Jindal, McCain tour Lower 9th Ward

• By JOE GYAN JR.
• Advocate New Orleans bureau
• Published: Apr 24, 2008 - UPDATED: 2:24 p.m.

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NEW ORLEANS – U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumptive Republican Party presidential nominee, today toured a portion of New Orleans’ Lower 9th Ward still showing the ravages of Hurricane Katrina and called the federal government’s initial response to the catastrophe “disgraceful.’’

In New Orleans as part of his “Straight Talk Express’’ tour, McCain – with Gov. Bobby Jindal at his side – sharply criticized the Bush administration for “mishandling’’ the disaster but also said Congress must share some of the blame for backing pork barrel projects when that money could have been used to strengthen the city’s levees and restore the state’s vanishing wetlands and coastline.

McCain defended his own congressional record, saying he has never voted for a pork barrel project. He said Democratic Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, who are locked in a bitter battle for their party’s nod, have voted for millions of dollars in pork barrel projects.

“They’re part of the problem. I’m part of the solution,’’ he said.

McCain and his wife rolled into the Lower 9th Ward on the McCain For President “Straight Talk Express’’ bus, stopping first at a Baptist church still under repair on flood-ravaged Caffin Avenue. The McCains, Jindal and others then walked several still devastated blocks as reporters in two National Guard light mobility tactical vehicles watched from just in front of them. The tour took them in front of New Orleans musical legend Fats Domino’s repaired home on Caffin.

McCain and Jindal wrapped up their tour with a news conference at St. David’s Catholic Church in the Lower 9th, with McCain dishing out some straight talk about the federal government’s response to Katrina.

“I want to assure the people of the 9th Ward, the people of New Orleans, the people of this country – never again!’’ he said. “Never again will a disaster of this nature be handled in the terrible and disgraceful way in which it was handled. Never again!’’

McCain said he fully supports 100-year storm protection for the New Orleans area, which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has promised by 2011, and Category 5 hurricane protection for the area’s levees.

Asked if he is considering Jindal as a possible running mate, McCain largely dodged the question but called Jindal a friend whom he will rely on in the future. For his part, Jindal said McCain is his choice for president.