Bringing the Gulf Coast to the Debate
This Presidential Primary season, voters have listened to nearly a half a million words from two dozen Presidential candidates in 25 debates. Through 37 hours of discussion, one major American crisis has struggled to break into the debate.Debate moderators have avoided asking what each candidate as President will do to rebuild New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, where communities are still fighting to come back more than two years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the levee failures. Critics claim that the future of Gulf Coast communities and residents has not received adequate attention in the debates, given its national importance. Analysis of the more than 1,000 pages of transcripts from the debates reveals that discussion of Gulf Coast rebuilding makes up a mere fraction of a percent of the dialogue during the debates this election season.
Through twelve Republican candidate debates, neither George Stephanopoulos
Top candidates from both parties have gone out of their way to characterize the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina as a failure during their respective debates. Only once this primary season, at Howard University’s Democratic Debate sponsored by PBS, was each candidate asked a question related to Gulf Coast recovery. NPR’s Michelle Norris asked whether each candidate would support a federal law guaranteeing a human right to return home after Hurricane Katrina, based on international law. Though some candidates hinted at their rebuilding plans, there were no follow-up questions so the candidates were not pressed to explain the steps they would take to create the economic and social conditions necessary for residents to realize their rights.
Gulf Coast residents fear that important questions about the future of their communities and the hundreds of thousands of their friends and families who are still displaced will continue to go unasked and unanswered this primary season.
Things are not looking much better for the general election debates.
Despite letters of support from a bi-partisan list of seven Presidential candidates and supportive editorials from USA Today, the New York Times, Time Magazine, and the Washington Post, New Orleans’ application to host one of four scheduled general election Presidential Debates was recently denied.
“New Orleans did not measure up,” claimed Paul Kirk, co-chairman of the debate site committee, explaining why his committee passed over the city.
With New Orleans set to host such large scale events in upcoming months such as the Sugar Bowl, the NCAA Championship Game and the NBA All-Star Game, city leaders found the snub shocking.
Anne Milling, founder of Women of the Storm, the group which led the application effort with a consortium of local universities including Dillard, Loyola, Tulane and Xavier, called it, “a case of politics trumping the clear moral choice.”
“A defining moment in American history”
Debates are a time to make candidates take a stand on the most important issues facing American voters. National polling data indicates that Gulf Coast rebuilding is still important to Americans nationwide, not just those living in the region.
John Zogby, one of the top minds in the polling industry, wrote recently in Campaigns and Elections Magazine that polling data on domestic issues facing candidates in the 2008 elections indicates, “Katrina, over the long haul, will prove to be more of a defining moment in American history than the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.” He went on to note that after witnessing the failed federal response to Gulf Coast recovery, American voters “hunger nationwide for a new model for the federal government.”
Zogby found that Americans wanted a leader who would could unite the nation and marshal the necessary resources to rebuild after a disaster. He wrote that Americans wanted federal leadership with the flexibility to work with local leaders, including local governments, faith and community groups, and solve problems.
Still Recovering: More than Two Years Later
In terms of physical devastation, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the levee breakdown far surpasses any disaster in America’s history. They caused more damage than our three largest disasters combined; the September 11th attacks, Hurricane Andrew, and the Northridge earthquake. The human face of the disaster can be seen in the hundreds of thousands of Gulf Coast residents who remain displaced from their communities two years after the levees broke.
Housing shortages threaten communities across the Gulf Coast. Thousands of families are about to be kicked out of FEMA trailers, which the federal government recently determined contain levels of toxins so strong that they have advised their employees not to enter the structures.
Federal programs like FEMA Public Assistance
Levee construction remains under-funded and preventable erosion continues to destroy nature’s flood protection, the wetlands, threatening returning residents. Some like Nyra Humphries of New Orleans, who is finishing repairing and moving back into her home, cannot help but worry that all their hard work will be in vain.
“It’s hard to put so much time and money into my home when there’s no work done to prevent more flooding,” Nyra said.
These issues impact the pace of recovery and ultimately the human rights of residents to return to their communities and live with safety and dignity.
A handful of candidates this campaign season have traveled to the Gulf Coast. A few have even posted portions of their rebuilding plans on their websites but not all voters and Gulf Coast residents have access to this information. For residents who are still waiting on the federal government to fulfill its promises, questions remain about the Presidential candidates’ commitment to the region.
A New Model for Gulf Recovery
Recently, Representatives Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Charlie Melancon (D-LA) and Gene Taylor (D-MS) introduced a new model for Gulf Coast recovery in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 4048, the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act. The policy was developed with the help of Gulf Coast residents, human rights groups, and the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project, a college campus based effort to jumpstart the region’s recovery. The legislation hopes to empower the region’s greatest assets, the disaster’s survivors, with the resources they need to lead. Through funding and implementing critical infrastructure and environmental projects, the legislation would create 100,000 living wage jobs. The policy would build stronger communities across the region through providing skills training opportunities, supporting local businesses and working closely with community groups, residents and local leaders.
