But partisans on the left exploited the fact to promote that President Bush failed to meet American expectations. President Bush was criticized for lacking compassion by taking too long to visit the sites on the ground.
But President Bush stated, “Joe Hagin (deputy chief of staff) reached out [to the governors] to discuss the possibility of a visit. Both felt it was too early. A presidential arrival would have required dozens of law enforcement officials to provide security at the airport, an ambulance and medical personnel on standby, and numerous other resources. Neither governor wanted to divert rescue assets to prepare for my arrival. I agreed.”
Last month Louisiana was struck with another flood. The Red Cross labeled it the worst natural disaster in the past four years, and the Associated Press reported, “President Obama is unlikely to break from his New England vacation to survey flood Damage in Louisiana, despite calls for him to visit and meet with responders and victims.”
This time partisans on the right criticized the lack of criticism by the mainstream press of President Obama. A Fox News headline read — Bias Alert: Media that ripped Bush on Katrina ignores Obama on La. Flooding.
Other critics decided to declare the Louisiana flood Obama’s Katrina.
Meanwhile the governor of Louisiana stated he’d prefer that Obama wait because such visits pull local police and first responders into providing security.
Both presidents visited their respective disaster areas when it was deemed appropriate. But there is nothing more inappropriate than pretending to protest the inaction of a President when it’s known he’s prevented by procedures from acting, and regardless of American expectations all natural disasters require relief from a power higher than the President of the United States.
(J. Pharoah Doss is a contributor to the New Pittsburgh Courier. He blogs at jpharoahdoss@blogspot.com)
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