|
|
| |
| Wed, Aug. 20, 2008 |  |
 |
|
||
| |
Huckabee says people, not government, came through after Katrina Saturday, Nov 18, 2006 By John Lyon Arkansas News Bureau NORTH LITTLE ROCK - Americans saw their government "melt down" in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but the people came through when their government did not, Gov. Mike Huckabee said Friday. Huckabee spoke at a banquet at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel, where the Central Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross presented him with the Clara Barton Humanitarian of the Year award. Huckabee was honored for 10 years of professional and personal commitment to the Red Cross. As much as the response to Katrina dashed the public's confidence in government agencies, it restored confidence in the American spirit, Huckabee said. "We sat in anger and frustration as we saw our government at all levels melt down and find itself incapable of responding to this great human tragedy. But when government failed, the people of America didn't," said Huckabee, who is considering a run for president in 2008. Between 50,000 and 75,000 people dislocated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita found refuge in Arkansas last year, according to David Maxwell, director of the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management. The Red Cross also presented awards to 16 other people Friday. Huckabee said they were the "true heroes," even though their names may not have made it into newspapers. "But then again ... as one who's in the paper often, that ain't all it's cracked up to be," joked Huckabee, who has been the focus of recent media attention over online gift registries in his and his wife's names and a gift of $7,500 worth of dinnerware to his wife from a nonprofit group. The Huckabees have said the gift registries were for a housewarming party thrown by friends of Janet Huckabee. The party was held Tuesday, and the registries have since been taken down. Huckabee also paid tribute to Win Rockefeller, last year's recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year Award. Rockefeller was serving as lieutenant governor when he died July 16 from a blood disorder. "Often he would go to areas where disaster had struck, and not simply just to look around but to carry a chainsaw to help people cut trees off their homes. That's the kind of person he was," Huckabee said. |
