Mississippi River Floods: Obama In Memphis To Meet With Victims

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- President Barack Obama is offering support and comfort to Memphis area families affected by the Mississippi River's high water.

The president met privately with families and local officials and emergency personnel forced to confront the highest waters since 1937. En route to the Cook Convention Center, Obama's motorcade went by the river, where the water was high but contained.

His session was held ahead of Obama's commencement address to seniors at Booker T. Washington High School.

The two-pronged day will allow the president to draw attention to his education agenda while also attending to the latest natural disaster - the snow melt and rain that have sent a torrent of water down the Mississippi, topping levees and forcing flooding along its path.

Obama will give the commencement address to graduates from Booker T. Washington High School, the winner of this year's White House Race to the Top High School Commencement Challenge. After implementing educational innovations and adding variety to its curriculum, the school saw its graduation rate jump from 55 percent in 2007 to nearly 82 percent in 2010. Changes at the school include separate freshmen academies for boys and girls and a greater choice of advanced placement classes.

The school was selected before high waters struck at some of the most poverty stricken communities along the Mississippi. The river crested at Memphis last week, just inches short of the record set in 1937. Some low-lying neighborhoods were inundated, but the city's high levees protected much of the rest of Memphis.

The river is now aiming at the Mississippi Delta, forcing officials to open a Louisiana spillway and flooding Cajun country to protects the cities of Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Floodwaters along the Mississippi and its backed-up tributaries have already washed away crops and forced many people to flee to higher ground.

Comments

[banana republican]

08:54 PM on 05/17/2011

Nice picture, featuring the typical cross section of American Society. Two African Americans and two Hispanics.

[ObamaFanatic]

11:36 AM on 05/18/2011

You forgot to include the guy shaking their hand.

feeling left out?

[saveourplanet]

07:04 PM on 05/16/2011

I see the Right Wing Tr011s are out in force here.

If Pres. Obama cured cancer, the Tr011s would say he caused cancer researchers to go out of business.

No matter WHAT the Tea PubliCants throw at Pres. Obama all he has to say is.....

"I did the planning and I gave the order to get bin Laden!"

NEXT!

[dkinton49]

09:39 PM on 05/16/2011

What a joke you are! The decision to get Bib Laden was forced down Obama's throat. Notice he sits timidly on the left with his elbows on his knees afraid to say anything to the "leaders."

[SEMPERFI1018]

09:48 PM on 05/16/2011

No, you are the joke. President Obama had the courage to do what Bush or no Republicant could do. Stop being a whiner.

Semper Fi

[saveourplanet]

08:18 AM on 05/17/2011

So sorry.

I guess you haven't read the many accounts of eye witnesses like Sec. Gates,
appointed by Bush or Leon Panetta or John Brennan who worked for both Clinton and Bush, who have all said that Pres. Obama's decision to give the go ahead for Navy Seals to go into Pakistan was(in their words) "the gutsiest decision mad by a President in recent history!"

You are entitled to your own opinions.

But you are NOT entitled to your own facts!

[kidcat24]

06:58 PM on 05/16/2011

I just will never stop laughing that the right thinks Republicans don't collect welfare or have "little procedures."

[todaysjustus]

09:30 PM on 05/16/2011

Especially since it is a known fact that red states are more reliant on welfare than the blue states. Oh, and that the right lobbies endlessly for the biggest form of welfare that there is - corporate welfare.

[marta76]

06:20 PM on 05/16/2011

Reading the comments have been enlightening. Continue on Mr. President, they are beginning to turn themselves wrong side out.

[Don Logan]

04:40 PM on 05/16/2011

'After implementing educational innovations and adding variety to its curriculum, the school saw its graduation rate jump from 55 percent in 2007 to nearly 82 percent in 2010'. The obama admin had nothing to do with this improvement. What did barry tell the graduates about the black unemployment rate that has gotten worse under his admin.?

By the way the flood hit Memphis a week ago. Where's he been?

[KingKongReggae]

05:32 PM on 05/16/2011

Keep spinning little donny logan.

[Don Logan]

09:13 PM on 05/17/2011

no spin, just facts. if you dispute my facts, let me hear it. otherwise, stiffle

[HerbTee]

06:02 PM on 05/16/2011

As if you personally give a da mn on how blacks are actually educated or how many are unemployed.

[Don Logan]

09:13 PM on 05/17/2011

i care as much as bho. all he cares about is bho

[applesNpears]

04:11 PM on 05/16/2011

Thank you president Barack Obama for all you do. Whether its being the rock the American people need in times of natural disaster or rescuing our nation from former president George Bush GOP administration's failed policies, you are there for us. We appreciate you very much.

[baybeebluz]

04:22 PM on 05/16/2011

Congratulations. You win for today's most outrageous comment.

[KingKongReggae]

05:32 PM on 05/16/2011

No...that award goes to little ole...you.

