Jennifer Lovin writing for the associated press puts a blunt focus on race and poverty. this is the first time I have seen a mainstream article put the poll results in terms of the third of americans who feel deeply humiliated by the governments response, rather than the 65% who don't.
but so far, the poor have continued to be portrayed as victims of persistant poverty, rather than working families, which is what I think we actually saw as people were rescued. Many of the survivior stories feature extended families with 5 or 6 members who all work low end jobs and still live in ghettoized surroundings pay check to pay check, and will be undone by the next health emergency, or are already struggling to support or care for a family member who is disabled or chronically ill.
lets talk about alleviating poverrty by raising the minimum wage, and making sure health care is available to all.

KATRINA AFTERMATH: Poverty center of rebuilding talk: "The images of storm victims, particularly in New Orleans, spending days waiting for food, water and rescue in miserable shelter conditions exposed the region's persistent, racially rooted poverty and disturbed many around the country.
A recent AP-Ipsos poll showed more than a third of Americans felt deeply that the government would have responded more quickly if most of the victims had not been poor and black. Among black people, the percentage feeling that way shot up to 75%.
Bishop T.D. Jakes, the best-selling black author and head of the 30,000-member Potter's House church in Dallas, called upon Americans on Friday not to rest until poor people are raised to an acceptable living standard and to be willing to 'love them enough to pay the bill.'
'We can no longer be a nation that overlooks the poor and the suffering,' Jakes said, delivering the sermon at the National Cathedral prayer service before Bush spoke. 'Katrina, perhaps, she has done something to this nation that needed to be done.'"