Is Ray Nagin a Racist?

[bengalbelle]

Boston Tea Party
You sound like you might be from somewhere in Texas (maybe Houston?). I didn't evacuate, but I would still like to say thanks for everything your state and cities did for our residents. I don't know what else to say except that unfortunately the majority of New Orleans residents elected an idiot and now we all have to deal with it. I hope you someday have a change of heart. Not everyone here shares Nagin's attitude.

I think Nagin has lost it. He needs to step down or be impeached or whatever they do to mayors. But I can't imagine who would step up and take his job.

I'm not from New Orleans and I really don't know much about Nagin prior the hurricane, but maybe under different circumstances he would have been OK. I agree, though. He needs to go and he needs to go NOW. Right along with Blanco.

Boston Tea Party - I'm also assuming you live in Houston or the Houston area. I get what you're saying and I'm sorry it's happening. I can't say I blame you for how you feel, I just hope it gets better.

There are lots of good people in New Orleans and Louisiana, though, and I hope someday you'll change your mind about our city and state.

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

Nagin's speech -- just plain awful. We're all Americans regardless of flavor.

As least he wasn't jumping up and down on a couch when he said it.

Is he going to pass more PR advice onto the folks in Jamaca he recently visited?

 

[Arielle22]

I think Boston Tea Party is from MA. We had evacuees at a miltary base (Otis maybe?) on Cape Cod. There were stories in the local paper about how the evacuees were upset at the rules of the miltary base. They didn't like not being allowed alcohol in their rooms. Also they said that there were not enough volunteers of their color (ie black) and how they didn't like the weather or price of housing. Several were quoted as saying they just wanted to go home. Before their arrival, many volunteers prepared. A great effort went into it and it seemed like it was unappreciated.

 

[Micca]

Not my place to judge, but I'm sure of one thing: SUCKS to be him

 

[Pugdog007]

It's pretty clear to me why he wants all the blacks to return to the city... so that he has a chance in hell of being re-elected. He KNOWS he will not be re-elected with constituents from Uptown & the French Q. It's all about self-preservation.

 

[Stacerita]

Is Ray Nagin a racist?
Yep

 

[RitaZ.]

He needs to go and he needs to go NOW. Right along with Blanco.

I agree with this.

Based on what he said, it appears that he has a direct line to talk to God.

 

[dixipixi]

I have to say that being from Louisiana, I'm very confused and upset with this whole ordeal. I know that the media can twist things around and they play these "snippets" over and over until nobody knows what happened in the first place...then they drop the subject and move on.

We watch the local NO news every night. When they first played the tape last night, I thought, "No way he's saying that. We don't need this right now. He couldn't have said that. Did I hear that right?" This morning the story was the same and my heart sank. Every day it seems like there is another crisis around here and everyone is upset all over again.

I'm not saying anything is being twisted here...he said what he said. Having lived in La. all my life, the one thing I appreciated about living here was that it did seem to be more culturally diverse than a lot of other places. True, everyone does not always get along and things are divided along racial lines far too often.

I truly thought Katrina had taught people a lesson about putting aside petty differences and working together for the common good. If you get out among the regular people around here, you would find that is mostly the case. The sad thing is we cannot manage to keep working together without the constant divisive jabber coming from both the media and our elected officials.

I also don't think it is fair to compare La. officials with Guiliani (sp?). I think he did a wonderful job with NY. But comparing NY to La. is like apples and oranges. NY is better off financially than La. to begin with. The population of NYC alone is more than the entire state of La. The mayor of NY had the President of the US standing with his arm around him vowing the support of the fed. govt. (which they truly deserved). Sure, we were promised a lot, but then they had to debate and squabble over it in Congress.

I'll never forget the support we received from all over the country after Katrina. It really opened my eyes to the fact that we would be dependent on the good hearts of the American people to make any kind of recovery. Forget the elected officials.

I just hate how bad all of this continues to make the good people in La. look to the rest of the world.

 

[LaLa]

He has seriously lost it. I think he lost it a long time ago, honestly. Maybe never had it.

The thing about having the conversation with MLK just threw me for a loop. Okay, the delicious chocolate drink thing did too. Did anybody see Diane Sawyer reporting that this morning on GMA? The look on her face as she repeated his words was priceless.

I remember listening to a New Orleans radio station as we were evacuating the day before Katrina and the announcers were discussing Nagin and his previous statement that he would NEVER issue a mandatory evacuation for New Orleans because he did not think it was feasible. He finally held a press conference at the eleventh hour AFTER a phone call from Bush and issued that evacuation order, but by then it was too late for a lot of people to get out. Don't get me wrong, I know that NOBODY knew any of this would happen, and there simply is no precedence for this kind of destruction from a hurricane, but it was at that point that I thought...."Hmmmm..... what's up with him?"

I just honestly think that with each appearance he makes, he adds one more nail in his political coffin.