Stephen Bradberry, State Head Organizer with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) in Louisiana, believes this bold plan will require the support of the next President to become a reality.
“The current President made a whole list of promises to residents about rebuilding the Gulf Coast but the job is not done. The moderators of the upcoming Presidential debates need to ask the next President whether they plan to right the situation,” says Stephen Bradberry, state organizer of ACORN Louisiana, the region’s largest organization of low and middle income families. “We need to put the candidates on record, “Do you support the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act to rebuild stronger communities across the region hit by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita?”
ACORN members, students and supporters like the RFK Center for Human Rights have begun an effort to push moderators of upcoming debates to get a straight answer from the potential nominees on Gulf Coast rebuilding. Together they hope to give the region a voice to influence the discussion using social networking websites like Facebook and Myspace
“If the debate is not coming to Gulf Coast then we need to bring the Gulf to the debate,” said Bradberry, winner of the prestigious RFK Human Rights Award in 2005.
The campaign, aptly named “Bring the Gulf to the Debate
Supporters of the legislation with a Facebook account can directly contact ABC reporters asking that they push for a question about the Gulf Coast Civic Works Act in the January 5th debates. Through ABC’s newly announced partnership with Facebook, ABC has begun feeding political content to the youth driven website and off-air ABC political reporters have begun keeping active profiles detailing their days with the candidates. Building off the success of other trendy web 2.0 efforts like the CNN-YouTube debates, the partnership gives the public greater influence about which questions are asked to the Presidential candidates. ABC World News Tonight host and New Hampshire debate moderator Charles Gibson even posted a Facebook profile where his “Fans” can suggest questions for the Republican and Democratic candidates.
“It’s a unique opportunity to move these media organizations to finally ask the questions the people of the Gulf Coast and their fellow Americans need to hear answered,” said Chris Hauck, a San Jose State university student and Gulf Coast Civic Works Project organizer.
With the New Hampshire debates, and the CNN-Los Angeles Times-Politico debates in California on January 30th and 31st, the primary debate season is still in full force. Though the Gulf Coast will not host a Presidential debate, residents and their national supporters still have hope that the region’s crisis can be brought back into the national debate this election season.
Jeffrey Buchanan is a human rights advocate, freelance journalist and Information Officer with the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights
This is like a pro football game and we are in the opening minutes of the first quarter. If the teams can build up a lead using crappy plays they will do so and that is all you or I will ever see. If on the other hand this strategy doesn’t work, there will be “half-time adjustments” made and a whole new strategiy will be engaged. But only as much as it needs to be.
After all, we all know that on any given week any given team can beat any other given team–right?–yeah sure! Unless of course the fix is in and then they might still be allowed to win an upset if they just don’t beat the point spread. Such is the make believe world of professional sports and politics.
How can you say the Gulf Coast hasn’t been rebuilt? Every single Casino is Back In Business! And Trent Lott has a fine new house, even better than the old shack that Katrina destroyed.
I’d favor a federally financed private housing Reconstruction program with a mandate that the first people hired for construction crews would be required to prove residence in New Orleans Prior to Katrina.
Also, a mandate that Only Small Contractors be allowed to bid on projects. Also, mandate meaningful Non Performance penalties in every contract.
No more handouts to mega corporations who pocket millions in Federal money while subcontracting through five layers of subcontractors who eventually hire less than minimum wage “Laborers” to push dirt around without actually building anything.
IOW, No more handouts to Bush/Cheyney cronies.
From IRON HEEL by Jack London: “You have forgotten the editors. They draw their salaries for the policy they maintain. Their policy is to print nothing that is a vital menace to the established. The press of the United States? It is a parasitic growth that battens on the capitalist class. Its function is to serve the established by moulding public opinion, and right well it serves it.”
Hoa binh
At the risk of sounding hard-hearted, I’m going to offer a contrarian opinion. I’m tired of hearing all the bleating about New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. All I ever hear is that the government (I assume the feds, nobody expects anything of state and local governments, particularly as they are operated by Louisiana and Mississippi) should just keep pumping money in until every critic is happy (there isn’t that much money in the world–but I digress). I don’t think that is a good idea.
First: there is no money. For good or ill we the people have run up mammoth debt and have nothing to spend but our descendants’ assets.
Second: it is not the proper role of the federal government to provide housing, food, and other stuff to every single solitary person who has some need. It is also beyond the realm of possibility.
Third: other than infrastructure (which seems to be getting fixed up in the New Orleans area, although I have no real idea how well this is going), there was no “mass” loss of property in New Orleans and the area. There were lots of individual losses. Sad, but individual. If people didn’t have insurance, and insurance of the proper type, and don’t have resources to rebuild on their own, they’ve gotta make other plans. I have no expectation at all that the government is going to step in if I lose my house by storm, fire, flood, or otherwise. I do not believe I have a “right” to live in my neighborhood, town, county, or state, except in the most abstract sense. Absent the ability to maintain a life in a given place, the notion of a “right” to do so is meaningless.
