McCain toured the lower 9th ward Thursday, and criticized the Bush administration for its response to Hurricane Katrina. (Getty Images)
(CNN) - John McCain, speaking to supporters at Xavier University Thursday afternoon, blasted all levels of government - including the Bush administration - for the failed response to Hurricane Katrina.
“We know we didn’t have the right kind of leadership … where government agencies were getting information from watching cable television rather than have a flow of information,” McCain said.
“It was not only a perfect storm as far as its physical impact … it was a perfect storm as far as the federal, state and local governments’ inability.”
In a strong tone, McCain said “never again will there be a mismanaged natural disaster,” later assuring the crowd that “it will never happen again in this country, you have my commitment and my promise.”
McCain is currently on a week-long tour of economically struggling areas of the country, which included stops in Alabama, Ohio, Kentucky and Louisiana.
Earlier Thursday he toured New Orleans’ lower 9th ward, - among the areas hardest hit by Katrina - with his wife Cindy and Lousiana’s GOP Gov. Bobby Jindal. The three walked about 20 minutes through the lower ninth, stopping at a house being rebuilt by about a dozen volunteers from DeutscheBank in New York City.
"I'm proud to be in your company. You're what America's all about," McCain told them.
From CNN Politics
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Can't you people who are so critical of McCain acknowledge when he says something you know you agree with anyway? I don't see why you have to demonize the man just because there is someone else you would rather see as President. Can't you admit that what he is saying is right and give him some credit and then still cast your vote for another candidate if that is where your own conscience and political views lead you?
Oh its now he knows. Hmmm... another trick of looking for votes. Thanks for your ignorance all these while.
Up until recently I thought the readers’ comments sections on these stories showed how “real people” thought and felt after thinking about the story – now I hope I’m wrong. What looked like point-counterpoint discussions a few months ago has descended into a combination of drunken bar arguments and restroom-stall graffiti.
The vast majority of comments are either juvenile insults or knee-jerk emotionalism, and they make me hope a lot of those posting forget to put down their crayons long enough to vote come November.
Sheesh.
Mccain is nothing more than a Bush clone and then criticizes him for something as old as this. Where has McCain been the last 3 years or so.
Is he now just figuring out that the Administration screwed up big time including Bush himself.
McCain did not say anything about this until now when he needs votes to become the president. He is a johnny come lately and nothing more.
What is McCain's stance, does it match John Hagee, the man McCain actively sought the endorsement of...
The man who said that Katrina was god cleaning the sinful city... That in years to come it will be seen as a blessing for all the good it did?
Is THAT McCain's stance on it?
I think John McCain would keep us in the same position that we are already in with Bush.
Hillary 08
This is coming from a guy who voted against MLK's holiday.
We don't need another Bush clone, like McCain to further ruin the country.
Use some common sense America and realize that a McCain Presidency would be a third BUSH term.
Unless you send out the National Guard to forcibly evacuate people who have no intention of doing so themselves this not only could, but will absolutley happen again.
Yes, –and the US may be headed into a slowdown !!!!! Hey, McCain, gas is over $2, too
How long did THAT take? I guess he had a senior moment for 3 years until someone told him that Louisiana is part of the US and they can vote in the fall.
Trying to get the Black votes. You can fool the people sometimes, but not all the time. Americans might buy it. She how easily Hillary gets away with her lies.
Blah, Blah, Blah ... the perfect remedy for insomnia ... listening to McRelic speak!
Why is 72 considered to be past retirement age only in the private sector?
I think it is a good gesture to remind the victims of Katrina and the rest of the country that he will never let a disaster response situation occur as poorly as it did when Katrina hit. He admitted all levels handled the situation poorly (including himself, though its not really his "jurisdiction" as a Senator). How is that B.S. pandering from a "tired old man", as many of you have so eloquently put it? You want him to ignore situations like that? And not to insult anyone's intelligence because it is pretty obvious, but I would like to note that the posters you see using "Veterans for Obama" and "Veterans Against McCain" are solo Obama backers posing as a group...other news sites have pointed this out. It doesn't get much lower than pretending to represent a group of heroes and then bashing another hero in an anonymous forum, so sad.
Wait wait wait. He's going to basically be a third Bush term, until he criticizes Bush, but even then he's going to be a third Bush term, because he must be lying in his criticism! Do people think before they speak/write?
Thank God McCain has said something about New orleans and trhe Katrina response because the government response to this tragedy was and is shameful and without precedent.
Too late McSame!!!!! Where have you been for the last 7 years?????? Now all of a sudden, they are "Tweaking" No Child Left Behind Act, Apologizing to Blacks for his MLK vote, visiting forgotton towns that have no jobs and now blasting Bush on Katrina. Give me a Break. The sad part is, many people will fall for this Okie Doke plan. Nothing will change, we will not have the resources because he will keep the tax cuts in place for the rich and all of our money will go to War. The Repulicans are NOT going to fix our problems. Don't fall for it.
A Democrate, Any Democrate will be better.
It's so fake that McCain seems concerned about New Orleans and at all. John McCain embraces the political support of evangelist John Hagee, who said "Hurricane Katrina was, in fact, the judgment of God against the city of New Orleans."
Does that promise "never again" cover BIG storms in say, 2095?
As you can see – such promises are totally meaningless. You can't guarantee them, even in your own term, if you should get the WH.
(Don't count on it!)
You know why you don't see people playing and enjoying life because he is worthless just like Bush and cares nothing for African Americans. Trust that about McOld.
Hillary Clinton is psychotic!!!!!!!!!!
Mike from Virginia – well said.
Ah ha ha ha....... how many years later.......... forget about it. Obvious vote tour
Wasn’t McCain having a birthday party for himself while the people in New Orleans were drowning? And wasn’t Bush there eating cake and McCain hugging him? And they claim that Hillary will say and do anything to be president.
McCain, Katrinia was 2 yrs ago. Surely you don't believe anyone is taking you serious now. You are not a man of your word. N.C. is running a negative ad re Rev Wright, you have said you have ordered it pulled but they(your rep. in N.C) just doesn't seem to hear you. YOUR JUST NOT CREDITABLE, IT'S ALREADY SHOWING.