Race-based evacuation?

Rightwing columnist Jonah Goldberg pooh-poohs the notion that there's unfair treatment of blacks and the poor in New Orleans: "The 'poor and black have been left behind' meme is now in full swing on CNN and MSNBC." But how can he explain this? Yesterday, as the evacuation of 20,000 people trapped in the Louisiana Superdome since Sunday finally began, the line stopped for awhile so that 700 guests and workers from the Hyatt hotel could jump the line and get in waiting schoolbuses. The AP reports: "'How does this work? They (are) clean, they are dry, they get out ahead of us?" exclaimed Howard Blue, 22, who tried to get in their line. The National Guard blocked him as other guardsmen helped the well-dressed guests with their luggage." And this morning, with all but 2,000 people remaining in the dome, the National Guard has suddenly and inexplicably stopped the busing. (No wonder rapper Kanye West deviated from the script on an NBC hurricane relief benefit yesterday: "George Bush doesn't care about black people.")

It's in full swing on Fox too, Jonah: Here's a an amazing segment from Fox News reporters Shepard Smith and Gerald Rivera, lividly describing the dire straits and the unexplainable lack of help for people still trapped (actually locked) in the dome.