Brown: Politics Plagued Katrina Response

(AP)  Party politics played a role in decisions over whether to take federal control of Louisiana and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, the former director of the federal emergency management agency FEMA said.

Some in the White House suggested only Louisiana should be federalized because it was run by a Democrat, Gov. Kathleen Blanco, ex-FEMA director Michael Brown told a group of graduate students at a lecture on politics and emergency management at Metropolitan College of New York.

Brown said he had recommended to President George W. Bush that all 90,000 square miles along the Gulf Coast affected by the hurricane be federalized, making the federal government in charge of all agencies responding to the disaster.

"Unbeknownst to me, certain people in the White House were thinking 'We had to federalize Louisiana because she's a white, female Democratic governor and we have a chance to rub her nose in it," he said Friday.

Brown declined to say who in the White House had argued for only taking control of Louisiana, but said that he had later learned of the situation through Blanco's office and from other officials on the federal level.

Blanco reacted sharply on hearing what Brown had said.

"This is exactly what we were living but could not bring ourselves to believe. Karl Rove was playing politics while our people were dying," Blanco said through a spokeswoman, referring to President Bush's top political strategist. "The federal effort was delayed, and now the public knows why. It's disgusting."

Eryn Witcher, a White House spokeswoman, denied Brown's claims.

"It is unfortunate that Mike Brown is still hurling false statements about the events surrounding Hurricane Katrina," she said. "The only consideration made by the administration at the time of this tragedy and since are those in the best interests of the citizens of the Gulf region."

Brown, 52, was ousted from FEMA after the agency's much-criticized response to Hurricane Katrina. He also was ridiculed after President George W. Bush publicly praised him, saying he did a "a heck of a job," while thousands desperately waited for help. Brown now directs Emergency Management Programs for the Resilient Corp., a consulting firm.

[victoriarum]

I pray for all parties involved in this situation, especially those whom are still living without a home in this devastate area.

God Bless

[bhappy2-2]

Did you see the Oprah show where CNN's Anderson Cooper told her that the train people had called Mayor Nagin's office and offered 1000 FREE seats on the train but Mayor Nagin's office TURNED THEM DOWN and the train pulled out empty.

Posted by Hermit22 at 01:08 AM : Jan 21, 2007

Hermit22,
Are you saying the people of New Orleans are so stupid they can't decide for themselves whether to accept an offer of a free trainride away from the danger? Or are you saying Nagin did not allow the people to make up their own minds? I am betting on the second, which goes with what I have been saying; Nagin, not Bush, not FEMA, not the Federal Government, FAILED NEW ORLEANS!

[mcmlxxvad]

Another count on the list of treason charges against Bush.

[vox11-2009]

The best thing about this story is that the most damaging thing the Bush admin. could contrive to sink Blanco and LA is to take control of the area itself. The best endorsement for dems I've heard in some time!

[frankbowers]

As a life time republican i changed when gw bush run for govenor here in TX. I have know him and his familt for years and the only man it that family worth a pennies worth of salt was the govenor in Florida. He prooved how thick blood was when he screwed the election in the Gore bush election and that took care of him. The bush bfamily had did more to convert me from the republican party since Ike than a bullet in the head could have. I think after reading this story though it is time to get a roap and a stout oak tree for this little wessel in DC. He not o nly makes the republican party disgraceful he makes the nation likewise. F Bowers

[idonwanna-2009]

Your comments are all interesting. Being a resident of Biloxi, MS before and after Katrina, I will tell you that Haley Barbour, our Govenor and A.J. Holloway, our Mayor, could teach every community how to deal with FEMA, The President, and all the red tape required to help their citizens. BILOXI IS REALLY DOING PRETTY WELL. We have a long way to go to make sure our citizens all have adaquate housing, but the casinos are back, (read tax base) the hotels are open, the roads are mostly repaired, the mall is open, there are more jobs than people to fill them, and the WONDERFUL people of Biloxi are not whining.

[themooniac]

..just goes to show you where your tax dollars went. The zillions spent to reorganize agencies after 9/11 was just political window dressing. One natural disaster occurs and the response was abysmal, actually worse. Just imagine if this had been a major terroist attack...the U.S. goverment was no more prepared for responding to a crisis than they were on 9/10/2001. Not exactly confidence builiding.

[hermit22]

Did you see the Oprah show where CNN's Anderson Cooper told her that the train people had called Mayor Nagin's office and offered 1000 FREE seats on the train but Mayor Nagin's office TURNED THEM DOWN and the train pulled out empty.

[talsian]

Wow. I'm stunned. This administration is just pure evil.

[trojanny]

I'd like to say I can't believe this about the [p]resident, but I can, and I'd use "colorful metaphors" with that, if I could!
I've been in emergency/rescue services all my life, including hurricane & wild fire, and I tell you: Brown should be in there! He worked his --butt- off dealing with Katrina, & was IMPAIRED by Bush & Chertnoff!!
Sadly, and with extreme anger, I can believe Bush-ites even played their could politics here, (more reason to impeach)!!
No one faults Madam Governor, & we've all seen Mayor Nagin really in there 24/7 for his people. G.W. didn't even leave his ranch for three days.
Do you people see what kind of regime we still have in D.C.?
---formerly Fema; presently U. S. Coast Guard