GOP Plan to Not "Re-nig in 2012" Getting Worse: In New ‘Bombshell’ Video, Obama Criticizes Federal Response To Hurricane Katrina

ThinkProgress 

All day, the right-wing media have teased an “explosive” new video that exposes the “real” Barack Obama. The video turned out to be a speech from June 2007 at Hampton University, which was widely reported at the time. The full transcript of his prepared remark has been available for years.

The “explosive” news, according to the Daily Caller, is that Obama briefly deviated from his prepared remarks to comment on Hurricane Katrina. Obama said the federal government should do more to rebuild New Orleans, including waiving some requirements of the Stafford Act as the federal government did after 9/11 and Hurricane Andrew. Fox News, apparently, thinks this statement is outrageous and controversial. Here’s a screen shot from Sean Hannity’s show, which featured the video: [HERE] 

Drudge bills Obama’s 2007 remarks as a “race speech” because of the suggestion that the rebuilding of Katrina is connected to a history of racial discrimination. There was another President who made the same connection, George W. Bush:

That poverty has roots in a history of racial discrimination, which cut off generations from the opportunity of America. We have a duty to confront this poverty with bold action. So let us restore all that we have cherished from yesterday and let us rise above the legacy of inequality. When the streets are rebuilt, there should be many new businesses, including minority-owned businesses, along those streets.

During his Hampton University speech, Obama also recognized his former pastor, Jerimah Wright. Video of those comments has been available since at least 2008. 

Drudge bills Obama’s 2007 remarks as a “race speech” because of the suggestion that the rebuilding of Katrina is connected to a history of racial discrimination. There was another President who made the same connection, George W. Bush:

That poverty has roots in a history of racial discrimination, which cut off generations from the opportunity of America. We have a duty to confront this poverty with bold action. So let us restore all that we have cherished from yesterday and let us rise above the legacy of inequality. When the streets are rebuilt, there should be many new businesses, including minority-owned businesses, along those streets.

During his Hampton University speech, Obama also recognized his former pastor, Jerimah Wright. Video of those comments has been available since at least 2008.

CBS News’ Jan Crawford follows Drudge’s lead, says Obama’s comments about Katrina have news value.