 

[lucyanna girl]

I am from Louisiana and I am proud of my state. I am NOT proud of many of the remarks and actions of some of my fellow Louisianians in the last few months. The stress level is very high for some of the people in my state but that does not excuse stupidity.
My state faces many years of rebuilding. In spite of what the media shows the world, New Orleans is not the only area that was devastated. My son and daughter-in-law lived on the other side of the state in Cameron Parish in a little town called Holly Beach. Hurricane Rita completely destroyed the entire town. Not one building was left standing - there wasn't even any rubble.
Please know that there are many wonderful people in my state and we are indeed embarrassed by and ashamed of the words and actions of some of our elected officials.
My Grandmother used to say, "You can't choose your relatives, only your friends". Well, I didn't choose some of my fellow Louisianians but I still feel the need to apologize for them.

Lucyanna Girl
Penny

 

[Planogirl]

I, for one, will not judge New Orleans based on what one politician says or what a few evacuees say. I KNOW that there ate slews of good people all throughout southern Louisiana and I personally will be back as soon as I can.

I'm sorry that the wonderful people of New Orleans and the surrounding areas (and also the Alabama and Mississippi and Texas coasts - let's never forget them!) are dealing with so much. I hope that these areas can all rebuild in spite of what some people do or say.

 

[LaLa]

I have to say that being from Louisiana, I'm very confused and upset with this whole ordeal. I know that the media can twist things around and they play these "snippets" over and over until nobody knows what happened in the first place...then they drop the subject and move on.

We watch the local NO news every night. When they first played the tape last night, I thought, "No way he's saying that. We don't need this right now. He couldn't have said that. Did I hear that right?" This morning the story was the same and my heart sank. Every day it seems like there is another crisis around here and everyone is upset all over again.

I'm not saying anything is being twisted here...he said what he said. Having lived in La. all my life, the one thing I appreciated about living here was that it did seem to be more culturally diverse than a lot of other places. True, everyone does not always get along and things are divided along racial lines far too often.

I truly thought Katrina had taught people a lesson about putting aside petty differences and working together for the common good. If you get out among the regular people around here, you would find that is mostly the case. The sad thing is we cannot manage to keep working together without the constant divisive jabber coming from both the media and our elected officials.

I also don't think it is fair to compare La. officials with Guiliani (sp?). I think he did a wonderful job with NY. But comparing NY to La. is like apples and oranges. NY is better off financially than La. to begin with. The population of NYC alone is more than the entire state of La. The mayor of NY had the President of the US standing with his arm around him vowing the support of the fed. govt. (which they truly deserved). Sure, we were promised a lot, but then they had to debate and squabble over it in Congress.

I'll never forget the support we received from all over the country after Katrina. It really opened my eyes to the fact that we would be dependent on the good hearts of the American people to make any kind of recovery. Forget the elected officials.

I just hate how bad all of this continues to make the good people in La. look to the rest of the world.

Dixipixi, your last comment really got to me.

None of this reflects on the people of LA. Yall cannot help what he says anymore than you can help the fact that Katrina hit your state with full force. I have no doubt that NO will come back strong and be better than ever, just as all of the places affected by this storm.

Hugs to you and all of our other neighbors over there in LA. Keep your heads up.

 

[MinnieM3]

Can't imagine what it must be like.

As for the OP question, I jsut have to say he sure said some strange stuff, not sure what he was thinking.

Ray Nagin sure sounds and looks like a complete idiot, racist, and person who could benefit f rom mental health counseling. Our mayor, Joe Riley (never voted for him) held it together after Hugo and beyond. Maybe Ray could go back and check out Joe's speeches in 1989,

 

[Planogirl]

Dixipixi, your last comment really got to me.

None of this reflects on the people of LA. Yall cannot help what he says anymore than you can help the fact that Katrina hit your state with full force. I have no doubt that NO will come back strong and be better than ever, just as all of the places affected by this storm.

Hugs to you and all of our other neighbors over there in LA. Keep your heads up.

I don't see that at all. When you have people like Boston Tea Party saying that they won't even stop to buy gas in Louisiana because of some of this stuff, I think it does reflect on the people at least in some people's eyes.

I agree though that New Orleans will come back strong and people will eventually see that the citizens are in no way bad people.

 

[LaLa]

I don't see that at all. When you have people like Boston Tea Party saying that they won't even stop to buy gas in Louisiana because of some of this stuff, I think it does reflect on the people at least in some people's eyes.

I agree though that New Orleans will come back strong and people will eventually see that the citizens are in no way bad people.

Missed that one...just had to go back and read the post.

I have to say that I can see where Boston Tea Party is coming from. We have had a lot of the same problems here in MS. Our little town is bursting at the seams, crime has skyrocketed beyond comprehension, and yes, we are still dealing with trying to put things back together here as it is. We were dealt a serious blow too. I live on the MS Gulf Coast, and most everyone I know is now living in a FEMA trailer in their front yard beause their home is no longer there. There are a lot of displaced LA residents here as well. FEMA is currently trying to close a deal to set up FEMA trailer parks for displaced residents of the Ninth Ward in our town. Since DH is a police officer, we are not looking forward to that. More people means more crime and they are strapped as it is.

