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MONTHLY ARCHIVES
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One Thousand Miles Away, Obama Deals with Hurricane Gustav
August 31, 2008 7:18 PM
TOLEDO, OHIO – Before introducing the man at the top of the ticket at an economic forum on the roof of the Toledo Public Library Sunday, Sen. Joe Biden, D-Del., asked supporters to pray for those about the feel the wrath of Hurricane Gustav.
"It’s a magnificent day today, but a lot of our friends down in New Orleans, where my daughter went to school, are battened down for something that may be even more devastating than what happened in Katrina,” Biden said. “Pray God it won’t. At mass this morning, 7:15 mass, I along with a lot of other people prayed for those folks down there, so I mean it sincerely.”
It’s a tricky thing, asking for votes at jubilant campaign rallies while thousands of miles South a natural disaster looms. Biden and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., have decided to handle it by mentioning Gustav frequently on the campaign trail, activating supporters, phoning federal, state, and local officials to be debriefed and to offer help – and otherwise to campaign as previously scheduled.
“I hope it doesn’t sound corny, but say a little prayer,” Biden continued in Toledo. “Say a little prayer, because these folks have been through, you know, they’ve been through hell. And pray God this Gustav decides to take a turn or something but it doesn’t look real good now.”
Obama earlier in the day mentioned Gustav as well.
“There is enormous urgency in making sure that people take the evacuation seriously,” he told reporters after leaving church in Lima, Ohio.
To that end, Obama called in to four New Orleans, La., TV stations and one radio station to urge residents to leave.
“It appears that we have made progress and the coordination among state, local, and federal governments are better than with Katrina,” Obama told WGNO-TV, the ABC News affiliate. He said his “main message is for everybody to follow instructions, you must evacuate, you can't take a chance. If you do not evacuate, you put yourself and others in danger.”
Obama has continued to hammer away at the positions taken by his rival Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, on issues such as the economy. A big, jubilant campaign rally was held Saturday night in Dublin, Ohio; another one will be held this evening in Battle Creek, Michigan.
But Obama has assiduously avoided anything that could be interpreted as politicizing the storm.
As recently as Thursday night’s nomination acceptance speech Thursday night Obama was hammering the Bush administration for its inadequate response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita – “We are more compassionate,” he said, “than a government…that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes” – today his comments were all about how the government has learned its lessons.
He has in the past attacked McCain for opposing various post-Katrina funding bills, but today he told WGNO-TV that he and McCain agree on pushing FEMA for immediate relief for the area.
Asked if McCain’s visit to the region was appropriate, Obama said, “I think that with a big storm like this raises bipartisan concerns and I think for John to want to find out what is going on is fine.”
As for whether or not he would visit, Obama said, “The thing that I am always concerned about is, in the middle of the storm is, whether we are drawing resources away from folks on the ground, because the Secret Service and various security requirements sometimes it pulls police and fire and other departments away from concentrating on the job. I am assuming that where (McCain) went that wasn’t an issue and we are going to try to stay clear of the area until things have settled down and then we will probably try to figure out how we can be as helpful as possible.”
Over the weekend, Obama has phoned Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, Sen. Mary Landrieu, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, and FEMA director David Paulison. Aides said he was mainly trying to learn the latest about the path of the storm, gauge the work that had been done to help evacuate the old, infirm, and people with special needs, and to assess how well federal, state and local authorities are cooperating.
The Democrat also offered any assistance he could, though practically speaking there is little a first-term junior senator from Illinois can do right now.
Obama today said he called upon on his network of volunteers and donors to mobilize to help citizens of the Gulf Coast.
“Since we’ve got a network of volunteers, donors all across the country is to try to coordinate with officials to figure out what will be most useful if we can get volunteers, if we can get donations where they can be directed,” he told reporters. “We probably won’t know entirely who needs the most help and what is the best way to do it without getting in people’s way, until we actually see what happens over the next 48 hours.”
By early afternoon, a blog post on the Obama-Biden website told supporters how they could help.
- jpt
August 31, 2008 in 2008: Democrats, McCain, John, Obama, Barack | Permalink | Share | User Comments (143)
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Do they believe in prayers, the Ten Commandments and the Word of God, really?
Posted by: LDV | Sep 2, 2008 1:44:08 PM
I received daily e-mails from the obama camp praising themselves and asking for donations, but not a single one to express concern or to ask for others to help out those affected by these natural disasters. Is this all talk?
Posted by: RB | Sep 2, 2008 11:39:23 AM
We shouldn't be turning natural disasters into caring competitions. It's not like McCain has any say in how the recovery efforts are handled. Obama has been encouraging all his supporters to donate in emails and text messages. Both of these candidates care. Bush was just an idiot.