I’m sure anyone reading this comment will make a number of assumptions about me economically/politically/etc., because I look at things the way I do. I have no intention of going into this. My views either have validity or they don’t.
We just returned from Louisiana and Mississippi. Talked to dozens of people and in doing so found out “the real story” and not the media bullshit. Honest, hard working folks that paid their insurance premiums and their taxes and believe me they are trying to come back have been left high and dry, no pun intended, by the federal government and their insurance cos. What happened to New Orleans and the gulf coast is a man-made “SIN,” and seeing it firsthand is enough to bring you to tears. The billions and billions of dollars wasted on that debacle in Iraq needs to be turned around and spent HERE. Help rebuild one of the crown jewels of this country!
My views either have validity or they don’t.
_________________________________________________
They don’t. Have a nice day.
What the FUCK is twoblueday talking about?
Has it ever experienced the culture of New Orleans?
Yall better take some pills before putting your profantiy on this web site.
Why are these people in Debt?
Why is there no money?
And why are the people who owned property there without their basic rights?
Why are insurance companies responding only to the haves?
If there is no money, how is Blackwater getting Billions for Murdering colored people in Nyalins?
I will always try to keep it short - it takes twice the effort here.
The answer to all this is to vote . Get out there and vote. Do not vote for the ones that are getting the most money,air time,newspaper time, etc. Because they are the ones that will do nothing for you if and when they get elected. They are already spoken for.
Get yourself the one that the others shy away from,,the one that wants to tell you the truth,the one that knows they cannot solve 30 years of problems by next tuesday.They do not have any hidden ,as yet announced master plans.
How many ties do you have to get pissed on before you get the message????
ZeroPointField asked “What the F**k is twoblueday talking about?” After that bit of profanity, it (ZeroPointField) said I shouldn’t put my profanity on this site. Hmmm, I didn’t use any. What this site needs is a dose of reality, which it (ZeroPointField) apparently considers to be profanity.
Have I experienced the “culture” of New Orleans? Yes, many times, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
What I’m talking about is individual responsibility. I stand by my prior comment.
I believe that ZeroPointField may have used “profanity” when he/she really meant “obscenity”.
Well, Little Brother, thanks for reading the mind of ZeroPointField for me.
Having a contrary opinion to others does not make one’s opinion “obscenity” any more than it does “profanity.”
I assume your intercession here is an expression of your opinion, not that of ZeroPointField.
The Gulf Coast Gulag is America’s “Christmas Yet To Come” absent changes in direction.
Very well said, Poet.
I’m a bit lost how it is the government is at fault for the “ravaging” of the Gulf Coast. Wasn’t that a storm brewed up by nature? If we are talking about the incompetent maintenance of the levee system over many years, well, I didn’t seeing that making the front pages before the fact, and didn’t see those charged with this responsibility living up to it. Didn’t the local levee board spend money on casinos and parties and such?
The fact that the government made promises it couldn’t keep in the aftermath is disturbing to me.
Back when it was truly an emergency the agency set up to handle emergencies (FEMA) did fall on its ass. I do not equate that pitiful, incompetent performance by a bunch of political hacks with an obligation on the taxpayers nationwide to save every individual who had losses in the storm.
Unfortunately, the “culture” of New Orleans included the rampant corruption in that city/area, and now the piper is being paid.
As if I don’t already look like Dracula, I have no sympathy at all for those who build on barrier islands or too close to the shore. I see no obligation on the government or the taxpayers to one single solitary thing for those folks–except to refuse them permission to build there again.
I admit to being totally babboozled about what Jeffrey Buchanan thinks ought to be done about all this, who is supposed to pay for it and how, and, I admit, why.
“My views either have validity or they don’t.” (twoblueday)
Who’s responsibility is that?
Is twoblueday a shill for Bush, Cheney and the other neo-nazi Republicans?
Re dreamertoo’s riposte: Obviously I would not have stated my positions if I didn’t think they were valid. I am not sure what you mean by “responsibility.”
Re forextrader’s riposte: I fully expect this type of sophomoric comment whenever I say anything I believe is grounded in reality and not in a wish list. As I originally said, I don’t have to give any bona fides to have an opinion, nobody else seems to do that around here. It’s ironic how contrary views always, and inevitably, results in name-calling, typecasting, and such.
Not one response to my original comment has said exactly what it is they want done, or how to do it, or how to pay for it.
Just for fun, anyone who cares to may read my blog, and decide what they want about me: twoblueday.wordpress.com
“Obviously I would not have stated my positions if I didn’t think they were valid.” (twoblueday)
It is not obvious at all.
FYI
I did take a couple of pill before I put MY PROFANITY- an easily recognizable four letter word- on this web site.
Your profanity 2blue, cuts much deeper and stinks of ignorance - it is the worst kind.
And Poet is being nice.
The suffering of the helpless in Nyalins doesnt deserve nice anymore. There is more to it than just incompetence. There is Racism, Classism and Cruelty involved.