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Posted on 09/16/2005 2:50:52 AM PDT by saveliberty
To ABC's Surprise, Katrina Victims Praise Bush and Blame Nagin
Posted by Brent Baker on September 16, 2005 - 00:50.
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ABC News producers probably didn't hear what they expected when they sent Dean Reynolds to the Houston Astrodome's parking lot to get reaction to President Bush's speech from black evacuees from New Orleans. Instead of denouncing Bush and blaming him for their plight, they praised Bush and blamed local officials. Reynolds asked Connie London: "Did you harbor any anger toward the President because of the slow federal response?" She rejected the premise: "No, none whatsoever, because I feel like our city and our state government should have been there before the federal government was called in.” She pointed out: “They had RTA buses, Greyhound buses, school buses, that was just sitting there going under water when they could have been evacuating people."
Not one of the six people interviewed on camera had a bad word for Bush -- despite Reynolds' best efforts. Reynolds goaded: "Was there anything that you found hard to believe that he said, that you thought, well, that's nice rhetoric, but, you know, the proof is in the pudding?" Brenda Marshall answered, "No, I didn't," prompting Reynolds to marvel to anchor Ted Koppel: "Very little skepticism here.”
Reynolds pressed another woman: “Did you feel that the President was sincere tonight?" She affirmed: "Yes, he was." Reynolds soon wondered who they held culpable for the levee breaks. Unlike the national media, London did not blame supposed Bush-mandated budget cuts: "They've been allocated federal funds to fix the levee system, and it never got done. I fault the mayor of our city personally. I really do."
Full transcript follows. Video excerpt: RealPlayer or Windows Media. Plus MP3
The MRC's Rich Noyes alerted me to the reactions ABC broadcast.
Immediately after Bush finished his speech from Jackson Square in New Orleans, at about 8:26pm local CDT, Ted Koppel, anchor of ABC's hour-long coverage, went to Dean Reynolds who was outside in a parking lot with a group of black people from New Orleans who are living at the Reliant Center next to the Astrodome.
(No names were provided on-screen for those interviewed, so I only have first names for two, and no name for one, of the six.)
Reynolds elicited reaction from the group sitting in chairs: “I'd like to get the reaction of Connie London who spent several horrible hours at the Superdome. You heard the President say retpeaedly that you are not alone, that the country stands beside you. Do you believe him?”
Connie London: “Yeah, I believe him, because here in Texas, they have truly been good to us. I mean-”
Reynolds: “Did you get a sense of hope that you could return to your home one day in New Orleans?”
London: “Yes, I did. I did.”
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Reynolds: “Did you harbor any anger toward the President because of the slow federal response?”
London: “No, none whatsoever, because I feel like our city and our state government should have been there before the federal government was called in. They should have been on their jobs.”
Reynolds: “And they weren't?”
London: “No, no, no, no. Lord, they wasn't. I mean, they had RTA buses, Greyhound buses, school buses, that was just sitting there going under water when they could have been evacuating people.”
Reynolds: “Now, Mary, you were rescued from your house which was basically submerged in your neighborhood. Did you hear something in the President's words that you could glean some hope from?”
Mary: “Yes. He said we're coming back, and I believe we're coming back. He's going to build the city up. I believe that.”
Reynolds: “You believe you'll be able to return to your home?”
Mary: “Yes, I do.”
Reynolds: “Why?”
Mary: “Because I really believe what he said. I believe. I got faith.”
Reynolds: “Back here in the corner, we've got Brenda Marshall, right?”
Brenda Marshall: “Yes.”
Reynolds: “Now, Brenda, you were, spent, what, several days at the Superdome, correct?”
Marshall: “Yes, I did.”
Reynolds: “What did you think of what the President told you tonight?”
Marshall: “Well, I think -- I think the speech was wonderful, you know, him specifying that we will return back and that we will have like mobile homes, you know, rent or whatever. I was listening to that pretty good. But I think it was a well fine speech.”
Reynolds: “Was there any particular part of it that stood out in your mind? I mean, I saw you all nod when he said the Crescent City is going to come back one day.”
