Accusers should be under a cloud
"The charges of racism-inspired foot-dragging isn't just nonsense. It's pernicious nonsense.'' This is how the New York Daily News called it regarding charges from the usual black leaders that New Orleans rescue efforts were slow because the victims were black.
The News is right. Except it's even worse than the paper appreciates. What we are seeing is a black political public-relations operation geared to obfuscation, stoking hatred and fear, and nurturing helplessness among blacks. Such efforts keep black pols powerful, diversity businesses prosperous and blacks poor. How, when black politicians themselves played a prominent role in what happened, can we be talking about racism?
The first line of authority in emergency management, all agree, is local. It appears that Ray Nagin, New Orleans' black mayor, was grossly negligent. Buses that could have evacuated 12,000 citizens per run were not used and left on low ground and flooded. Where was black Congressman William Jefferson, who has represented New Orleans for eight terms? It had been known for years that the 17th Street Canal levee was not capable of withstanding a Category 5 storm. Upgrading it would have required federal funds, and therefore it was in Jefferson's area of responsibility.
In an interview on ``Hannity and Colmes,'' Jefferson indicated he had been involved in failed efforts over the years to get these funds. However, given the risks to which his constituents were exposed, one would think that the congressman would have been making a lot of noise about this. But Jefferson is a busy man. He's been the target of an FBI sting operation investigating possible public corruption.
Sean Hannity asked Jefferson, given his knowledge of the condition of the levee, when ``we knew the storm was coming, why didn't we get the people out?'' Jefferson's reply: ``Well, I'm not sure I know the answers to all those questions.''
Jesse Jackson is now touring Louisiana. Where was he as Katrina thundered toward New Orleans, with a population 70 percent black and poor? He was in Venezuela embracing President Hugo Chavez, who the week before was in Cuba visiting Fidel Castro and who also includes among his friends Zimbabwe despot Robert Mugabe.
It's time for those who really care about blacks to ask hard questions and be honest about the answers. Our government mechanism for dealing with emergencies must be repaired. The emergency management task for blacks is to get ourselves out of poverty.
If we allow political opportunists to again allege racism to deflect our attention from solving the real problems of fixing our families and educating our children, surely more tragedy awaits us."
Where was Jefferson? Apparently, saving his own ass!
More on Jefferson at the Political Teen.
Filed under Katrina disaster relief new orleans emergency response FEMA
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