Edwards Statement on Two-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina (a "national disgrace")

[JohnLocke]

Edwards Statement on Two-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
John Edwards for President
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
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Chapel Hill, North Carolina – Senator John Edwards released the following statement on the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

"If George Bush's government were as good and decent and focused as the people of New Orleans, whole parts of the city would not still look like the storm just hit. This is a national disgrace. While President Bush continues to fail New Orleans, the American people and the residents of the city have not. Almost all of the progress that's been made has been the work of the proud residents of the city and generous Americans, working without and often in spite of the federal government. Our government needs to support their efforts and help get New Orleans back on its feet. And we need to do everything possible to make sure this never happens again.

"Hurricane Katrina brought poverty right into our living room and showed us the Two Americas that exist in our country. We all saw the images of people stranded on rooftops or at the Superdome because they were unable to escape simply because they didn't have a car or the cash to evacuate, didn't have the physical mobility or because they didn't want to leave behind the few possessions they had.

"Although those images have faded from our television screens, widespread poverty still persists. In fact, data released yesterday by the Census Bureau shows no statistical change in the number of people living in poverty from 2005 to 2006 - leaving nearly 37 million Americans struggling to survive. America is better than this. We need a national effort to end poverty in America, and we need every American to take action in our fight to build One America. And we need to make sure another Katrina never happens again, in New Orleans or anywhere in America."

Edwards has made rebuilding New Orleans a central part of his campaign for president. In the spring of 2006, he took 700 college students to the area to help with rebuilding efforts. Edwards launched both his presidential campaign and his "Road to One America" tour in New Orleans because he believes that the challenge of building One America starts in New Orleans.

Edwards has also laid out a comprehensive agenda to rebuild the city. Edwards will get New Orleans back on its feet by: (1) making it safe, (2) creating jobs to give people a reason to return, and (3) building an infrastructure that's built to last - housing, schools, hospitals - for them to return to.

For more details on Edwards' agenda to rebuild New Orleans, see the fact sheet.

http://johnedwards.com/news/press-releases/20070829-katrina-anniversary/

[jmp]

1. New Orleans was a national disgrace before Katrina ever got there.

Some things don't need rebuilding.

[BOSSHOG]

2. I'm not quite sure of what you mean

could you please elaborate?

[jmp]

3. ...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8999837

[BOSSHOG]

5. I think its fair to say that

crime and murder can be found in any large city. However, if New Orleans is not rebuilt what will become of the ships and commerce that goes through the ports of New Orleans every day utilizing the Mississippi River coming and going? It is an essential lifeline for damn near all of the country. We have been going to New Orleans for 20 years, have enjoyed ourselves with each visit. The food, the music, the architecture are indeed national treasures which many believe should be protected. I don't know what the solution to inner city crime is but not rebuilding an incredibly important city for our country is not the answer.

[waiting for hope]

11. You are so civil....

Bless you.

[Darth_Ole]

6. Yeah, jmp, why don't we just give up on them?

Sheesh, we have the potential to do something really great in the Gulf... Rebuilding New Orleans would be one of the proudest moments of this or any generation, and it's your kind of attitude of cynicism and despair which is partly to blame...

This government failed the city of New Orleans, and regardless of what the city's murder rate is, we have an obligation to those people... Bush, Brownie, and Chertoff were clueless, but you don't have to be, as well...

[rudy23]

4. Gee, you think that's the exact reason those articles are being planted today?

What has New Orleans ever done for America? (besides having the most important port in the US, being the birthplace of most American music, having the coolest architecture in the country, driving much of the US economy, being the birth of multi-culturalism, having amongst the best food in the country, etc. etc.)

[Darth_Ole]

7. Don't forget jazz!

[rudy23]

8. I started to say jazz, then realized--no, most American music.

Most American music of the last century in derived from jazz, blues, funk, etc. Much reggae came through New Orleans. It really is a bastion of everything good that comes from being the most integrated city in America. Yes, there's also conflict and crime that comes out of that, but the good FAR outweighs the bad in that sense.

[waiting for hope]

10. Enjoy your stay -

That has to be the most disgusting statement I have ever read on this board. What other cities in the country do you think need to be leveled? I'm curious - New Orleans has the same issues as any other large urban area -

Most dangerous
Rank City
1. St. Louis, Mo.
2. Detroit, Mich.
3. Flint, Mich.
4. Compton, Calif.
5. Camden, N.J.
6. Birmingham, Ala.
7. Cleveland, Ohio
8. Oakland, Calif.
9. Youngstown, Ohio
10. Gary, Ind.
11. Richmond, Calif.
12. Baltimore, Md.
13. Memphis, Tenn.
14. Trenton, N.J.
15. Richmond, Va.
16. Kansas City, Mo.
17. Atlanta, Ga.
18. Cincinnati, Ohio
19. Washington, D.C.
20. North Charleston, S.C.
21. Reading, Penn.
22. Newark, N.J.
23. Little Rock, Ark.
24. San Bernardino, Calif.
25. Orlando, Fla.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0921299.html

Which one?

[slick8790]

13. I think more and more you're a troll.

Stupid statements like this, and statements saying president guiliani wouldn't be different than the "tyrants at the DNC". Who are you trying to fool?

[JohnLocke]

9. Kick (nt).

[waiting for hope]

12. K&R!!