Marshall: “Well, I think I was more excited about what he said. That's probably why I nodded.”
Reynolds: “Was there anything that you found hard to believe that he said, that you thought, well, that's nice rhetoric, but, you know, the proof is in the pudding?”
Marshall: “No, I didn't.”
Reynolds: “Good. Well, very little skepticism here. Frederick Gould, did you hear something that you could hang on to tonight from the President?”
Frederick Gould: “Well, I just know, you know, he said good things to me, you know, what he said, you know. I was just trying to listen to everything they were saying, you know.”
Reynolds: “And Cecilia, did you feel that the President was sincere tonight?”
Cecilia: “Yes, he was.”
Reynolds: “Do you think this is a little too late, or do you think he's got a handle on the situation?”
Cecilia: “To me it was a little too late. It was too late, but he should have did something more about it.”
Reynolds: “Now do you all believe that you will one day return to your homes?”
Voices: “Yes” and “I do.”
Reynolds: “I mean, do you all want to return to your homes? We're hearing some people don't even want to go back.”
Mary: “I want to go back.”
Reynolds: “You want to go back.”
Mary: “I want to go back. That's my home. That's all I know.”
Reynolds: “Is it your home for your whole life?”
Mary: “Right. That's my home.”
Reynolds: “And do you expect to go back to the house or a brand new dwelling or what?”
Mary: “I expect to go back to something. I know it ain't my house, because it's gone.”
Reynolds: “What is the one mistake that could have been prevented that would have made your lives much better? Is it simply getting all of you out much sooner or what was it?”
Mary: “I'm going to tell you the truth. I had the opportunity to get out, but I didn't believe it. So I stayed there till it was too late.”
Reynolds: “Did you all have the same feeling? I mean, did you all have the opportunity to get out, but you were skeptical that this was the really bad one?”
Unnamed woman: “No, I got out when they said evacuate. I got out that Sunday and I left before the storm came. But I know they could have did better than what they did because like they said, buses were just sitting there, and they could have came through there and got people out, because they were saying immediate evacuation. Some people didn't believe it. But they should have brung the force of the army through to help these people and make them understand it really was coming.”
London: “And really it wasn't Hurricane Katrina that really tore up the city. It was when they opened the floodgates. It was not the hurricane itself. It was the floodgates, when they opened the floodgates, that's where all the water came.”
Reynolds: “Do you blame anybody for this?”
London: “Yes. I mean, they've been allocated federal funds to fix the levee system, and it never got done. I fault the mayor of our city personally. I really do.”
Reynolds: “All right. Well, thank you all very much. I wish you all the best of luck. I hope you don't have to spend too much more time here in the Reliant Center and you can get back to New Orleans as the President said. Ted, that is the word from the Houston Astrodome. And as I said, when the President said that the Crescent City will rise again, there were nods all around this parking lot.”
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Oh, this reporter is just so confused
from Prism Warden on September 16, 2005 - 04:28
There is nothing sweeter than seeing an ABC reporter interviewing black New Orleaneans, asking questions fully intended to draw out criticism of the president, only to be met with tirades against the state and local governments and warm, unanimous su...
from JasonColeman.com on September 16, 2005 - 03:52
I don't really feel any comment is needed, if you don't understand what I mean, then just scroll down a few posts and you'll get the picture. Click here for video. Ok, so if you don't want to work for...
Oh they're trying, but it's not really working...
from Keer "Unplugged" on September 16, 2005 - 03:29
I caught the end of the President's speech tonight. Then I was "blessed" (cough, cough, sputter, sputter) to hear Brian Williams and Tim Russert share their thoughts about it. Oh yeah, and the NBC White House Correspondent, I can't remember his name....
