1438 The liberals see only race

In a city that is probably 70% African American, Jack Shafer wonders: "Nearly every rescued person, temporary resident of the Superdome, looter, or loiterer on the high ground of the freeway I saw on TV was African-American." They are humans; they are people. They are black. They are suffering. Shades of the 19th century, Mr. Shafer. Shame on you.

"Race remains largely untouchable for TV because broadcasters sense that they can't make an error without destroying careers." Gee, Mr. Shafer. Who helped that along? Who screamed for Esterbrook's scalp. Who wanted Rush Limbaugh fired when he honestly pointed out that the media wouldn't criticize a black quarterback? What if CNN and Fox had sent only their African American reporters? Now wouldn't that be racist? Send blacks to report on blacks? Then they could be accused of protecting their white newspeople--or at least Fox would be accused of that.

"To the question of looting, an informed reporter or anchor might have pointed out that anybody—even one of the 500 Nordic blondes working in broadcast news—would loot food from a shuttered shop if they found themselves trapped by a flood. . ." And the shoes, and jewelry, and stealing cop cars and breaking into hospitals and nursing homes? Is it possible in a city nearly 70% black that the bad gangs of looters might also be black? Hmmmm?