paraphasing Leo's comment last night on Tonight Show)

[BOSSHOG]

5. I guess that explains why conservatives in congress

want to make aid to New Orleans in the form of a loan when other such events were grants, not to be paid back. Those wacky conservatives, whom we apparently don't understand, certainly don't want to be accused of playing the human misery and suffering index card. No siree Bob!

[Cocoa]

6. the 2% is nearly accounted for

just need to find a few more, and we'll know every single black Bush supporter.

[Cha]

10. Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and

Howard Dean were speaking Truth To The Power..so sorry if this ignoramous, mike shelton, can't handle the Truth.