Ex-FEMA Director Brownie Says White House Played Politics With Katrina Aftermath

Nahal Toosi for AP reports: Party politics played a role in decisions over whether to take federal control of Louisiana and other areas affected by Hurricane Katrina, former FEMA director Michael Brown said Friday. (…) Brown said he had recommended to President Bush that all 90,000 square miles along the Gulf Coast affected by the hurricane be federalized, making the federal government in charge of all agencies responding to the disaster. "Unbeknownst to me, certain people in the White House were thinking 'We had to federalize Louisiana because she's a white, female Democratic governor and we have a chance to rub her nose in it," he said. (…) Blanco reacted sharply on hearing what Brown had said. "This is exactly what we were living but could not bring ourselves to believe. Karl Rove was playing politics while our people were dying," Blanco said through a spokeswoman, referring to President Bush's top political strategist. "The federal effort was delayed, and now the public knows why. It's disgusting." Eryn Witcher, a White House spokeswoman, denied Brown's claims. And the Emperor stood proudly butt naked and vigorously denied claims that his magnificent wardrobe was nonexistent. And the little boy denied claims he falsely reported a wolf was threatening the sheep. And Nixon denied claims he was involved with the Watergate break-in. And George HW Bush denied claims he was involved with the Iran/contra criminal enterprise. And the George W Bush White House denied claims that Karl Rove had been involved in the leak of Valerie Plame's CIA identity. And GW Bush denied claims he endorsed torture. And GW Bush denied claims he violated the law with warrantless wiretaps. Etcetera, ad infinitum.