FEMA and Their Fake News Conference

FEMA can't seem to get it right, can they? Still trying to make up for the errors of Katrina, Tuesday they held a press conference and, when no legitimate reporters showed up for the hastily called press conference, they substituted staffers for reporters.

Today, after the Washington Post blew the story wide open, FEMA apologized, and White House Press Secretary Dana Perino, addressing the issue, said, "FEMA has issued an apology, saying that they had an error in judgment when they were attempting to get out a lot of information to reporters, who were asking for answers to a variety of questions in regard to the wildfires in California. It's not something I would have condoned. And they - I'm sure - will not do it again. I don't think that there was any mal-intent. It was just a bad way to handle it, and they know that."

Some of the problem with the whole fake press conference idea was the soft-pedeled questioning.

For example, FEMA Deputy Administrator and Vice Admiral Harvey Johnson, who was at the podium, was asked, "Are you happy with FEMA's response so far?"

"I'm very happy with FEMA's response so far. This is a FEMA and a federal government that's leaning forward, not waiting to react. And you have to be pretty pleased to see that."

Nice patting yourself on the back, Harv.

Later, "What lessons learned from Katrina have been applied?"

"I think what you're really seeing here is the benefit of experience, the benefit of good leadership and the benefit of good partnership; none of which were present in Katrina. So, I think, as a nation, people should sit up and take notice that you have the worst wildfire season in history in California and look at how well the state and local governments are performing, look at how well we're working together between state and federal partners."

Wow, talk about a great performance.

Watch the fake news conference yourself: