Baton Rouge, La. – Like estranged in-laws at a holiday gathering, President Bush and Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco kept their distance as both toured a relief center for storm victims Monday. At their next stop, the Republican president kissed the Democratic governor on the cheek, but it wasn’t clear whether they had made up.
State and federal officials are all facing public criticism for a slow response to the crisis. Behind the scenes, each suggests the other is to blame.
In front of the cameras during Bush’s visit to the Gulf Coast states Monday, the president and Blanco said little to each other, focusing instead on thanking relief workers.
“I know I don’t need to make any other introduction other than ‘Mr. President,’ ” Blanco said tersely, turning the microphone over to Bush after praising emergency management officials during a stop with Bush at an emergency operations center.
“This is one of these disasters that will test our soul and test our spirit, but we’re going to show the world once again that not only can we survive, but we will be stronger and better for it,” Bush said after taking the microphone.
Blanco late Monday sought to tone down suggestions of a rift.
“We’d like to stop the voices out there trying to create a divide,” she said. “There is no divide. We’re all in this together. Every leader in this nation wants to see this problem solved.”
Bush echoed Blanco’s praise for rescue workers.
“I hope that makes you feel good to know you have saved lives,” Bush said, promising state, local and federal officials that he would fix anything that isn’t going right.
The president, looking choked up as he finished his brief remarks, nodded at Blanco and kissed her on the cheek. She nodded back and both left the podium, headed for separate spots in the crowd.
Blanco has refused to sign over control of the National Guard to the federal government and has turned to a Clinton administration official, former Federal Emergency Management Agency chief James Lee Witt, to help run relief efforts.
Blanco was not told when Bush would visit the state nor was she immediately invited to meet him or travel with him. Blanco’s office didn’t know Bush was coming until told by reporters. Bush spokesman Scott McClellan said the White House reached out to Blanco’s office on Sunday but didn’t hear back. White House staff in Louisiana spoke with Blanco early Monday, he said.
