Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


28

Obama Vows Not to Repeat Katrina Mistakes

He makes his first visit as president to New Orleans

Share

(Newser) – President Obama promised not to repeat the mistakes the Bush administration made responding to Hurricane Katrina. Speaking to residents of New Orleans' lower 9th ward, Obama said the Katrina disaster was caused not just by “nature, but by a failure of government." By improving communication among state, local, and federal disaster agencies, the administration is "making sure that a disaster like Katrina does not happen again,” he said.

With Obama spending less than 4 hours in New Orleans, critics such as Republican congressman Steve Scalise said the city deserved more than a “drive-through,” reports Bloomberg. But a White House spokesman countered that Obama has freed up $1.4 billion in aid for rebuilding New Orleans’ infrastructure and sent more top officials to the region “than to almost any other place in the country.”

the Lower 9th Ward, the Industrial Canal, and the Mississippi River, bottom of photo, are seen from Air Force One as President Barack Obama arrives in New Orleans, La., Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009.
the Lower 9th Ward, the Industrial Canal, and the Mississippi River, bottom of photo, are seen from Air Force One as President Barack Obama arrives in New Orleans, La., Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama visits the Dr. Martin Luther King Charter School in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, La., Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009.
President Barack Obama visits the Dr. Martin Luther King Charter School in the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, La., Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
President Barack Obama speaks at a town hall meeting at the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009.
President Barack Obama speaks at a town hall meeting at the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
President Barack Obama participates in a town hall meeting at the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009.
President Barack Obama participates in a town hall meeting at the University of New Orleans in New Orleans, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Bill Haber)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
28 comments
VIEWING:
 
TheSniperZero
Oct 15, 09 3:49 PM CDT
Of course not. Barry's gonna come up with much bigger and better mistakes. And get handed more awards. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
-5
IN RESPONSE:
BeatBlaster
Oct 15, 09 4:03 PM CDT
Sounds like your jealous?
Vote up! Vote down!
+2
IN RESPONSE:
timeandagain
Oct 15, 09 4:58 PM CDT
Do what different from Bush? Physically FORCE the jackasses to evacuate when they are told repeatedly to evacuate? Pander to the idiots for votes? He is as stupid as they are!
Vote up! Vote down!
-1
Reader64481089
Oct 15, 09 3:50 PM CDT
"critics such as Republican congressman Steve Scalise said the city deserved more than a “drive-through,” Perhaps so but it deserved a hell of a lot more than a fly over by Air Farce One by GW who only eventually made an appearance after the backlash Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
+3
IN RESPONSE:
Rocket448
Oct 15, 09 10:01 PM CDT
Leave it to a Republican to criticize the President for his visit to New Orleans. That's just folly. Or does he think we've forgotten how the Bush administration failed to respond appropriately to the disaster? Oh, this has such ripe opportunities for comparison (none good). The GOP should have sat on its collective helmet during Mr. Obama's visit. But, of course, they just can't keep their damn mouths shut.
Vote up! Vote down!
+1

View all 28 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

4805 Stories

 US Recruits Allies 
 for Afghan Surge 

White House is quietly looking for 3K to 7K NATO troops

Nov 21, 09 8:39 AM CST
(Newser) - President Obama isn't planning to go it alone: The administration has hopes that from 3,000 to 7,000 NATO troops will be committed to joining the US troop surge in Afghanistan by the time he rolls out his new strategy after Thanksgiving. Advanced talks are underway, the Wall ... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Afghanistan • Barack Obama • NATO

 Obama's Stimulus Finally 
 Gets Some Respect 

Warring economists agree that it has helped—if not enough

Nov 21, 09 6:21 AM CST
(Newser) - Economists are still fighting about whether the economic stimulus was too small, or too big and wasteful, but a consensus is emerging, at least, that the $787 billion package, flawed as it is, is working. With a quarter of the money now spent, the New York Times says a broad... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • unemployment • economic stimulus package • jobless • economists

 The Decade's Best Quotes 


Nov 21, 09 5:48 AM CST
(Newser) - With the end of the decade near, Newsweek has rounded up the top 10 most important quotes from 2000 to 2009. A selection:
  • "Brownie, you’re doing a heck of a job": President George W. Bush, Sept. 2, 2005. In one line to then-FEMA director Michael Brown,
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Barack Obama • Hurricane Katrina • FEMA • Osama bin Laden • Michael Brown • The Onion • George W. Bush • Sarah Palin • 9/11 attacks • famous quotes

4805 Stories


Politics  •  US 
TwitterFollow @NewserPolitics on Twitter

 
Bush administration • Barack Obama • Hurricane Katrina • Katrina aftermath

from our news partners

CinemaBlend.com