Federal Government Seeks to Block Photos of Dead

[Jon8503]

NEW ORLEANS (Sept. 6) - The U.S. government agency leading the rescue efforts after Hurricane Katrina said on Tuesday it does not want the news media to take photographs of the dead as they are recovered from the flooded New Orleans area.

The body of a hurricane victim floats in New Orleans on Sept. 1. The federal agency in charge of the recovery effort says it doesn't want the media to take pictures of the dead.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, heavily criticized for its slow response to the devastation caused by the hurricane, rejected requests from journalists to accompany rescue boats as they went out to search for storm victims. An agency spokeswoman said space was needed on the rescue boats and that "the recovery of the victims is being treated with dignity and the utmost respect."

"We have requested that no photographs of the deceased be made by the media," the spokeswoman said in an e-mailed response to a Reuters inquiry. The Bush administration also has prevented the news media from photographing flag-draped caskets of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, which has sparked criticism that the government is trying to block images that put the war in a bad light.

The White House is under fire for its handling of the relief effort, which many officials have charged was slow and bureacratic, contributing to the death and mayhem in New Orleans after the storm struck on Aug. 29.

Go to link & vote on this:

http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050907100009990016

[MadAsHellNewYorker]

1. What Scum bags. No showing the true devistation of the government's

failed policies :grr:

[Chalco]

2. Just because the government doesn't want photos doesn't

mean they can't be taken! They are NOT in charge of the media!!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. How many pictures of flag draped coffins to you see in the media? n/t

n/t

[havocmom]

3. SSDD

Same shit, different disaster

Do the idiots really think people won't know there are fatalities due to their policies:
A) in Iraq
B) in Gulf Coast
so long as they don't actually see pictures?

[ArkDem]

4. I know that if it was a member of my family I'd want the entire

world to see what bushco has done to us. Disgusting!

[htuttle]

5. Knew it

I thought last week, "they are going to do what the Soviets did after Chernobyl -- cordon off, cover up, then seal the whole screw up under cement." They seem to be following that script exactly.

[kath]

7. Not surprising, with the fokkers we have in charge. Go to that poll and

vote! Currently 65% disagree with the policy, and 55% think FEMA is doing it to limit news coverage that reflects badly on the government.

[kath]

8. Looks like that poll is getting freeped .

Numbers I quoted both down 2% since I last posted.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Done the poll

Disgusting. *sigh* I hope the media doesn't let this happen! (Although I don't have high hopes)

What do you think of FEMA's stance against taking photos of bodies recovered from the hurricane zone?
I disagree with it 62%
I agree with it 38%
Why do you think FEMA has taken that position?
A desire to limit news coverage that reflects badly on the government 52%
A mix of sensitivity and a desire to limit unfavorable coverage 30%
Sensitivity to the dead and their loved ones 17%
Total Votes: 4,324
Note on Poll Results

at 1:18pm est

[Alamom]

10. Done

Same percentages


Total Votes: 4,619

1:25 p.m.