I personally believe that race was not the sole factor

[noahmijo]

If someone asked me on TV what I thought of Kayne West's statement I'd say well I personally think it's not so much just black people it's ANYONE who isn't in the top 5% of this country, I have NO doubts however that bush and his supporters hold nothing but contempt for blacks in this country who live in poverty who are struggling, however that same contempt essentially is held for anyone who isn't in that top 5% or at the bare mininum isn't in lockstep with every policy this crooked administration has put forth.

[aquart]

1. The sole factor? It's an off-year election.

If Congress or the President were up for re-election, it would have been different. Well, Bush would have still attended the fundraiser and all, but he would have looked MUCH more concerned in the flyover.

[ThomWV]

2. I Think You Are Absolutly Right

Remember what Bush called his "Base"? Well, if you aint it you ain't shit. Black, brown, tan, red, yellow, white, and albinos of all sorts, doesn't matter.

[Jamastiene]

7. .

[Lisa0825]

3. You know, I was thinking about this last night...

and was going to post a similar topic. I'm not so sure it's about race directly, as I don't think Bush gives a shit about ANY of us who are not his "Pioneers" (or whatever they were called), or the folks who pulled strings and spread bullshit to get him elected. I think he couldn't care less if it was poor whites or poor blacks who died, as long as they weren't rich rethuglicans.

That's the direct link. But the indirect link in this chain is that in this country history, actions, policies, and prejudice, among other factors, have resulted in a class system in which poverty and race are deeply intertwined. So by not caring about the poor, Bush in effect doesn't care about blacks. Whether or not that is how he feels, it is the result.

[bullimiami]

4. I dont think its race. Bush has no time for the poor lower classes.

They happen to be minorities as well.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. what I find interesting

is what the rich rwingers say they hate in the have-nots:

They are lazy and don't do any work. (How many of them are like Bush when it comes to this?)

They spend a lot of time taking drugs. (How many of them indulge in legal and illegal drugs? Bush is a good example.)

They steal and commit crimes (just look at Enron et al).

I think what we have is a case of projection.

[Lisa0825]

10. excellent point!!! (nt)

[rman]

6. class is the factor -

it just so happens (though not entirely accidental) that many poor are black.

[sandnsea]

8. Why it IS race

Because if it were white folks, the 5% would assume they are poor but have jobs. There may well have been problems to start, but the looting would have been reported differently which means the Red Cross wouldn't have been stopped and help would have been allowed in sooner. With black folks, they assume they are poor and on welfare, and probably criminals to boot. Looting backs up the bias, which led to the other failures on the ground. It is race and the denial that race had anything to do with is actually more proof that race played a role. White America just cannot handle its racism, despite the fact that there isn't a white American who doesn't hear racist comments in private all the time.

[chalky]

9. If I could hit the "recommend" button on any individual post, this would

be the one.

[noahmijo]

11. On THAT note I agree with you but my original post was about Bush

and the point being that Bush isn't necessarily racist (oh I'm sure like all the other rich white radical religious freaks he is) but in this case his own personal response to new orleans was that of someone who just doesn't give a rat's ass about anybody that isn't part of his 5% "base"

[sandnsea]

14. Perception

Most importantly, it just wouldn't sit well with the rural white voting block for Bush to ignore an entire swath of poor white folks drowning. So it wouldn't have happened. So even though he doesn't give a crap about anybody, he didn't even have a political response because it never occurred to him to care about a bunch of black folks drowning. None of his base cares and he knows it, because they're racists.

[ultraist]

15. Oh, Christ alfuckingmighty. Bush is not racist? It wasn't race?

Take a closer look at his policies. It IS about race. It IS ALSO about class.

Our society is riddled with systemic racism and this incident of leaving thousands of Blacks to DIE, was NO EXCEPTION.

[Outer_Limit]

16. Well said sandnsea, couldn't have said it better myself

[VespertineIconoclast]

12. It’s always difficult to pinpoint one reason for anything.

Though race may not have been the single determining factor for the lack of caring and concern of *, many people are interpreting his indifference as being tied to race. To blacks all over the US, his actions (or lack there of) hammer home the reasons why many may have underlying distrust and should continue to have distrust for authority figures in government. Internationally, the people are noting his complete apathy to the victims of the gulf coast; especially in NOLA, where the media broadcasts Hurricane victims most of whom are black. People in this nation that hold prejudicial opinions of blacks seemingly have their discriminatory beliefs supported all the way up to the White House.

So, does it really matter WHY all Bush’s actions pertaining to Hurricane Katrina lack urgency? Not really because, in a simplistic way of looking at it, the end result was the same – thousands of people died and thousands are at the mercy of inept leaders. I believe the individual ways people interpret for themselves his heartlessness matters.

Just my $0.02.

-VI

[Bluebear]

13. Let's ask Molly ivins

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4726121

[DELUSIONAL]

17. If you are VERY VERY VERY rich -- skin color doesn't matter

to bush -- just how much money the person has and and donates to bush.

It is more about class -- and underclass.

Brown said something about seeing people he didn't even know existed. And THAT is the problem -- the unseeable, forgotten people. Who more often then not are the hard workers -- working at more than one job -- who have kids they love and PETS they love and a community they are part of.