Ford blasts Bush’s handling of Hurricane Katrina

A lack of coordination has left the poor in critical danger, the Tennessee Democrat said.

“There are all these poor people with no place to go, and the president’s answer is ‘hang in there?'” Ford told the Associated Press.

He cited a lack of coordination between national and local agencies and called on the military to deploy “all amphibious vehicles and helicopters to assist in rescue and recovery.” He also said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and more teams of Army Corps of Engineers should be deployed, and that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should personally go to New Orleans and lead the effort.

“Now is not the time — in the face of pain, anguish and death — to be weak and uncertain,” Ford said in a statement.

Ford’s 9th District, which includes most of Memphis, borders Mississippi and Arkansas along the Mississippi River. He announced in May that he will seek the Democratic nomination to replace Sen. Bill Frist in 2006.

In response, the White House referred to comments the president made earlier Thursday on the ABC program Good Morning America.

“What we need to do as a nation is come together to solve the problem, and not play politics. And there will be ample time for politics. But now is the time to focus our attention, our compassion, and our resources on helping people who need help,” Bush said.

Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., who represents the neighboring 7th District, accused Ford of sniping. “I’d suggest folks put the cheap shots aside for a few moments and concentrate on supporting the recovery efforts,” she said. Blackburn is headed to Mississippi to assist with the cleanup and recovery, she said.

But Ford said his criticism wasn’t made for political gain. “We have the capacity to deal with this,” he said. “I don’t want to see the president … make anymore missteps, make any more mistakes.”

The military expects to increase National Guard deployment to 30,000 from around the country to help with security, rescue and relief.

But Ford said the response, which left tens of thousands stranded without food and water for days on rooftops, in abandoned areas and inside Lousiana Superdome — some dying before help could arrive, was too slow.

Ford, whose own district was hit by the weakened Katria as it moved inland, plans to raise money for the vicitims along the Gulf Coast. Speaking on his way to Memphis, he said he will also encourage Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen to waive the gas tax in an effort to lower rising prices, he said.

Congress is expected to approve $10 billion to cover immediate relief needs before the weekend under a rule that would not require most members to be in Washington.