I guess my point is that although I hate the situation we are in, and I can't wait until things get back to normal and everyone is back where they should be, I don't hold the people of LA personally responsible for the mayor's comments. He is an idiot, they are saying that he is an idiot. I just don't feel like he reflects the opinions of the majority of the people over there. Truth be known, I'm sure most of them are embarassed by him, and as some have posted here, they can't wait till elections so they can change the governing body over there.

 

[Southern4sure]

It's pretty clear to me why he wants all the blacks to return to the city... so that he has a chance in hell of being re-elected. He KNOWS he will not be re-elected with constituents from Uptown & the French Q. It's all about self-preservation.

I will have to do a search to locate the info again, but Nagin was voted in by 80 something % of the white votes.

 

[dixipixi]

Just had to say that I appreciate the nice comments concerning my post.

I truly feel for any town that has taken in a large number of evacuees. Since we were also in the "damage zone" we did not get many this direction. Most of the people who came here did so because they came to stay with relatives.

It is frustrating to watch people squander away any aid they have received on useless junk while they lament the loss of their home.

We never evacuated. We did spend the day at DH's office (we felt the bldg there was more secure). Our home was destroyed by fallen trees. In the past 5 months we have battled no electricity, no gas, vicious mosquitos, numerous minor injuries, and unbearable heat. But we did it. We have completely rebuilt our home. We didn't run off to parts unknown and wait for someone else to fix our problem.

It takes hard work. Work so many people are unwilling to do these days. Turn on the news and all you see are stories where someone is still waiting for someone else to show up and clean up their mess. What's wrong with their own two hands? My calluses have calluses at this point.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't want everyone in America judging us by the few bad examples they've seen. We didn't get anything from FEMA or the Red Cross. We did accept ice, water, and MRE's when we were without electricity. Trust me, it's not gourmet.

Everyone in this area (northshore of Lake Pontchartrain) has been hard at work. Things are much better now, but still not completely back to normal. I'm sure if some sort of disaster were to hit any other part of the country, lots of bad things would come to light. It doesn't help that the media seems to be so focused on those things either. Oh yeah, lets not forget the people who came here from all over the country claiming they were victims just to get FEMA and Red Cross money. There are losers everywhere. We don't have the monopoly on that.

 

[Southern4sure]

Missed that one...just had to go back and read the post.

I have to say that I can see where Boston Tea Party is coming from. We have had a lot of the same problems here in MS. Our little town is bursting at the seams, crime has skyrocketed beyond comprehension, and yes, we are still dealing with trying to put things back together here as it is. We were dealt a serious blow too. I live on the MS Gulf Coast, and most everyone I know is now living in a FEMA trailer in their front yard beause their home is no longer there. There are a lot of displaced LA residents here as well. FEMA is currently trying to close a deal to set up FEMA trailer parks for displaced residents of the Ninth Ward in our town. Since DH is a police officer, we are not looking forward to that. More people means more crime and they are strapped as it is.

I guess my point is that although I hate the situation we are in, and I can't wait until things get back to normal and everyone is back where they should be, I don't hold the people of LA personally responsible for the mayor's comments. He is an idiot, they are saying that he is an idiot. I just don't feel like he reflects the opinions of the majority of the people over there. Truth be known, I'm sure most of them are embarassed by him, and as some have posted here, they can't wait till elections so they can change the governing body over there.

I agree with everything you said. What you describe is exactly what is happening in Mobile, AL except for the FEMA trailers, there are few if any. Thankfully Mobile was not hit as hard. Crime has skyrocketed, over crowded schools made worse by the influx of citizens and etc. Real estate prices has increased and you cannot find a rental home without huge increase in rent, a home which normally rented for $700 a month is now over $2,000. There are no apartments with vacancies.

 

[LaLa]

I agree with everything you said. What you describe is exactly what is happening in Mobile, AL except for the FEMA trailers, there are few if any. Thankfully Mobile was not hit as hard. Crime has skyrocketed, over crowded schools made worse by the influx of citizens and etc. Real estate prices has increased and you cannot find a rental home without huge increase in rent, a home which normally rented for $700 a month is now over $2,000. There are no apartments with vacancies.

I can totally relate. Who knew this would be the after effects of a hurricane, right?

Our real estate prices have skyrocketed as well. Building costs are absolutely downright criminal. We go over to Mobile a good bit these days just to be able to get a decent meal without a limited menu and a line out the door. We have to time it right though, bc if we try to eat after about 6, we can hang it up. The lines are WAY too long.
I just want normal back.

Okay, sorry, back to the topic...

 

[drakethib]

Or to quote another (now) famous southerner, Nagin is stuck on stupid.

LOL !!!


I admit it, I took up for Nagin during the hurricane even though I knew he made some bad choices. I thought he was doing the best he could.

Now I think the guy has totally lost it.