by Mark Silva
Women of the Storm, an alliance of Hurricane Katrina survivors who joined with universities in New Orleans in a bid to secure one of the official presidential debates this fall, has struck out on its own -- well, with some powerful partners, actually: YouTube and Google -- to host a New Orleans Forum this fall.
The presidential nominees are invited.
It's hard to imagine that John McCain, who has vowed that another mismanaged natural disaster will never take place, might turn down an offer like this. It's also hard to see the Democratic nominee -- be it Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton -- snubbing New Orleans.
Yet the members of the New Orleans Consortium -- Women of the Storm, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, Dillard University, Loyola University, Tulane University and Xavier University -- had been unable to persuade the Commission on Presidential Debates to stage one of its fall face-offs there.
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"Looking forward to the fall presidential campaign,'' the consortium announced today, "New Orleans and Louisiana leaders today announced they are working with Google and YouTube to bring American voices into a forum with [residential nominees that will address critical issues for the nation's future.''
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and the New Orleans Consortium plan to host the forum on Sept.18 at the Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. "The forum will use Google technology and the YouTube video platform to drive citizen engagement and to create a dynamic, compelling, and constructive live television broadcast,'' the group says. (See the YouTube announcement above.)
"We are working toward a New Louisiana,'' Gov. Jindal said. "And I invite the presidential nominees and the nation to come see firsthand the tremendous progress our state has made in the face of great challenges. I look forward to a discussion of the many challenges facing not just New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, but our entire country.''
Nagin, calling his city "a window into the many challenges facing the country,'' says it's "the leading choice for a conversation with the nominees."
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Comments
"THE KATRINA CZAR KARL ROVE SPEAKS"
IT'S NOT "COLO SOLO" PANAMA CANAL ZONE 2008, BUT IT MIGHT BE!
IT'S NOT "COLO SOLO PANAMA CANAL ZONE 1936, BUT IT MIGHT BE!
IT'S NOT "BROWNIE" YOU DID A HECKUVA JOB DAY!
IT'S YOUR "PRESIDENCY DAY" WE LIVE IN THE AGE OF THE "VISUAL" PROPHET JOHN CAME, AND SAID "IT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN"
IT'S "BLACKWATER DAY" EVERYDAY! "IT'S MIGRANT IMMIGRANT DAY EVERYDAY"!
IT'S CANDIDATE DAY!
I KATRINA CZAR KARL ROVE APPROVE THIS MESSAGE!
IT'S "VITTER DAY"
Posted by: Roger Morris | April 29, 2008 2:02 PM
McCain thought Hurricane Katrina was such a devastating disaster that he decided to spend the day that Katrina hit NOLA sharing his birthday cake with Bush.
"President Bush's lackadaisacal response to the Hurricane Katrina crisis is pretty much a truism by now. But John McCain's cameo role in the mess may soon make it into the highlight reel as well."
"As the deadly storm system moved ashore almost three years ago, sending fatal floods through New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, Bush was in Phoenix, on a tour aimed at boosting participation in what was then the administration's new Medicare prescription-drug plan. McCain had opposed the bill, but showed up to meet Bush at the airport anyway, along with other Arizona lawmakers. It was Aug. 29, McCain's 69th birthday, and on the tarmac, Bush presented his old political rival with a cake. The two posed, holding the cake up for cameras, and within seconds, went their separate ways. The cake, melting in the 110-degree Arizona heat, was left behind, uneaten."
Full story here:
http://www.newsweek.com/id/133551
Posted by: John E | April 29, 2008 2:34 PM
All candidates should be visiting the New Orleans area and any other area that was neglected, or under-served by the Bush administration, during and after the Katrina catastrophe!! That tragic display of ineptitude, occurring during the present Republican administration, or should I say, misadministration, should stop anyone from electing a Republican for any office!! They haven't earned the privilege to serve, if anything, all of them should be voted out of office, in Congress and out of our White House!!!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE. NOW.
Posted by: Don Fitzgerald, Chicago | April 29, 2008 3:38 PM
"All candidates should be visiting the New Orleans area and any other area that was neglected, or under-served by the Bush administration."
That would be everywhere in the United States except the corporate headquarters of Halliburton, KBR, Blackwater, etc.
Posted by: JT | April 29, 2008 4:54 PM
McCain had his chance to help when Katrina hit. McCain was not seen within 1000 miles of New Orleans after Katrina. He didn't come through then. Pander bear!!!
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | April 29, 2008 9:18 PM
I just ain't buying all this wright Drama.
Obama won't debate Hillary--wants to dodge questions about:
1. Rising in the Illinois Combine
2. Stepping on Alice Palmer's neck
3. Selling out to big energy
4. Selling out on the war in Iraq
5. His own background (birth certificate, tax records) and Michelle's
6. Lying about the debates he's done
7. He flipped off Hillary
8. His church really does have some flavor of Black Muslim, no?
Posted by: Obama Stood UP Tavis and then Tavis was threatened | April 30, 2008 5:39 AM
Obama picks and chooses friendly media people.
He dissed Travis Smiley!
And apparently got away with it.
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Posted by: If you can RELATE you must DEBATE | April 30, 2008 5:43 AM