MoveOn.org says: "Don't Blame the Victims, Get to Work"

[annathepiper]

MoveOn.org is circulating a petition now to tell the President to make his people stop trying to blame the victims of Katrina and start HELPING them. I am not terribly hopeful that it will help, but it feels like something I can do at least in addition to donating dollars. Look behind the cuts for more, folks...


MoveOn.org's blurb:

The President and his administration failed at their most important job: keeping America safe. The federal effort was too little, too late and the cost of their delay will be paid for in human lives. Now, they are seeking political cover by blaming state and local officials, despite the fact that they had begged the administration for help early on. Its really outrageous that the President would blame the victims at a time like this. Will you help me tell him he needs to stop blaming the victims and get to work helping them?

http://political.moveon.org/helpvictims

What I added to the sample comment they provided:

Mr. President:

Words absolutely fail me when I read on the Internet--not only in the blogosphere, but on news sites such as cnn.com as well--about how badly the effort to help our people on the Gulf Coast in their time of crisis and need has been bungled.

There is NO EXCUSE for FEMA denying food and water to citizens.

There is NO EXCUSE for FEMA cutting off communication lines set up by other parties trying to provide assistance to the stricken victims.

There is NO EXCUSE for anyone to try to prevent citizens still in the city from leaving in an orderly manner and under their own power.

There is NO EXCUSE for trained firefighters being assigned to hand out FLIERS rather than to do the jobs for which they have trained.

There is NO EXCUSE for Navy pilots being criticized for RESCUING VICTIMS before taking care of other duties. No other duty should supersede the saving of lives. NONE.

And there is NO EXCUSE WHATSOEVER for officials in your administration to start blaming the victims of this catastrophe for what has befallen them.

Cut through the red tape, Mr. President. Eliminate this bureaucracy that is crippling the effort to save American lives--and hold those responsible accountable, regardless of what political party to which they belong. I don't care if they're Democrats. I don't care if they're Republicans. The simple fact is that criminal negligence has been committed and that people under your watch have failed to do what's most important:

SAVING THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE.

Sincerely,
Angela Korra'ti
Kenmore, WA