Gulf oil spill could be 'Obama's Katrina,' says top Republican McCarthy
| Washington
Top House Republican Kevin McCarthy (R) of California says that the oil spill in the Gulf could 鈥渧ery well be鈥� President Barack Obama鈥檚 Katrina, referring to the damage done to voters鈥� confidence in President Bush by his administration鈥檚 response to the hurricane that hit New Orleans in 2005.
Rep. McCarthy ,who is the Republicans' chief deputy whip and chief recruiter of GOP House candidates, spoke at a Monitor-sponsored breakfast for reporters on Thursday. 鈥淚 think [Obama] has a serious, long term problem here鈥� given how long it takes to clean up the after effects of on oil spill of this magnitude, he said.
The GOP leader told of a conversation he recently had with Rep Steve Scalise, a Republican who represents Louisana鈥檚 First District which is bearing much of the brunt of the Gulf oil spill. Rep. Scalise called the White House last Thursday seeking to talk to the president about the crisis. An aide called back Friday and said the president was 鈥渢oo busy to talk to him.鈥� Rep. McCarthy quoted Scalise as saying, 鈥� I understood that until I turned on the TV and I saw that he was golfing and that he went out to California to do a fund raiser.鈥�
The latest USA Today/Gallup Poll conducted May 24-25 underscores the political danger the president faces on this issue. They poll found a majority of Americans unhappy with Mr. Obama鈥檚 handling of the spill. Some 53 percent rate Obama's handling "poor" or "very poor"; 43 percent believe Obama is doing a good job on the crisis.
[Editor's note: The original version included an incorrect first name for Rep. McCarthy.]
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