Dean and Ted's Excellent Surprise
from WuzzaDem on September 16, 2005 - 03:19
Dean Reynolds here for ABC News, here outside the Astrodome, where I'll be getting reaction to the President's speech from some of the evacuees who are still here. Excuse me, ma'am, what part of the President's speech made you the
Liberal Bias, or Liberal Hatred?
from ayc on September 16, 2005 - 03:07
There's no liberal bias in the mainstream press. Yeah, right. Like ABC Bush-basher Dean Reynolds was hoping to hear African-Americans praise Bush and criticize Blanco and Nagin in interviews he conducted outside the Astrodome after the President's speech.
ABC Interviews Wrong Black People
from Ace of Spades HQ on September 16, 2005 - 02:54
Sheesh, what does a network have to do to get some juicy anti-Bush quotes these days? Is there any possibility Cindy Sheehan lost a distant relative in the hurricane? Even a third cousin twice removed would do. Update: Video of...
from JohnTabin.com on September 16, 2005 - 02:49
I review President Bush's performance in New Orleans (and ABC reporter Dean Reynolds's performance in Houston) in today's AmSpec column. UPDATE: Brent Baker at the Media Research Center has the transcript of the ABC segment refered to in my column,...
from PoliPundit.com on September 16, 2005 - 02:32
***UPDATE (2:15): I found the video! (Thanks Technorati). If you have not seen it, go watch it now. If you saw it I am sure you are already clicking on the link to watch it again. A transcript is also provided.
I will comment on the actual speec...
To ABC's Surprise, Katrina Victims Praise Bus...
from Zebrality.com on September 16, 2005 - 01:30
To ABC's Surprise, Katrina Victims Praise Bus...
Positive Reaction To Bush Speech
from Say Anything on September 16, 2005 - 01:14
I didn’t watch Bush’s speech tonight, but it seems as though it went over well with the people in New Orleans.
ABC News producers probably didn’t hear what they expected when they sent Dean Reynolds to the Houston Astrodome’s ...
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So do I, Miss early bird. It is so illustrative of the "we hate Bush so everyone else must as well" mentality that just keeps coming back to bite them.
Thanks for this! It just goes to show that if ya live in New Orleans and have half a brain you absolutely know who is responsible for the mess. The liberal democratic machine that has been in control for so long!
I need to remember that to many who are non-political the opposition to Bush is not personal, but based on a certain bloody-mindedness born of a sense that they're ALL crooked as hell.
However, you are going to have to find out somewhere else, because I am summoning the Viking Kitties.
Unnamed woman: “No, I got out when they said evacuate. I got out that Sunday and I left before the storm came. But I know they could have did better than what they did because like they said, buses were just sitting there, and they could have came through there and got people out,..."
Uh oh...
Rats are busted on this one. The TRUTH GOT OUT!
Don't worry, ma'am, they'll get those buses up and running by election day.
Prayers for those who really wish to rebuild their homes and lives.
Koppel must've felt like Dean Wormer under the wreckage of the grandstands on Main St.
"I hope Rush and Tony Snow replay this today"
You are on the ball, I almost double-posted.
Add to the collection ping.
Good post. Thanks.
Bush from the day he was elected in 2000 has said what he's going to do and then does it.
He's a can-do kind of president, vs. a BS president. The dems just don't understand how they have lost trust by all their BS and racial demagoguery.
Fabulous, I was going nuts about this last night, on the live thread, along with pukin dog. Thanks for posting.
It's worth noting that the Koppel special that aired before the speech never mentioned the unused buses, nor LA gov Blanco keeping the Red Cross out of NOLA and away from the Superdome.
FReepers mentioned, check the links.
The people at the scene know who's to blame..............
It's a natural thing to look for help to those AROUND you, in situations like this.
Unfortunately, the victims were surrounded by liberals.
Interesting choice of words. What he really meant to say is, "did you have something that we could hang on the President?"
My 15 year old son was watching and came to me asking why they were trying so hard to get someone to say something bad about Bush. They are so transparent now.
I watched a rather frantic Rita Cosby on PMSNBC, right after speech, interviewing a black NO sheriff. The first thing she says is, "what part of the speech did you disagree with most".
He goes on whining about hw he can't communicate with feds. etc. Then she got three other anti-Bush blacks to whine.
What a charade.
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