Posted by: danman | Sep 2, 2008 1:12:35 AM
Dear people,
I don't usually read anything that post with Obama's picture on it first. However I just see this one is the opportunity for me to shime in on a few thing. First GO MCCAIN/PALIN the country is waiting for you! Second please Libs. go get a life! How you're sitting there complaining how manny times Mccain met with Sarah Palin before selecting her for VP how about all of you Libs., how many times have you met Obama? why are you electing him to become President?
Posted by: vegas | Sep 1, 2008 2:19:10 PM
Well, we can at least thank God now that it is not as bad as predicted. Hope the people evacuated can see Gof on their side.
Visiting the people out there is not what the people out there really need. We are talking about visiting when they were being evacuated! Can we not see a sense in Sen Obama's reason for not visiting.
C'mon, leave party out of this. The guy hit it. The most important is what we can do to minimise and help the affected people, which is what he is after. It is about the aftermatch.
Posted by: Kay | Sep 1, 2008 1:57:47 PM
No matter where one sits on the political spectrum, logic, accurate spelling and good grammar ARE required to participate in intelligent
political discourse. Many of the preceding comments fail to exhibit these qualities.
(1) Attempting to predict negative behavior (mind reading) just stirs hostilities, produces nothing informative or helpful.
(2) If either presidential candidate wants to help Gustav's victims, let them! If they email financial and volunteer appeals to their list,that will be great. How about the rest of us doing the SAME THING??
EVEN IF New Orleans WAS built below sea level, even though the Army Corps of Engineers rebuilt the levees to only Category three specifications,showing compassion is always a good idea.
It's about time Americans grow up.
by Amber in Chicago
Posted by: amber ladeira | Sep 1, 2008 12:40:46 PM
AMAZING! Sen. Barack Obama, just used the exact same lame excuse for not touring the hurricane effected South that George W. did during Katrina. The EXACT excuse that he himself criticized the President for back then. I am a lifelong Democrat, but I am so over this phony baloney empty-suit politician that I now turn the channel whenever he appears. With his "Cult of Personality" though, I have been left with just the Cartoon Network. Thats not bad though, Fred Flintstone is more sincere and less arrogant.
Posted by: PhillyPaul | Sep 1, 2008 11:48:36 AM
"There he goes again" America! Sen. Barack Obama must be the most masterfully passive-aggressive politician I have seen in my adult life on this planet. I hope that everyone who read this article or saw his statement to reporters can see through his BS. He appears to want to look as if he is being "fair" by stating that HE things that it is "FINE" for Sen. John McCain to tour the storm up close & personal, but HE would never do that, because it may take "much needed" resources [police, fire, EMT] away from the people that need them. He then adds, that he is "sure that John McCain is not in an area that needs those resources". PLEASE! Barack, your "I would not do it but I think it fine for John McCain to do it" is completely typical of his passive-aggressive nasty underhanded jab political style. As long as he says it with his disarming smile, he thinks that America does not notice. We do Barack, we are not as naive as you think.
Posted by: PhillyPaul | Sep 1, 2008 11:42:13 AM
Henry, I agree, it is a manner of record that Obama did nothing to stand up against the corrupt political machine in Chicago. In fact, just the opposite, Obama was a member in good standing of the corrupt political machine in Chicago, ie,Obama's good buddy the convicted felon Rezco. In addition if the the Dems are saying given Palin's thin resume would you trust Palin to be the President should anything happen to McCain? can readily be countered would you trust Obama to be the President given Obama's even thinner resume.
Posted by: terry | Sep 1, 2008 10:43:52 AM
Henry, I agree, it is a manner of record that Obama did nothing to stand up against the corrupt political machine in Chicago. In fact, just the opposite, Obama was part a member in good standing of the corrupt political machine in Chicago, ie,Obama's good buddy the convicted felon Rezco. In addition if the the Dems are saying given Palin's thin resume would you trust Palin to be the President should anything happen to Palen? can readily be countered would you trust Obama to be the President given Obama's even thinner resume.
Posted by: terry | Sep 1, 2008 10:41:42 AM
Instead, Trippi sees McCain’s real purpose:
McCain picked in Palin someone who has taken on the corruption in the GOP in Alaska, turned against her own party’s establishment, and fought for reform.
The McCain/Palin duo will challenge Barack Obama’s claim of “a new kind of politics” and chastise Obama and Democratic vice presidential Nominee, Joe Biden, for their “silence” in taking on corruption in their own party in Illinois, Delaware and Washington, DC.
The McCain campaign intends to claim that “more of the same” in Washington means Barack Obama and Joe Biden and will make the argument that if you want to “shake things up” then McCain and his reform minded running mate from Alaska will get the job done.
