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September 07, 2005
Old Media’s Katrina Dilemma: Politics or Truth
The Old Media finds itself on the horns of a dilemma in the wake of one of worst disasters in American history. It must choose whether to continue to pursue its anti-Bush agenda or to report the thousands of stories of tragedy, triumph and heroism that have begun to emerge from the floodwaters and debris of Hurricane Katrina.
In the first week, the Old Media reflexively began to point an accusing finger at the Bush administration, suggesting a “slow response” to ravages of the storm. When it became clear that affected area was larger than any other natural disaster the goalposts shifted to “lack of preparation.” After footage of police participation in looting was shown and it was reported that rescue and relief efforts in New Orleans were hampered by gunfire directed at emergency helicopters, racism was alleged. But such claims collapse under the weight of the realities that are hard to ignore.
On the Sunday that Katrina was bearing down on the “Big Easy” the Old Media was still engaged in a two-pronged attack on the President, the problems with the war in Iraq and the high price of gasoline. News coverage was totally committed to the antics of a woman in the ditch in Crawford, Texas. The only mention of the hurricane came in the context of what effect it would have at the pump. At the time, there was little concern expressed for the danger posed to the residents of the Gulf Coast. Certainly, none of the “experts” that have come forward in the last week to pontificate sounded any alarm in advance of the storm.
Democrats have seen political opportunity amidst the death and destruction, evidenced by the angry outbursts of their leaders and their sycophants in the press. Sen. Mary Landrieu blubbered during an interview with George Stephanopoulos while flying in a helicopter over the ruined landscape. She expressed anger at the President for not having acted sooner, but neither the senator nor her intrepid questioner made any mention of what actions her brother, Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu took before, during or after the hurricane.
Similarly, NBC’s Tim Russert took Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff to task, asking whether he or any of his staff were going to resign. The usually cool moderator angrily declared, “The time for accountability is now,” but he did little to ascertain where responsibility might lie.
Few, if any in the Old Media have raised any questions about the state and local leadership. But the public record demonstrates that the New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco failed to act on advice offered by President Bush and FEMA chief Michael Brown. Bush personally urged Blanco to issue a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans on the Saturday before the hurricane came ashore. Brown made television appearances the same day telling residents to leave the city.
In contradiction to its own 2000 plan for evacuation, buses that could have transported thousands to safety sat idle in parking lots, later rendered useless by the flood. Residents were herded into the Superdome, which became a hellhole of robbery, rape and murder. Blanco didn’t mobilize the Louisiana National Guard before the storm, so it would be available as soon as the hurricane passed.
Nagin told reporters that the President presented the governor with two proposals when he visited last Wednesday, but Blanco was unwilling or unable to make a decision for 24 hours. Instead, she wrung her hands, fumed and sobbed for the cameras.
Meanwhile, back in Washington, the White House Press Corps led the charge as usual against the administration. The reporters posed the same question about accountability dozens of times to Press Secretary Scott McClellan, who repeatedly resisted becoming involved in the “blame game.” The President similarly responded to a question asked him before Tuesday’s cabinet meeting. Of course, that infuriates the press corps, because the assignment of blame is one of its main functions, having long ago abandoned the role of diviners of truth.
But the press corps risks becoming even more irrelevant if it continues to work the Democratic talking points and amplify the race baiters’ outrageous comments. There is truth to be discovered, but if cannot be found in the White House briefing room. The ugly truth is about New Orleans itself.
For generations, New Orleans has been an adult theme park, where corruption and patronage ruled. All degrees of illicit behavior were treated with a wink and a turn of the head. But Katrina stripped the sexy, seductive veneer from the city to reveal corruption, poverty and high crime. Those elements made an explosive combination when the vestiges of law and order collapsed. Much of the Old Media seems to miss the point that rape, murder and the looting of big screen television sets are man-made disasters not the natural outgrowth of a storm.
The story that the Old Media should be following is on the ground in Louisiana, not in the cozy shadow of the National Press Club. Instead of angling for sound bites to be used in the next MoveOn.org ad, the press needs to abandon its political agenda and do some honest reporting from the scene. There are literally thousands of stories of loss and hope in Katrina’s wake, but it remains to be seen if the press is up to the task of telling them.
Posted by jeffgannon at September 7, 2005 09:59 AM
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