[traceymarie]

05:58 PM on 05/16/2011

outrageously true, bush almost destroyed our country, thank you Obama for all you have done to get us back on our feet.

[dkinton49]

09:42 PM on 05/16/2011

His policies that make sense are a repeat of the Bush policies. Keeping the Bush tax cuts. A surge in Afghanistan, keeping Gitmo open, etc., just to name a few!

[RNP2233]

03:55 PM on 05/16/2011

He must be campaigning or he would never be there-

Keep beleiving the lies Libs

[SoDoSomething]

04:24 PM on 05/16/2011

The problem with the right wing is that they think everyone acts and thinks like they do. Bush did a fly over of New Orleans for just the reason you state. He and the rest of his administration didn't kick into action until the negative publicity became so bad that he had to.

Obama has consistently acted like he was everyone's President, regardless of whether they voted for him or not and it is no surprise that FEMA has been on top of this from the beginning or that he would show up in Memphis, just like he did in Alabama after the tornadoes, to make sure the federal government was doing what it should to help. Get use to it, this is a President who understands his responsibilities and truly cares for all the people of this country.

[RNP2233]

04:31 PM on 05/16/2011

Get used to it for 19 Months

I love the photo ops, the handouts, and most of all working hard and employing people and basically getting less for it- I love the Entitled Left

[brandill]

04:38 PM on 05/16/2011

Um genius, last I checked TN isn't a swing state. LOL! You're a joke!

[larmarch5]

03:05 PM on 05/16/2011

Ever since Obama got Osama, the Ohaters have ratcheted up their rhetoric, undoubtedly hoping to relieve the pressure on their hemorrhoids.

[noudidnt]

04:02 PM on 05/16/2011

Yawn

Your fake Presidential candidate decided to quit today.

[gilbskg]

04:12 PM on 05/16/2011

Huh?

[ObamaFanatic]

11:45 AM on 05/18/2011

I didn't know Quitler was running?? Thought she was just running to the bank after grifting the ig no rant.

[applesNpears]

04:12 PM on 05/16/2011

what is so hilarious is they just pulling things out of thin air. they don't even try to be a bit factual.

[SoDoSomething]

04:25 PM on 05/16/2011

Nothing new there, except that it isn't working anymore.

[hoosier96]

02:58 PM on 05/16/2011

More devastation and d_3aths from this disaster then Katrina. Where's the media criticized the government response? Where's the anger?

[miketothad]

03:35 PM on 05/16/2011

Because nobody sat their a__ for 4 days, hater.

[mjtaylor22]

03:54 PM on 05/16/2011

thank you....fav'd..you are exactly right....not only did he actually land and nto do a fly over....he is meeting with the people.....

[RNP2233]

03:55 PM on 05/16/2011

How long has it been- All HYPOCRITS on the left

[gilbskg]

04:00 PM on 05/16/2011

Umm, because the government response quick and ready to help? Just guessing.

[vanillalizard]

02:46 PM on 05/16/2011

I wonder how the rich will further enrich themselves from this crisis? "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle".

[gilbskg]

02:45 PM on 05/16/2011

2:15 and the tr@lls have been let out their afternoon Luntz-Rush talking points sessions. Surprise, surprise.

[LisaLisa1234]

02:42 PM on 05/16/2011

The President's Commencement Address to the 2011 graduates of BTW High School:

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/may/16/president-barack-obamas-commencement-speech/

He surprised the kids & met with them before the ceremony. They were, needless to say, ecstatic.

[Guardian31756]

03:19 PM on 05/16/2011

That's nice !

More kids in Jungle Fatigues supporting him.

[miketothad]

03:36 PM on 05/16/2011

so much for your respecting the troops, Jethro.

[gilbskg]

04:04 PM on 05/16/2011

!d!ot

[mnyegele]

02:40 PM on 05/16/2011

Yesterday, on a blog on MSNBC some sicko wrote a hideous racist comment concerning Obama's lack of concern for flood victims. A comment so ugly and hateful that I'm trying hard to forget it. Unfortunately, I know full well that such a comment reflects the attitude of many people along the banks of the Mississippi. Obama's visit to flood victims in Memphis - even though he will not reap any political rewards - once again shows that he has class, which is something I can't say about any one in the GOP.

[fireart]

02:16 PM on 05/16/2011

Where are the white victims? Oh right whites cant be victims they create them. I forgot for a moment.

[docwindprod]

02:20 PM on 05/16/2011

you would appear to be an idiot, then.

[gilbskg]

04:06 PM on 05/16/2011

Yep.

[RobsChild]

02:31 PM on 05/16/2011

Those aren't victims in the picture above. Those are military greeters at the airport when he got off the airplane.

[fireart]

02:44 PM on 05/16/2011

Thank God!!! I thought they were all out of the USA doing war. Maby they were flown in for the photo. LOL

[fireart]

02:13 PM on 05/16/2011

They should send guitner down to tell them how bad the flood is.