My initial reaction was that in picking Palin, McCain had taken away the argument that Barack Obama wasn’t ready to be president. I now think my initial assessment on that score was wrong. Over time, the McCain team will insinuate that if you think a first-term Governor isn’t ready for the number 2 slot, are your really sure that a first-term Senator is ready for the number 1 spot?
Posted by: Henry | Sep 1, 2008 10:35:04 AM
They probably should start praying for their failing campaign. Polls show Obama 49%, McCain %48. Thought this was the year of the dems; what's up?
Posted by: jim | Sep 1, 2008 10:33:41 AM
OBama must figure that they have more emails and phone numbers than there were people watching oBama's annointment. THey knew the storm was coming during the Obama coronation , not one word. Did not want to steal oBama's spotlight. Them folks are just lowly average Americans oBama feels your pain, that's why he figured you don't nned hi to mention it during his stage time.
Posted by: foolmetwice | Sep 1, 2008 10:32:46 AM
I THINK ITS REALLY THOUGHTFULL FOR THE REPBS. TO GO DOWN THERE AND MAKE SURE THE DISASTER TEAMS ARE SET AND READY TO GO !!! AND THAT THEY DONT NEED ANYTHING,IT SOUNDS TO ME THAT THEY ARE THE ONES ON TOP OF THE SITUATION,AND NOT JUST OFFERING JUST THERE PRAYERS! LOOK WHAT A MESS IT WAS THE LAST TIME AND IT WAS NO BETTER IN FLA.
Posted by: RELD1127 | Sep 1, 2008 10:13:47 AM
Katrina was the failure of Democrats as well as Republicans. TPreparations at the local and state level were a disaster. The final failure was when FEMA, ttaken over by Homeland Security, was unable to pick up the pieces from the other two failures. Private agencies, including the Red Cross, were prohibited from performing efficiently by government. Such a pity that Americans spend so much money to try and restore this city in a location unsuited for humans. Perhaps this time politicians will stop wasting our resources and require these people to Wake up people. move to areas at or above sea level. When you make bad choices, you should accept the responsibility for your actions. People who rely on the public subsidy should be required to live in safer areas that they can afford and stop stealing from the rest of us. The same thing should apply to folks in Florida and other areas frequently targeted by natural disasters.
Posted by: angryvet | Sep 1, 2008 10:08:42 AM
Posted by: D | Sep 1, 2008 9:33:10 AM
You're right. IF he was down there they would have been saying it was a photo op and how dare he. I am glad he's not down there in the way of what needs to be done. The help he gives in Gustav's aftermath is what is important.
Posted by: J | Sep 1, 2008 9:38:41 AM
Twister! That is what the McCain and his supporters are playing.
Complain when Obama is not going to New Orleans but is providing support thru the Red Cross. The same supporters would issue similar complaints if he would have gone and said he is going for a photo op.
Twist everything that the dems are doing to make sure YOUR wonderful older candidate and his YOUNG running mate are elected.
You all have played this game so well... no wonder this country looks like a pretzel.
Posted by: D | Sep 1, 2008 9:33:10 AM
Given the slight’s chance of a Mr. Obama making it to the Whitehouse makes already the Russian and the Iranian jolly. America is on his way out of the protecting business. To reorganize for the Russian the internationally recognize border, is only the beginning.And as for the people of New Orleans next time ,a ship with blanket and rice, and a couple of tough word. And thanks for the fish ….. New Orleans And as for the people of New Orleans a ship with blanket and rice, and a couple of tough word. And thanks for the fish ….. New Orleans ,Ms.Obama don’s dill with the riffraff ....
Posted by: sampf15 | Sep 1, 2008 9:26:17 AM
Are these going to be the same volunteers that he sent to help Iowans in the aftermath of tornadoes and floods? Oh wait, he didn't send any to them - they weren't getting quite the same new coverage that New Orleans and Obama are getting. Way to play the cameras Barack.
Posted by: Jazz | Sep 1, 2008 8:40:28 AM
Since when is it a Presidential candidates job to do that? Geez I think our REPUBLICAN President should have done that don't ya think????
Posted by: J | Sep 1, 2008 8:43:43 AM
What can Obama or McCain do about Gustav? We have a sitting president that is responsible for the security of this nation, a republican governor that wants to gain brownie points for decisive action and a mayor that has evacuated the gulf region. The only thing McCain can do is make a photo opt to stay in the news because his convention has been overshadowed. As for Obama, he is doing the right thing, staying out of the way and letting the people in charge do their jobs.
Posted by: william | Sep 1, 2008 8:42:34 AM
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