This is pretty heavy-handed rhetoric, especially for a Presidential candidate. To use the word riot, and to reference the Rodney King riots several times is more indicative of a threat than true reasoning to solve a problem.
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Tuesday that the Bush adminstration has done nothing to defuse a "quiet riot" among blacks that threatens to erupt just as riots in Los Angeles did 15 years ago.
Bush has appointed more blacks to Presidential cabinet posts than any other President in history. Obama believes the best way to help blacks is with more government programs, and he is certainly entitled to say so, but to blame the mismanagement of the Katrina disaster on race, and then make veiled threats in the process is reprehensible.
Never mind that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin refused to evacuate the Chocolate City with numerous buses available. Blaming God, he said "Surely God is mad at America".
Obama never mentions Governor Kathleen Blanco, another Democrat, delayed evacuation orders. In an interview with Lisa Myers, Blanco also invokes the Almighty;
Myers: "Though experts had warned it would take 48 hours to evacuate New Orleans, Blanco did not order a mandatory evacuation that Saturday."
Blanco: "And we're going to pray that the impact will soften."
At least she didn't pray for a riot.
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