Thank God for the media attention

[patrioticintellect]

Two years later, Barack Obama, John Edwards, and Hillary Clinton have all returned to the scene of the crime to try and fix a situation that was been allowed to fester and has been mostly ignored. What exactly do they plan to do? Well, here is what the Boston Globe article on the situation says:

Fortunately for New Orleans, leading Democratic presidential candidates are waking up to the continuing resonance of the Katrina disaster. John Edwards launched his campaign there. He, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama are among those touting their own plans for Gulf Coast recovery. Obama's in particular is praiseworthy: It covers everything from levee reconstruction to crimefighting to restoration of coastal wetlands, and takes a nuts-and-bolts approach devoid of cheap political gestures. Source

That's all well and good but isn't it a little late? Let's go back to these candidates and see what they called for from the beginning when dealing with Katrina. What kind of statements/press releases were issued on their websites from the outset?

Obama started in September by visiting survivors with former presidents Bush and Clinton. In September 2005, it would also appear that Obama, who is on the federal level took credit for what the Governor of Illinois had done on the state level Source

Gov. Rod Blagojevich office said Sunday that Illinois expects to provide housing, food and medical care to 5,000 to 10,000 hurricane evacuees. More than 600 were being housed at Chicago area shelters as of Monday evening, according to the Red Cross.

Obama said he thinks the "shame" of the government's slow response to the disaster last week will be overshadowed by Americans' generosity.

"I wish that the federal government had been up to the task in the way that the American people I think were up to the task," he said. Source

That's all well and good except what did Barack actually get done on the federal level? Is two years later the first time that Barack has made the first stride forward? And why did he wait so long when considering the fact that he was so outspoken about Katrina when the administration and other government officials failed black people in New Orleans?

Obama in February 4, 2006, wooed people in New Orleans by offering them a charitable band-aid Source:

Obama said he had just flown in from Washington, D.C., where Thursday he introduced legislation to help low-income children from areas affected by Hurricane Katrina.

The legislation, which was introduced as an amendment to a $70 billion tax cut bill, will temporarily extend the Child Tax Credit to low-income parents in counties affected by the storm. Source

It's the sign of a true politician when a man wins the hearts of the beaten and broken with something that will do good in the short term but does nothing in the way of preventing such a disaster from ever happening again. Actually, that's not altogether true. Barack did have a plan.

Barack Obama introduced a plan for a National Emergency Volunteer Corps. Correct me if I am wrong though Obama, but isn't that what our nation's National Guard is supposed to do? Don't they save Americans in times of crisis? Dennis Kucinich got it right in his response:

“Our nation will be challenged by this latest disaster. Unfortunately, in this difficult time our resources are stretched thin. Due to extended deployments and military shortfalls, we do not have National Guards troops here at home for the vital tasks ahead. Our National Guard is needed now to restore order and rebuild the Gulf region.

“When Congress returns next week, I believe it must take immediate action to begin withdrawing our National Guards troops from Iraq to address the needs of the residents of the Gulf region. National Guard troops throughout the country, and in the effected region, are dangerously thin. Now more than ever, we need the National Guard to protect the peace in New Orleans, rebuild Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and to fight forest fires in Western states. Over the days and weeks to come, I will be working with my colleagues to bring our National Guard home, so they can begin the process of rebuilding the Gulf region.” Source

But with Barack refusing to defund the war and bring our troops home, we still have National Guardsmen tied up in a war waged on false pretenses. And until Barack realizes that, Barack will do unnecessary things like create a National Emergency Volunteer Corps that costs extra tax-payer dollars that should not be used to create something that already exists.

Coming soon: Edwards' record on Katrina and Clinton's record on Katrina. Plus more on Obama. I'm helping you get to know the people you want to elect so you can make a more educated choice.