Project Katrina

I’ve been meaning to write this up for a couple days after I first noticed it. Now of course I hope it goes without saying Barack Obama shouldn’t be using Hurricane Gustav as a marketing or press opportunity.

But still, how events like this are dealt with in a presidential campaign still shapes the public’s perceptions. And Obama is way behind John McCain in something that should be stupid simple.

Now I am not suggesting that Obama hop on a plane to New Orleans and get photographed on a levee. But what I am suggesting is that the party that let Katrina happen and the terrible state of New Orleans three years later, shouldn’t appear to be out in front on Gustav.

I mean don’t we have somebody in the Democratic party smart enough to present Obama’s stance on New Orleans and Gustav in a dignified manner, showing both his deep concern and involvement (which I am sure are is true)? Well it would appear they don’t.

As of noon on Sunday (8/31) Obama’s official website was still promoting his convention acceptance speech, with no mention of Gustav on the front page. Then by the morning of Monday (9/1) his site looked like the below screen capture. No personal message from Obama, just a link to the Red Cross.

Now take a look at McCain’s site, which has been this way since the early afternoon on Sunday (8/31).

And we wonder why we keep losing elections. Whoever fell asleep at the wheel on this issue at the Obama campaign needs to be looking for another.