I reported that the rains that hit Louisiana last week produced a “500 year flood” of epic proportions.
This week, the southern part of the state is still reeling from the storm’s devastating impact.
Approximately 280,000 people live in the areas that flooded, according to an analysis released Friday by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. In those flood-affected areas are 110,000 homes worth a combined $20.7 billion and more than 7,000 businesses — about one in every five businesses in the region — that together employ more than 73,000 people.
Now, after giving an inspiring and presidential campaign speech in North Carlonia, GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump flew to the state to offer support, meet with officials, and hand-out supplies.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has toured flood-ravaged areas of the US state of Louisiana, days after heavy rains forced thousands to flee their homes.The disaster has been compared in scope to Super Storm Sandy, which hit the New York area in 2012.But critics say the floods near Baton Rouge, which have killed at least 13, have received far less attention.
To say that he received a warm welcome would be an understatement.
Outside Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, Trump supporters wearing T-shirts and hats with his name emblazoned on them, waited for his arrival and cheered as he walked around surveying flood relief efforts there.”We knew you would be here for us,” people in the crowd shouted, winning his attention.Trump waved and then went into the crowd to sign autographs and shake hands.”I came here to help,” he said.
Watch:
On the other hand, President Obama has been noticeably absent.
Former Louisiana Senator and Democrat Mary Landrieu marked the absence of both the Democratic President and the party’s current candidate.
Where exactly is Hillary? She is attending celebrity gala fundraisers.
Hillary Clinton’s decision not to head to Louisiana should probably feed speculation that she has something wrong in the head because of the inanity of the choice. Instead of showing compassion, she has two poorly timed fundraisers planned for Sunday — one in the vacation mecca of Provincetown on Cape Cod, where Cher will serve as the entertainment, and the other in Atlanta. Clinton has said very little about the tragedy, and like Obama, is said by aides to be “monitoring” the situation and receiving “updates.”
At least Obama is embarrassed enough to offer excuses about why he failed to rush to Louisiana.
Obama’s travel requires a massive retinue of Secret Service agents and assistance from local and state law enforcement officials, so the White House usually waits to visit disaster zones to avoid tying up police and emergency resources needed elsewhere.
That statement is so rich in irony that it should come with a warning statement! Obama was less than understanding about President George W. Bush’s response to Katrina.
If all of this weren’t bad enough, Obama has compounded the incompetence of his handling of the Louisiana disaster by issuing a formal guidance reminding response officials not to racially discriminate.
President Obama has refused so far to survey the Louisiana flood disaster, but he did let state and local officials know that he’s watching to make sure they don’t engage in racial discrimination.In a 16-page guidance issued Tuesday, the Obama administration, led by the Justice Department, warned Louisiana recipients of federal disaster assistance against engaging in “unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency).
Trump is now doing the “presidenting” that Obama won’t do.
UPDATE (by Fuzzy Slippers): Leslie is out of town this weekend and can’t update this post, but it seems that she hit the nail on the head. Shamed by Trump’s quick action and display of leadership, Obama is planning to visit Baton Rouge, LA on Tuesday.
[Image via Moonbattery]
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY
