Fox News
Expand
Browse All Video
Watch Live

You're watching...

Should Obama Have Canceled European Trip? Part 1

Details

  • Description

    Former FEMA director Michael Brown on president's handling of Missouri tornado

  • Duration 6:00
  • Date

Clips

Also in this playlist...

Editor's Picks

Auto-advance: ON

Auto-advance
View All

Transcript

This transcript is automatically generated

The president says he'll be going to Missouri on Sunday at little consolation to some residents there who might take exception to what they saw him doing.

Today.

Playing table tennis in England today after downing a pint of Guinness in Ireland now it's not exactly.

This stuff to show the show -- state.

Former FEMA director Michael Brown -- that government -- is right about now and brown should now these things count -- -- just released tell all book.

On Hurricane Katrina deadly in -- the perfect.

Political still.

He says that President Bush had the same problem in in what does it presidents can't win for -- of -- money that's.

They can't get it but but I think in this situation they're almost -- -- -- -- stop and think about your press office should be recognizing that the visuals that American Percy is of this devastation.

Don't put a bit of visual the president playing pinball.

It's awful so.

You don't -- a -- -- serving abroad with the queen.

And they Irish prime minister harassment just having fun stuff -- no I do have a problem with that because it's not like he's at a G-8 summit.

There this is not a diplomatic.

Trip of any sort this is just -- he went to Ireland for god -- to visit with some relatives it's time to come home and give the even just the appearance deal it's.

Politics is about the perception.

In this case the perception is the president is detached he's more concerned about we just saw on fox.

Raising a toast to the queen.

People die -- are pretty rough and.

The zarrella has the rap against.

On President Bush and the famous fly over -- count.

In in your book now when Karl Rove is here referring to his.

Handling practices that that was his response -- the fire.

You've said that when when the president soon after Katrina just blew up there.

That the flyover was a bad idea -- said that he should it come down there arm.

And it registered that.

Was it and it's it's stuff that was.

There was so easy to fix that because all the president had to do was land in Baton Rouge did have to get into New Orleans didn't have to -- and local authority saying don't get in the way you just don't know all the fuss over you will no no no because you can layer you could've landed Air Force One in baton route.

It all you have to do is walk down the stairs of air force war.

Get that bully pulpit and say I understand what's going on and expect my cabinet to do whatever it takes to help him.

-- -- read your book.

Michael I I was struck by the fact it was you know teachers and singers but the president and -- -- -- the -- -- and you were fairly frank about yourself on.

The former president.

But the thing you said about the president he was constantly being apprised of what was going on in New Orleans but instead of canceling and related speeches and photo opportunities.

You wrote that he seemed to be throwing himself into all manner.

Of inappropriate photo opportunities but but isn't that the danger.

-- being a president anywhere you're constantly.

Thrown into all these different about.

It's your your thrown in -- and thrown into the -- but there's a different kind of prevent the baseball game something for John McCain is totally different.

From just saying timeout and list you'll see what's going on here it it can be as simple as -- -- -- Landing in baton route.

You could've landed back route Baton Rouge and -- here's what I expect to happen here's what what my cabinet to do brown here's what -- you to do.

You would have coalesced the group and the team.

Get back on Air Force One and then go to -- You -- you can do those things.

When -- the president.

When you were fair and balanced hitter in the book -- also very critical.

Of New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.

He responded recent -- -- the crisis he said at the time you said the former Louisiana governor Kathleen -- was.

In over her head what did you mean.

The difference is part of -- compare and contrast to examples I would walk -- Florida during the hurricane in Florida and Jeb Bush and I would walk in together.

We would ask our respective teams what's working what's not working.

We would divide up those responsibilities walked out knowing it would get done decisions made quite -- like legitimate.

I -- your -- and flip over his brother.

-- Blue -- public the president do like the president.

I'd Archie stride to be honest he threw you under the that's.

That's politics.

-- politics.

But he had somehow -- small girl told -- oh yeah well Chertoff told him in the others told before.

Turn off the former -- on sort of my maternal.

He was mad at you because you didn't go through a chain of command what was the deal and a.

Well it was primarily.

-- all previous disasters work directly with the White House I would call IndyCar order Joe hey humans -- the FEMA director calls right so brought to the president and now you have its own security.

Yes and so now you have to -- -- -- the general in the field.

Am the president where the president it is and now this third -- of leg of the stool out -- -- wolf I want to be involved.

And actually they do.

This -- personally resent having to.

Loss is -- came out of the blow the Homeland Security was created under your watch right Safina reported its own security so.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- It's well when -- when your boss's the president of the United States.

And you know that we hear in the middle of the crisis if -- call drew the president I called let's say Neil I need this and you get it done.

That's the way it's worked since 1970.

It with respect to com home was -- governor he got what the -- of people was I don't think Michael Chertoff never really got in an appearance in general hardy.

The motorcade and and now.

Civilian -- -- again that's politics so I don't trying to did you have a motorcade.

Knowing that I have -- Democrat I haven't had little car that not -- -- -- everything I get into this and went.

Load More