Sen. Landrieu Threatens to 'Punch' President if He Keeps Hitting Local
Response to Katrina
By E&P Staff
Published: September 04, 2005 5:40 PM ET
NEW YORK Senator Mary Landrieu, the Democrat of Louisiana (whose
father was a mayor of New Orleans), appears to have finally found her
voice after offering only cautious criticism of the federal relief
effort in the hurriance catastrophe earlier in the week. Today she
promised to literally "punch" anyone, "including the president," who
contnued to question the local response to the tragedy, considering
the gross federal misconduct.
Appearing on ABC's "The Week" TV program this morning, Senator
Landrieu still appeared to be smarting from President Bush's comments,
during his national radio address, that state and local bore a fair
share of blame for the slow response. On a copter tour of the area,
Landrieu said that if she heard any more criticism from federal
officials, particularly about the evacuation of New Orleans, she might
lose control.
"If one person criticizes them or says one more thing - including the
president of the United States - he will hear from me," she said on
the ABC program. "One more word about it after this show airs and I
might likely have to punch him. Literally."
She burst into tears as she looked at a broken levee. "The President
could have funded it," she said. "He cut it out of the budget. Is that
the most pitiful sight you have ever seen in your life? One little
crane."
She also referred angrily to comments Bush had made Friday at the New
Orleans airport about the fun he had in her city in his younger days.
"Our infrastructure is devastated, lives have been shattered,"
Landrieu said. "Would the president please stop taking photo-ops?"
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001054594
.
|
