Regarding the following article about race being a factor in Katrina death toll: here are some apropos quotes, from a “principled” man, that became the values of the Democratic Party:

Franklin D. Roosevelt
American 32nd US president (1933-45), cousin of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th US president. (1901-09)

"Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”

“The test of our progress is not whether we add to the abundance of those who have much. It is whether we provide enough to those who have little”

"Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.”

“The hopes of the Republic cannot forever tolerate either undeserved poverty or self-serving wealth.”

“Presidents do make mistakes, but the immortal Dante tells us that divine justice weighs the sins of the cold-blooded and the sins of the warm-hearted in different scales.”

“Concentration of wealth and power has been built upon other people's money, other people's business, and other people's labor. Under this concentration, independent business …; has been a menace to …; American society.”

Here are some apropos quotes that seem to come from an “unprincipled” man:

George W. Bush
American 43rd US president since 2001. b.1946

“You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.”

“To those of you who received honors, awards and distinctions, I say well done. And to the C students, I say you, too, can be president of the United States.”

“They want the federal government controlling Social Security like it's some kind of federal program.”

“I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family.”

“This is an impressive crowd: the Haves and Have-mores. Some people call you the elites. I call you my base.” (These are the guys that got out of New Orleans safely!: My Comment)

“It's exciting; I don't know whether I'm going to win or not. I think I am. I do know I'm ready for the job. And, if not, that's just the way it goes”

“If you're sick and tired of the politics of cynicism and polls and “principles,” come and join this campaign.”

Maybe it isn’t obvious to you but it is quite apparent to me that there is a huge difference between the “Red” and the “Blue” that I think is very important to the American people!

Shayne Munger

"Dean: Race played a role in Katrina death toll"

By DENISE KALETTE
Associated Press Writer
MIAMI

Race was a factor in the rising death toll from Hurricane Katrina, Howard Dean told members of the National Baptist Convention of America on Wednesday at the group's annual meeting.

Dean, Democratic Party chairman, made the comments to the Baptists' Political and Social Justice Commission. The Baptist Convention has an estimated 3.5 million members representing 3,000 churches and is one of the largest black religious groups in the country.

"We must ... come to terms with the ugly truth that skin color, age and economics played a deadly role in who survived and who did not," Dean said.

Dean said Americans have a moral responsibility to not ignore the devastating effects of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina when it struck the Gulf Coast.

The former presidential candidate said the government will be judged on how it treats the old, the young and the poor.

"People are poor in different parts of the country. They are not refugees. They are Americans," he said.

Dean said that instead of considering proposed estate tax breaks, the Senate should channel the $760 billion savings into disaster relief funds.

"Shall we give that to the wealthiest people in the country, or should we rebuild New Orleans?" Dean said.

He also said the funds that now support the Iraq war could be used to reconstruct New Orleans or to aid the poor and elderly.

Dean urged the government to exempt victims of Hurricane Katrina from a stricter new bankruptcy law for one year.

"I hope Chairman Dean will match his rhetoric with his support for reforms that replace bureaucracy and entitlement with hope and opportunity," said Ken Mehlman, Dean's counterpart in the Republican National Committee.

Stephen J. Thurston, president of the Baptist Convention, said there was a lack of response and sensitivity by the government toward the Gulf Coast disaster.

Thurston's group and three other Baptist organizations representing 15 million churchgoers will hold a joint meeting in January 2008 before the next presidential election, Thurston said.

The Baptists intend to pursue an aggressive voter registration and participation campaign for 2008 Presidential election, Thurston said.

He said that had more blacks voted, the outcome of the 2004 election might have been different.

Commission member Joseph Richardson, Sr., of Broadview, Ill., agreed with Thurston.

"I think anyone would want leadership that relates to people's needs," Richardson said. "The mayor (of New Orleans) was crying out for five whole days."

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050907/APN/509071189