NYT: Ray Nagin's "Political Reputation Intact"
Tags: new york times, ray naginFrom 9/21's "A Storm Survivor, Political Reputation Intact" by Joyce Purnick:
Hurricane Katrina has given the nation a new political celebrity, the mayor of beleaguered New Orleans. And like they say with pride here about most everything, Mayor C. Ray Nagin is just plain different…
Say what now?
…That kind of bravado is classic Nagin, an unorthodox politician of 49…
And of course there was the famous flash of Nagin temper on the Thursday after the storm, when he railed at the federal authorities, "Now get off your asses and do something." In most cities, the public would say, Sure, but why didn't you do it first? But in New Orleans, Mr. Nagin was seen as putting the blame squarely on Washington and as alerting the world to his city's emergency.
Instead of facing political oblivion, Mr. Nagin has emerged as something of a folk hero, a familiar figure with his distinctive shirts and shaved head…
He declined to be interviewed for this puff piece?
"There's no tax base," Mr. Rue [a rug dealer protecting his store] said. Too many people, he added, are too poor.
He was asked why not demand more from the state, more from the wealthy?
Even when surrounded by proof that it doesn't work, the NYT still supports more redistribution.
Mr. Rue, looking as though he wanted to use his claw hammer, sighed. Listen, he seemed to be saying, he survived. And so, it would seem, did Mr. Nagin. - survived a storm that damaged almost everything and everyone in its path, including a president.
But somehow there is a sense of tolerance from his constituents for their mayor, because, they say, at least he tried - considered an accomplishment in their hometown.
